QS Asia University Rankings 2026

Hong Kong takes Top Spot as Mainland China Surpasses India as Most-Represented System

LONDON,Nov. 4, 2025/PRNewswire/ -- QS Quacquarelli Symonds today released theQS World University Rankings: Asia2026, revealinga region expanding in scale, diversifying in quality, and accelerating in research and international engagement.

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The University of Hong Kong rises to first place, overtakingPeking University(2nd).Nanyang Technological Universityclimbs to joint third alongside theNational University of Singapore. This year's edition evaluates1,500+ institutions across 25 higher-education systems, including550+ new entrants—the ranking's most extensive assessment to date.

Mainland China now leads representation with395 ranked universities, surpassingIndia (294), followed byJapan (147)andSouth Korea (103).Hong Kong SARrecords its strongest-ever showing, hostingfive of Asia's top tenuniversities.

Asia's Top 10 Universities 

2026

2025

Institution

1

2

The University of Hong Kong

2

1

Peking University

=3

4

Nanyang Technological University

=3

3

National University of Singapore

5

5

Fudan University

6

11

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

=7

10

City University of Hong Kong

=7

6

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

9

7

Tsinghua University

10

17

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Highlights

  • Indiashines for research productivity and staff with PhD
  • Malaysiais one of the most improved higher education systems in this edition.
  • South Koreashows system-wide strength, matching China for the most top-20 positions;12 of its 15top-100 universities improve.
  • Japanremains a benchmark for teaching quality and research impact, anchored by theUniversity of Tokyo (26th).
  • Taiwanseesseven of its top tenuniversities rise, led byNational Taiwan University (23rd).
  • Thailanddrops out of the top 50 but records more universities rising than declining.
  • Vietnam National Universityemerges as the nation's top institution.
  • Thetop ten Indonesian universitiesrise in both academic and employer reputation, strengthening the country's regional influence.
  • Pakistan, with82 ranked universities, is Asia'ssixth most-representedhigher-education system.
  • The Philippinesmarks a milestone with35 ranked universities,11 morethan the previous edition.
  • Kazakhstandominates Central Asia, boasting all three of the subregion's top 100 universities whileUzbekistan'stop universities record exceptional rises.

Ben Sowter, Senior Vice President, QS, said:

 "Asia's higher education story is one of diversity and dynamism. While systems such as China, South Korea, and Singapore are consolidating excellence, others—including Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam — are advancing rapidly despite structural and resource challenges. The region's evolution reflects both its opportunity and its complexity."

 

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SOURCE QS Quacquarelli Symonds