City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has achieved a remarkable milestone in the global academic landscape, securing the 11th position in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings. This significant accomplishment represents a remarkable 14-place leap, establishing CityU as the top university in Hong Kong and the third-best in Asia.
The prestigious rankings, introduced by THE and Schmidt Science Fellows last year, evaluated 911 universities worldwide using a comprehensive assessment framework. The evaluation considered three critical dimensions: inputs, process, and output, analyzing 11 distinct metrics including research funding, administrative support, and institutional reputation.
What sets CityU apart is its exceptional performance in the “Inputs” category, where the university claimed the global top spot. This achievement underscores the institution’s robust support for interdisciplinary research, characterized by strategic funding and meticulous resource management. CityU President Freddy Boey Yin-chiang highlighted the university’s commitment to fostering collaborations across scientific domains and creating meaningful connections between industry, academic researchers, and investors.
The rankings revealed a strong showing from Hong Kong’s academic institutions. Beyond CityU’s impressive performance, five local universities secured positions in the global top 70. The University of Hong Kong ranked 32nd, Hong Kong Polytechnic University placed 46th, Hong Kong Baptist University came in at 52nd, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong secured the 69th position. Collectively, these universities achieved an average score of 71.3 out of 100—the highest among regions with five or more ranked institutions.
On the global stage, United States universities dominated the rankings. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, and the California Institute of Technology occupied the top three positions, with seven of the top ten spots claimed by U.S. institutions. In the Asian context, Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore ranked fifth and eighth, respectively, with CityU completing the regional top three.
Interestingly, some renowned universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Peking University, and Tsinghua University were notably absent from the rankings. The report suggests this was likely due to their decision not to submit data for evaluation.
President Boey emphasized that this ranking validates CityU’s ambition to become a world-class institution. The university remains committed to leading global higher education through cross-regional and interdisciplinary efforts aimed at nurturing talent and driving groundbreaking discoveries.
The achievement highlights the growing importance of interdisciplinary science in addressing contemporary global challenges. By breaking down traditional academic silos and encouraging collaborative research, institutions like CityU are positioning themselves at the forefront of innovative problem-solving.
For CityU, this ranking is more than just a numerical achievement. It represents a strategic approach to education and research that prioritizes flexibility, collaboration, and real-world impact. The university’s success demonstrates how interdisciplinary approaches can create more comprehensive and effective solutions to complex global issues.
As the academic world continues to evolve, CityU’s performance serves as an inspiring example of how universities can adapt, innovate, and excel in an increasingly interconnected global research landscape.
