REPUTATION AND RANKINGS

HKUST is a publicly funded university that opened in 1991. It is a leading international research university dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge in science, medicine, engineering, business, humanities and social science.

As a young university – just stepping into its third decade – HKUST’s achievements are remarkable. It has consistently gained top international rankings, a demonstration of the university’s high academic quality and the global recognition it has achieved.

No. 6 - Asia University Rankings 2026 (No. 2 in Hong Kong), QS Asia University Rankings

No. 25 - Global Employability University Ranking 2026 (No. 3 in Greater China, No.1 in Hong Kong) in the HR consultancy Emerging, published by Times Higher Education

No. 19 - Impact Rankings 2025 (No. 1 in Hong Kong), Times Higher Education

You can also find the rankings achieved by our individual subject areas here.

STUDENT BODY

HKUST is coeducational, with a total enrollment of approximately 17,000 students. The university comprises six Schools: Science, Medicine, Engineering, Business and Management, Humanities and Social Science, and the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies. The undergraduate student body comprises 58% local students and 42% non-local students. In addition, with over 1,000 exchange students passing through HKUST every year, you really can make friends with people from around the world.

CAMPUS FACILITIES AND SUPPORT

Orientation

Exchange students normally arrive around 3 days before the start of term. This provides enough time to participate in orientation activities and to adapt to the new environment. Orientation sessions organized by the University and the Schools help you settle in Hong Kong and familiarize you with HKUST’s learning environment.

Library

The HKUST library is a centrally located six-storey building that provides nearly 3,500 reader seats. In addition to over 762,000 print volumes and a large collection of media resources, it provides access to more than 150,000 electronic and print journals, a large number of e-books, databases and other digital information resources. The library and the Learning Commons provide many places for individual and group projects or studying.

Students' Union

The Students' Union is an unincorporated association formed by HKUST students. It operates independently from the University, and all undergraduate students are eligible to be a full member at the University.

Student societies and clubs

Joining a club is a great way to make new friends or pick up a new skill or passion. There are more than 100 student societies affiliated to the Students’ Union, covering sports, recreational, academic, religious, music and other themes. There are over 30 sports clubs. No matter what your interests are, there is something for you.

School societies, such as BSU (Business Students' Union), ESU (Engineering Students' Union), SSU (Science Students' Union), HSSU (Humanities and Social Science Students' Union) and IPSU (Interdisciplinary Programs Students' Union) provide a great opportunity to meet people in your School.

The International Students' Association (ISA) and the Mainland Students and Scholars Society also host a number of events throughout the term.

Sports and recreation facilities

There is a wide variety of sports and recreation facilities available for your use. All the facilities at the Indoor Sports complex are fully air-conditioned. We have a large indoor sports hall of 1,600 sq m for activities such as badminton, basketball, volleyball and handball. In addition, there are courts for squash and table tennis, and areas for fencing, dance, indoor archery, martial arts and weight training.

Outdoor sports facilities include an artificial turf soccer pitch, a 400-meter 8-lane track, a hard-surface mini-soccer pitch, a basketball court, a lawn area and tennis courts. We also have a 50-meter outdoor pool and a 25-meter indoor pool for aquatic activities.

Food on Campus

There are many eateries on campus. They are a great place to meet with friends.