City University of Hong Kong

Since CityUHK’s establishment as a university in 1994, it has benefited from a diverse range of factors which have contributed to its success as one of the world’s most dynamic young universities. These factors include nurturing excellent graduates and conducting research which directly benefits society.

The quality of our research and teaching, as well as the employability of our graduates and the strengths of our various specialised areas, position us strongly in a number of international surveys.

As a visionary hub for professional education and problem-driven research, CityUHK has a mission to respond to societal and technological changes. Hong Kong’s first and only veterinary college, which CityUHK established in collaboration with Cornell University in the United States, pioneers excellence in veterinary education and research. Added to this, the first School of Data Science in Hong Kong meets the growing demand for data scientists and engineers for the data-driven economy of the future.

Led by internationally renowned academics and supported by first-rate facilities, CityUHK aims to generate new knowledge and create innovative products and solutions that address pressing global problems and improve people’s quality of life.

To maintain our leading position and strive for global leadership, CityUHK established the Academy of Innovation. Our goal is to build an international ecosystem which cultivates young entrepreneurs, incubates deep-tech start-ups, and fosters university-industry collaboration. The Academy offers a range of cutting-edge academic programmes at the PhD, Master of Science, and undergraduate levels, with a particular focus on deep-tech venture creation. They are designed to accommodate diverse educational levels and professional needs and will be developed in collaboration with our colleges, departments, the School of Graduate Studies, and relevant administrative offices.

Also, the Institute of Digital Medicine, a groundbreaking initiative that pioneers the convergence of healthcare and digital innovation, was established in 2024. Through strategic partnerships with leading academic, clinical, and industry collaborators worldwide, the Institute harnesses the power of engineering, data science, and life science to develop transformative digital health solutions. Our commitment to driving innovation and addressing global challenges is embodied in the Institute’s research advancements, technology transfer, and commercialisation efforts.

Our Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study adds an impressive intellectual dimension to campus activities, marking a new phase in the promotion of innovative research in strategic areas by world-leading scholars, Nobel laureates, and academicians.

Research is further enhanced by the expertise gathered at our various research centres. CityUHK is home to two State Key Laboratories: one for Terahertz and Millimeter Waves and one for Marine Pollution. Also, we have the Chinese National Engineering Research Center: the Hong Kong Branch of National Precious Metals Material Engineering Research Center. These esteemed facilities provide a rich environment for the development of our research projects.

Our education philosophy encourages each student to make an original discovery with support through state-of-the-art technology, funding, and learning spaces. Our unique curriculum immerses young people in the processes that lie behind every discovery and innovation, producing the critical skills needed for today’s globalised job market.

Our burgeoning global presence has stimulated a drive towards internationalisation. Thousands of CityUHK students embark on overseas exchanges every year. To foster a deeper understanding of the world’s diverse cultures and environments, we aspire to enable 65% of our students to participate in an overseas exchange. Thanks to the generous support of our community and donations, we are steadily approaching this target.

In April 2024, CityUHK established CityUHK (Dongguan) with the approval of the Ministry of Education, and classes are scheduled to begin in September 2024. This milestone strengthens our position in innovative education and talent development and fosters higher education cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. CityUHK (Dongguan) will be situated in the Songshan Lake High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Science City), serving as a vital hub for industry-academia-research collaboration. CityUHK (Dongguan) will adhere to CityUHK’s educational philosophy, nurturing innovative talents and offering undergraduate and Master’s programmes in various fields.

Our momentum looks set to continue as we expand our campus, creating more space for research laboratories and collaborative learning opportunities. This expansion will transform CityUHK into an exciting hub for studying and conducting research.

What makes studying at the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) unique is the strong emphasis we place on discovery and innovation. Our distinctive curriculum enables students to pursue original research projects during their undergraduate studies. The rationale is that in today’s highly competitive job market and against a backdrop of rapid technological advancements, young people need to understand the processes embedded in the discovery process. This approach is carefully designed to explore innovative ways of generating knowledge.

To facilitate this endeavour, we firmly believe that teaching and research should be integrated. Our faculty should be adept at both teaching and research, rather than solely focusing on one aspect. Our students benefit from learning about cutting-edge ideas from highly rated faculty, and our faculty benefit from close interaction with students on their projects.

Our capacity to break new ground is exemplified by our pioneering work in a range of areas. For example, at the start of the 2019/20 academic year, we welcomed our first cohort of government-funded undergraduates reading our groundbreaking bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine. This programme is the first of its kind in the region and a collaboration with Cornell University, one of the premier institutions in the world for training in this field. No other institution in Hong Kong has developed such ambitious plans to introduce veterinary medicine.

Other notable firsts that make CityUHK stand out include establishing the School of Creative Media about twenty years ago when the field was relatively unknown and setting up Hong Kong’s only School of Energy and Environment. These two disciplines are intertwined and of great importance in today’s world.

In July 2018, CityUHK launched the School of Data Science and the Hong Kong Institute for Data Science, initiatives that are pioneering efforts in Hong Kong. These initiatives were established to address the increasing global demand for highly qualified data scientists and engineers.

If you wish to know more about our other colleges and schools, click here.

The glue holding together all these initiatives is a dedication to globalising our students’ outlook by learning from international scholars who hail from a number of countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, Europe, and other countries in Asia. This approach allows for the contextualisation of learning beyond the local and regional perspectives. Crucially, we also offer international exchange opportunities for students. Through our vast network of friends, collaborators, and supporters around the world, we pledge to support such exchanges for about 65% of our undergraduate population. We have partnerships with around 400 institutions in more than 40 countries and regions. The majority of our students relish the chance to experience different cultures, languages, and learning styles, all of which have a profound impact on their intellectual and social development.

To support students keen to study with us, we offer a range of scholarships for outstanding students in both academic and non-academic areas. These scholarships for local and non-local students, can cover tuition fees, living costs, and exchanges.

The best for the best

At CityUHK, we provide academics with the support needed for high-quality research projects to reach their full potential. We are very aware that the best scholars are highly sought after by world-class institutions, which is why we strive to create a campus atmosphere that is conducive to generating groundbreaking ideas and ensuring that projects receive the support they deserve.

 We start by ensuring that all faculty members in our five colleges and five schools understand exactly what is expected of them in terms of teaching and research. Research is supported by a range of grants, schemes, and programmes designed to kickstart the careers of younger faculty members and nurture the research initiatives of more established scholars. Mentoring is one of our many strengths, and department heads and senior faculty are well versed in helping new recruits navigate the various funding opportunities available in Hong Kong, mainland China, and further afield.

We put a great deal of effort to ensure that the quality of teaching at the university level meets world-class standards. In fact, CityUHK is the only university to have won teaching awards sponsored by the Hong Kong government on four separate occasions. We also have a highly diverse community. Our international faculty accounts for approximately 70% of the total number, representing about 35 countries and regions. Their diverse backgrounds contribute significantly to a pluralistic campus.

In addition, our regular orientation workshops provide a comprehensive overview of various topics, including PhD supervision, successful grant applications, our undergraduate curriculum, and our commitment to outcome-based teaching and learning.

In essence, CityUHK is a dynamic, fast-growing university that strives for excellence in research and professional education. We aim to attract the best faculty from around the world, understanding that to attract and retain talents, we need to provide an exciting and supportive work environment.

Of course, our students play a vital role at CityUHK, and they never fail to impress us. Both local and non-local students thrive here, making the most of the opportunity to pursue their own research ideas during their studies. Through our extensive exchange programmes, they also fully engage in multicultural activities across the world.

For more information, please visit our website. If possible, we encourage you to visit Hong Kong, one of the most vibrant cities on the planet, where CityUHK feels perfectly at home!