Paper citation rate ranks second globally for second consecutive year, second only to Harvard, with research performance showing impressive results
Hong KongJune 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has delivered an impressive performance in the newly released 2027 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, standing out among over 1,500 ranked universities worldwide. Its global ranking has surged 11 places compared to last year, securing the 52nd position globally and firmly placing it among the world’s top 3% leading institutions.
In the newly released 2027 QS World University Rankings, CityU’s global ranking has surged 11 places compared to last year, securing the 52nd position globally and firmly placing it among the world’s top 3% leading institutions.
CityU is the only university in Hong Kong to rank among the global top three in the core indicator “Citations per Faculty” — achieving outstanding results by ranking second globally for the second consecutive year, first in Asia and Hong Kong, second only to Harvard University, and surpassing many internationally renowned institutions. This fully demonstrates CityU’s excellence in leading international research and academic influence. QS Senior Vice President Mr. Ben Sowter also specifically highlighted CityU’s outstanding performance in citation rate, stating: “Hong Kong’s higher education sector is further consolidating its leading position as one of Asia’s most globally competitive and research-intensive systems. Research performance remains key to Hong Kong universities standing out, with City University of Hong Kong ranking second globally in ‘Citations per Faculty’.”
In this year’s rankings, CityU has demonstrated excellence across multiple evaluation indicators, with four indicators ranking first in Hong Kong for the second consecutive year. It is also the only university in Hong Kong with three indicators ranking among the global top 20, fully showcasing its leading position in academic research and internationalization:
|
Indicator |
Hong Kong Rank |
Global Rank |
|
“Citations per Faculty” |
1 |
2 |
|
“International Student Ratio” |
1 |
11 |
|
“International Faculty Ratio” |
1 |
16 |
|
“Faculty-Student Ratio” |
1 |
84 |
CityU’s Acting President Professor Lee Chun-sing expressed great encouragement over the ranking results. He stated: “This leap in rankings confirms CityU’s core strengths in teaching, research, and innovation. In particular, ‘Citations per Faculty’ ranking second globally and first in Asia for the second consecutive year highlights our world-class academic influence. This also reflects the effectiveness of CityU’s alignment with the Hong Kong SAR Government’s efforts to build the ‘Study in Hong Kong’ brand, as well as our determination to actively develop research and innovation directions in line with the long-term development of the Hong Kong Park in the Northern Metropolis Loop. CityU will continue to expand its global cooperation network, actively attract outstanding talent, and strengthen cross-regional academic and research collaboration with institutions in Mainland China and overseas, especially along the ‘Belt and Road’ excellent universities.”
CityU will continue to strive for excellence, consolidating its position as a world-leading institution through quality teaching and cutting-edge research. It will further deepen interdisciplinary research and industry-academia collaboration, transforming groundbreaking research outcomes into tangible drivers of social progress and economic development, while making greater contributions to Hong Kong’s development as an international hub for post-secondary education and an international innovation and technology center.