HKUST and CityU place second and seventh in world young university rankings

Hong Kong’s young universities have made significant improvements in a newly released ranking for such institutions, with the University of Science and Technology taking the second spot and the City University breaking into the top 10.

After being ranked third or fourth in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings – which look at universities under 50 years old – since its inception in 2012, HKUST edged up to second place this year.

Meanwhile, CityU soared 13 places from last year to the seventh spot, entering the top 10 for the first time. Polytechnic University also made significant progress, rising from 27th last year to 20th this year.

First place went to Switzerland’s Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, ranked the world’s top young university for the third year running. Completing the top five were the Nanyang Technological University from Singapore, and the Pohang University of Science and Technology, and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, both from South Korea.

“This year’s list of the world’s best young universities ... provides fantastic news for Asia,” Times Higher Education rankings editor Phil Baty said. “Half of the top 10 places are filled by Asian universities – the best result for the continent since the ranking began in 2012.” He added: “Overall, more than a quarter – or 55 – of the top 200 places are filled by universities from 18 Asian countries.”