FAQ — The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

# Q1: What kind of university is HKUST?

A: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is a public research university funded by the Hong Kong SAR Government through the University Grants Committee (UGC)^※. It officially opened in October 1991^※, making it one of the youngest UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong, and the only one built from scratch with no predecessor institution whatsoever.

Science, engineering, business and management, and humanities and social science form its core disciplines. The University positions itself as 「具有重大国际影响力的领先大学」^※ — "a leading university with significant international influence" — with research and innovation as its core competitive strengths.

# Q2: How big is HKUST? How many students and staff are there?

A: As of December 2025 (latest official figures):

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

The campus covers about 60 hectares^※ and sits on Clear Water Bay in Sai Kung District, the New Territories^※, built into a hillside overlooking the sea.

# Q3: When was HKUST founded, and why?

A: In 1986, the Hong Kong Government announced plans to build a third university, with science and technology as its focus, to fill the shortfall in university places that HKU and CUHK could not meet on their own^※. A preparatory committee was formed the same year. In 1987, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club donated HK$1.5 billion towards construction^※. In 1988, Professor Chia-Wei Woo was appointed the founding President, and the ground was broken in November of that year^※. On 2 October 1991, the University officially opened — about three years ahead of the original target of 1994^※.

# Q4: Who are the current top leaders?

A: In terms of Level 0 matters, HKUST's key leadership is as follows (for more detail, see Governance and Successive Presidents (Part 1)^※):

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

A: Each of the three universities has its own strengths:

HKUST's standout strengths lie in engineering, science and business — notably its School of Engineering, School of Business and Management, and the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA programme (ranked the world's No. 1 EMBA 12 times)^※. Its entrepreneurship and deep-tech ecosystem is world-renowned (famous alumni include Frank Wang Tao, founder of DJI).

# Q6: Does HKUST have a medical school?

A: For a long time, HKUST had no medical school. On 18 November 2025, the Hong Kong Government formally approved HKUST to establish Hong Kong's third medical school^※ — the first new one after 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 applicants who already hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant field. The first cohort of about 50 students is expected to enrol in the 2028/29 academic year^※. On 28 April 2026, the Integrated Medical Education and Research Building officially broke ground^※, with completion expected in mid-2028.

# Q7: How does HKUST(GZ), the Guangzhou campus, relate to the Clear Water Bay campus?

A: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), or HKUST(GZ), formally opened on 1 September 2022, located at the Qingsheng Hub area of Nansha District, Guangzhou^※.

Institutionally, the two are separate legal entities with independent financial systems^※, but operate under the framework of "one university, two campuses — complementary and collaborative." The Guangzhou campus houses four Academic Hubs: the Function Hub, Information Hub, Systems Hub and Society Hub^※, focusing on frontier fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, intelligent manufacturing and microelectronics — complementing the traditional disciplines at Clear Water Bay. The Guangzhou campus currently offers three undergraduate programmes and 15 postgraduate programmes.

# Q8: How does student accommodation work at HKUST? Is there a college system?

A: HKUST uses a hall system, not the college system found at HKU and CUHK. The University has nine undergraduate residence halls plus the off-campus Jockey Club Hall^※, each with its own community culture — but there is no college structure that encompasses students' entire academic and residential life.

# Q9: Where does HKUST rank internationally?

A: HKUST consistently places near the top in major international rankings:

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

Historically, HKUST was ranked No. 1 in the QS Asian University Rankings for three consecutive years, 2011–2013^※.

# Q10: What language is used for teaching?

A: English is the primary medium of instruction^※, and the majority of undergraduate and postgraduate courses are taught in English. Cantonese and Putonghua are also widely used in some humanities and social science courses, as well as in student activities and administrative operations. HKUST's international teaching environment attracts students from around the world — nearly half of the student body is non-local.