The University of Hong Kong was founded in 1911 as the first university in Hong Kong, established through the amalgamation of the Hong Kong College of Medicine founded in 1887 and other institutions. It began operations with faculties in arts, engineering, and medicine, and expanded over the twentieth century through post-war reconstruction, the addition of new faculties, and growth in research capacity. The university has maintained English as its primary medium of instruction since inception and developed into a comprehensive research institution with international partnerships and contributions across multiple disciplines.
HKU's main campus is located in Pokfulam on Hong Kong Island, covering approximately 160 hectares with a hilly terrain featuring historic buildings, modern facilities, and green spaces. The campus includes the Main Building constructed in 1912, the Centennial Campus opened in 2012 for expanded teaching and research, residential halls, libraries, and specialized centers. Additional sites include the Sassoon Road medical precinct and facilities in other districts for specific programs, with the campus connected by public transport and integrated into the urban environment of Hong Kong.
HKU is governed by the Council as the supreme governing body responsible for strategy, finance, and oversight, with the Court providing broader advisory functions. The current President and Vice-Chancellor is Professor Xiang Zhang, who has held the position since January 2018. The university operates as a public institution with significant autonomy, supported by government funding, donations, and an endowment, and includes a Provost, Executive Vice-President for Administration and Finance, and various Vice-Presidents and Pro-Vice-Chancellors overseeing academic and operational areas.
HKU is organized into ten faculties covering arts, business and economics, dentistry, education, engineering, law, medicine, science, social sciences, and architecture, along with additional schools and graduate institutes. It offers undergraduate, taught postgraduate, and research postgraduate programs with a focus on research-led teaching and interdisciplinary approaches. The university consistently ranks among the world's top institutions, placing eleventh in the QS World University Rankings 2026, first in Asia in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, and thirty-third in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, with strengths in research output, citations, and international collaboration.
HKU enrolls approximately thirty thousand students, with a significant proportion international and representing diverse nationalities. Student accommodation is provided through residential halls and colleges offering meals, community activities, and pastoral support. The university supports over two hundred student organizations covering academic, cultural, sports, and service activities, along with events, wellness programs, and access to Hong Kong's urban amenities including cultural venues and public transport for off-campus exploration.
Professors at The University of Hong Kong
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