Frequently Asked Questions — The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

# Q1: What kind of university is The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology?

A: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is a publicly funded research-intensive comprehensive university, supported by the Hong Kong SAR Government through the University Grants Committee (UGC)^※. It formally opened in October 1991^※, making it the youngest UGC-funded university at the time and the only one in Hong Kong built entirely from scratch without any predecessor institution.

HKUST's core disciplines are science, engineering, business management, and humanities and social science. It positions itself as a “leading university with significant international impact”^※, with research and innovation forming its central competitive strength.

# Q2: How large is HKUST? How many students and academic staff does it have?

A: As of December 2025 (the most recent official figures):

• Total students: 20,475^※
• Undergraduates: 11,765^※
• Postgraduates: 8,710^※ (including 2,666 doctoral students)
• Non-local student proportion: approximately 48%^※
• Academic staff (full-time equivalent): 976^※ (943 regular teaching faculty, all holding doctorate degrees)
• Students hail from over 80 countries and regions^※

The campus covers approximately 60 hectares^※, situated in Clear Water Bay, Sai Kung District, New Territories^※, facing the sea and backed by hills.

# Q3: When was HKUST established, and why was it founded?

A: In 1986, the Hong Kong government announced plans to establish a third university, focused on science and technology, to meet the shortfall in university places not covered by HKU and CUHK^※. A preparatory committee was formed that year. In 1987, the Hong Kong Jockey Club donated HK$1.5 billion to support construction^※. In 1988, Professor Woo Chia-wei was appointed the founding Vice-Chancellor, and ground was broken in November of that year^※. The University officially opened on 2 October 1991, roughly three years ahead of the original 1994 target^※.

# Q4: Who is the current leadership?

A: At the reference level (see Governance Structure and Former Presidents/Vice-Chancellors (Part 1)^※ for details), the key office-holders are:

# Q5: How does HKUST differ from HKU and CUHK?

A: The three universities each have distinct strengths:

HKUST’s outstanding advantage lies in science, engineering, and business — particularly its School of Engineering, School of Business and Management, and the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA programme (which has ranked No. 1 globally 12 times)^※. Its ecosystem for entrepreneurship and deep tech is also world-renowned (notable alumni include Frank Wang, founder of DJI).

# Q6: Does HKUST have a medical school?

A: Until recently, HKUST had no medical school. On 18 November 2025, the Hong Kong SAR Government formally approved HKUST’s plan to establish Hong Kong’s third medical school^※, alongside HKU’s Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine and CUHK’s Faculty of Medicine.

The new medical school will offer a four-year second-degree MBBS programme^※ for graduates who already hold a relevant first degree. The first cohort of roughly 50 students is expected in the 2028/29 academic year^※. Ground was formally broken for the Medical Education and Research Complex on 28 April 2026^※, with completion slated for mid-2028.

# Q7: What is the relationship between the Guangzhou campus (HKUST(GZ)) and the Clear Water Bay main campus?

A: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), or HKUST(GZ), officially opened on 1 September 2022 on a site in the Qing Sheng Hub, Nansha District, Guangzhou^※.

Institutional structure: the two are separate legal entities, each with its own financial system^※, but operate under a “One University, Two Campuses — Complementary and Collaborative” framework. The Guangzhou campus has four Academic Hubs: Function, Information, Systems, and Society^※, focusing on frontier fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, smart manufacturing, and microelectronics — complementing the traditional disciplines on the Clear Water Bay campus. The Guangzhou campus currently offers three undergraduate programmes and 15 postgraduate programmes.

# Q8: What accommodation system does HKUST use? Is there a collegiate system?

A: HKUST uses a Hall-based residential system, not the collegiate system found at HKU or CUHK. The University provides nine undergraduate halls as well as the off-campus Jockey Club Hall^※. Each hall cultivates its own community culture, but there is no college structure that spans students’ entire learning and living experience.

# Q9: Where does HKUST stand in international rankings?

A: HKUST features prominently in several leading global rankings:

• QS World University Rankings 2026: 44th globally^※
• QS Asia University Rankings 2026: 6th in Asia (2nd in Hong Kong)^※
• THE World University Rankings 2026: 58th^※
• THE Young University Rankings 2024: 3rd^※ (exceptionally high among universities under 30 years old)

Historically, HKUST topped the QS Asia University Rankings for three consecutive years from 2011 to 2013^※.

# Q10: What is the medium of instruction at HKUST?

A: English is HKUST’s primary medium of instruction^※, and the vast majority of undergraduate and postgraduate courses are taught in English. Some courses in humanities and social science, as well as student activities and administrative matters, also make extensive use of Cantonese and Putonghua. HKUST’s international teaching environment attracts students from around the world: nearly half of the student body is non-local.