🏅 QS World Rank #18
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
Hong Kong’s biggest riser — up 14 spots into the top 20
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a public research university in Hong Kong, founded in 1963. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026), CUHK ranked 18th in the world, up 14 places from the previous edition. This guide covers CUHK’s programmes, admission for non-local students, the published 2026–27 tuition, scholarships, advice for applicants from Pakistan, and the questions prospective students ask most. Every figure is labeled with its year or ranking edition.
CUHK Overview
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a public research university in Sha Tin, Hong Kong, founded in 1963. It is organised as a collegiate university, and undergraduates belong to one of its residential colleges. CUHK is known for business, medicine, engineering, and its bilingual Chinese-English learning environment.
Hong Kong is a popular study destination for students from Pakistan and the wider region because teaching is mainly in English and the city is a major Asian business and finance hub.
CUHK Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
CUHK is ranked 18th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026. This is a rise of 14 places from the previous edition (QS 2026) and puts CUHK inside the global top 20.
QS ranks universities using academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, student-to-faculty ratio, and measures of international faculty and students. This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News, and ARWU use different methods and can order the same universities differently.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
CUHK teaches across eight faculties and is known for:
- Business — CUHK Business School, with undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
- Medicine — Faculty of Medicine, with a teaching hospital network in Hong Kong
- Engineering and science — including computer science, information engineering, and biomedical fields
- Social science, arts, law, and education
- College system — students join one of the university’s colleges, each with its own community and activities
- Language environment — CUHK promotes biliteracy (Chinese and English) and trilingualism (Cantonese, English, Putonghua)
For the full list, see CUHK’s official website.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
Admission rules differ by programme and by applicant route. The points below are general. Confirm every detail on CUHK’s admissions site before applying.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Who applies how | Students from outside Hong Kong usually apply through CUHK’s non-JUPAS route (JUPAS is the system for local Hong Kong students) |
| Academic qualifications | CUHK accepts a range of international qualifications such as the IB Diploma, A-Levels, and national school-leaving exams. Requirements for Pakistani qualifications are set by CUHK and should be checked on its website. |
| English | Applicants whose first language is not English normally provide an English test result (for example TOEFL or IELTS). Minimum scores vary by programme. |
| Other requirements | Application form, transcripts, and in some programmes an interview, essay, or additional test |
| Application period | CUHK sets its own opening and closing dates for non-local applicants. Check the current dates on the admissions site. |
Official source: CUHK Undergraduate Admissions.
CUHK Acceptance Rate
CUHK does not publish a single overall acceptance rate for non-local applicants in the sources checked for this page. Competition varies a lot by programme, and business, medicine, and computing are generally the most competitive. Treat any single figure found elsewhere with caution.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your programme and check its specific entry requirements
- Check how your qualification (A-Levels, IB, or Pakistani board results) is treated by CUHK
- Book an English test if required
- Prepare transcripts, identification, and any essay or interview material
- Apply within the dates CUHK sets for non-local applicants
- Plan funding for tuition, housing, and living costs in Hong Kong
- Apply for your Hong Kong student visa after admission, following CUHK’s instructions
- Verify every date, fee, and requirement on CUHK’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
CUHK’s published tuition for non-local undergraduate students is:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Non-local undergraduate tuition (2026–27) | HK$214,000 per academic year |
Housing, food, books, and personal costs are extra. Hong Kong is an expensive city, and housing is the biggest variable. CUHK charges college and hostel fees separately, and a hostel place is not automatic for every student. Check CUHK’s accommodation pages for current rates and eligibility.
Source: CUHK fees information. Charges change each year; verify on CUHK’s website.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Funding for non-local undergraduates is mainly merit-based:
- CUHK scholarships: CUHK offers entrance and continuing scholarships for outstanding non-local students. Amounts, eligibility, and numbers change, so check the current list.
- Hong Kong government schemes: some government-funded scholarships support non-local students at Hong Kong universities. Eligibility rules apply.
- Other aid: external and home-country scholarships may help; compare them with our fully funded scholarships for 2027 guide
- No guarantee: scholarships are competitive and not guaranteed
Always confirm current scholarships on CUHK’s official website.
CUHK for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants follow the standard non-local application process. Practical points:
- Qualifications: confirm how CUHK treats your FSc/HSSC, A-Levels, or IB results before applying
- English: prepare an English test if needed. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
- Budget: tuition is HK$214,000 for 2026–27, plus a high cost of living, so plan funding early
- Visa: a Hong Kong student visa is issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, not by CUHK, and no outcome is guaranteed
- Agents: you can apply directly to CUHK, so a paid agent is not required
Campus & Student Life
- The main campus is in Sha Tin, in the New Territories, on a large hillside site near Tolo Harbour
- Students join a college, which provides pastoral support, activities, and in many cases hostel life
- Hong Kong’s metro connects the campus to the city centre and to the border with mainland China
- Cantonese, English, and Putonghua are all heard on campus, and most teaching is in English
Research & Career Opportunities
- CUHK is a research-intensive university with strengths in medicine, engineering, and the sciences
- Hong Kong is a major business and financial centre, so graduates often work in finance, business, technology, and healthcare
- CUHK runs a campus in Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen), which operates as a separate university
- CUHK does not guarantee employment, salary, or visa outcomes
Notable People
- Shing-Tung Yau, Fields Medal winner (1982), studied at CUHK before graduate study in the United States
- Charles K. Kao, Nobel Prize in Physics winner (2009) for fibre optics, served as CUHK’s vice-chancellor
Contact & Location
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR
Official website: cuhk.edu.hk
Frequently Asked Questions
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is ranked 18th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026.
CUHK rose 14 places from the previous QS edition to reach 18th place.
CUHK is best known for business, medicine, engineering, and its bilingual Chinese-English learning environment.
CUHK’s published tuition for non-local undergraduates is HK$214,000 per academic year for 2026–27. Housing and living costs are extra.
Most teaching is in English, though CUHK promotes biliteracy and trilingualism in Chinese, English, and Putonghua. Some programmes have Chinese-language components.
Non-local applicants usually apply through CUHK’s non-JUPAS route. Check the current dates and requirements on CUHK’s admissions site.
CUHK does not publish a single overall acceptance rate for non-local applicants in the sources checked. Competition varies by programme.
Yes. CUHK and some Hong Kong government schemes offer merit-based scholarships. They are competitive and not guaranteed.
Yes. Pakistani applicants follow the non-local process and should check how CUHK treats their qualifications and what English evidence is needed.
Check CUHK’s official website and admissions pages. Deadlines, fees, and rules are set by CUHK and can change.
Compare CUHK With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, CUHK’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with The Chinese University of Hong Kong before applying.