Using a methodology based on nine performance indicators, the ranking facilitates comparison of Asia’s leading institutions on factors including global reputation, research production and impact, and internationalization.
Visit the 2015 rankings table for a full look at the top 300. Or, for the lowdown on the overall leaders, see below for an overview of the 10 top universities in Asia this year…
1. National University of Singapore (NUS)
Location: Singapore
Celebrating its 110th birthday this year, theNational University of Singapore (NUS) is the oldest among universities in Singapore, and retains its place at the top of the QS University Rankings: Asia this year. It’s currently ranked 22nd in the overall QS World University Rankings®.
This year, the National University of Singapore ranks among the world’s top 50 in a total of 30 subjects covered by the QS World University Rankings by Subject. Its strongest fields programs – for which it places within the global top 10 – are architecture, biological sciences, chemistry, chemical engineering, civil & structural engineering, electrical & electronic engineering, environmental studies, geography, linguistics, materials sciences and mechanical engineering.
2. University of Hong Kong
Location: Hong Kong
Like Singapore, Hong Kong is small in size (officially a Special Administrative Region of China), yet a big player on the Asian higher education scene. It claims four representatives among the 10 top universities in Asia alone, led by the University of Hong Kong (HKU), which climbs one place in the ranking this year. Founded in 1911, HKU is currently 28th in the overall world rankings, and caters to almost 28,000 students, of which 11,000 are postgraduates. The main language of instruction is English.
The University of Hong Kong is ranked internationally for 33 subjects, placing within the world’s top 50 for 26 academic disciplines. It comes second in the world for dentistry, sixth for education & training and ninth for both linguistics and civil & structural engineering.
3. KAIST - Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology
Location: South Korea
One of several prestigious technicaluniversities in South Korea, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology, orKAIST, falls one place in the QS University Rankings: Asia this year – swapping places with HKU. Currently at 51st in the world rankings, KAIST was established in 1971 in the city of Daejeon, as South Korea’s first university dedicated to science and engineering research. Smaller in size compared to many of the top universities in Asia, KAIST currently enrolls around 6,000 postgraduate and 4,000 undergraduate students.
Within the global top 100 for 13 subjects, KAIST ranks in the top 50 worldwide for chemical engineering, chemistry, civil & structural engineering, computer science, electrical & electronic engineering, materials sciences and mechanical engineering.
4. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU)
Location: Singapore
Gaining three places in the ranking this year,Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is fast catching up with country-mate NUS. Currently 39th in the world rankings, it was named the world’s top young university in theQS Top 50 Under 50 2014, having been established only in 1991. The school now enrolls around 32,500 students, including 9,000 postgraduates.
Nanyang Technological University is ranked among the world’s best in a total of 28 subjects, and is included within the global top 50 for accounting & finance, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil & structural engineering, computer science, communication & media studies, electrical & electronic engineering, environmental studies, linguistics, materials sciences, mathematics, mechanical engineering, physics & astronomy and psychology.
5. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
Location: Hong Kong
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, or HKUST, ranks second amonguniversities in Hong Kong. Retaining fifth place in the Asian ranking, it’s currently 40th in the overall world rankings. Like NTU, HKUST was established in 1991, and it claims second place in the most recent QS Top 50 Under 50. World-renowned for its technical degree programs, the institution’s 2014 enrolment stood at approximately 13,500, including 4,500 postgraduate students.
Of the 18 subjects the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is ranked for, it places within the world’s top 50 for accounting & finance, business & management, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil & structural engineering, computer science, economics & econometrics, electrical & electronic engineering, materials sciences, mathematics, mechanical engineering and statistics.
6. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
Location: Hong Kong
Also among the top three universities in Hong Kong is the Chinese University of Hong Kong(CUHK) currently ranked 46th in the world rankings and retaining its position as sixth in Asia. The second oldest university in Hong Kong, established in 1963, the Chinese University of Hong Kong now offers the majority of its programs in English. It is also the only institution in Hong Kong to boast a Nobel Prize-, Turing Award-, Fields Medal- and Veblen Prize- winning faculty.
Internationally ranked in 28 subjects, the Chinese University of Hong features among the world’s top 50 schools for accounting & finance, business & management, communication & media studies, computer science, economics & econometrics, education & training, electrical & electronic engineering, geography, history & archaeology, law & legal studies, linguistics, mathematics, modern languages, pharmacy & pharmacology, politics, psychology and sociology.
7. Peking University
Location: China
China’s first appearance in this ranking of top universities in Asia comes with Peking University, which gains one position this year. A major research university, Peking University ranks 57th in the latest world rankings, and is a member of China’s prestigious C9 league. Established in 1898 and located in Beijing, Peking University caters to more than 30,000 students, around half of which are postgraduates. Alongside its leading academic offering, Peking University’s campus grounds are admired for their traditional Chinese architecture.
Featured in the QS World University Rankings by Subject in 31 subjects (one more than NUS!), Peking University is among the world’s top 50 for 22 disciplines, including accounting & finance, chemistry, dentistry, English language & literature, environmental studies, modern languages, law & legal studies and pharmacy & pharmacology.
8. Seoul National University
Location: South Korea
South Korea’s second offering in the Asia ranking is Seoul National University , which falls four places compared to last year. Seoul National University currently ranks 31st in the world rankings, and is well-known as one of the leading universities in South Korea. Established in the capital city of Seoul in 1946, it now also has campuses in Gwanak and Daehangno. It boasts Korea’s largest campus and as of 2014, was home to 16,500 undergraduate and 11,500 graduate students.
Internationally ranked in 35 subjects (out of the 36 currently covered by QS) and in the top 50 for 25 of these, Seoul National University’s strongest fields include architecture, chemical engineering, modern languages and pharmacy & pharmacology.
9. City University of Hong Kong
Location: Hong Kong
The City University of Hong Kong climbs two places in the QS University Rankings: Asia this year, while ranking 108th in the overall world rankings. While only having received full university accreditation in 1984, the City University of Hong Kong has fast become highly reputed, with a current student base of almost 14,000 undergraduate and 5,000 postgraduate students.
Of the 23 subjects the City University of Hong Kong is internationally ranked for, it places highest within the global top 50 for architecture, business & management, civil & structural engineering, electrical & electronic engineering, linguistics and mathematics.
10. Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)
Location: South Korea
The Pohang University of Science And Technology, shortened to POSTECH, slips one place in the Asia ranking this year, but remains within the top 10. A private research institution located in Pohang, POSTECH is 86th in the latest world rankings, and is also featured in the QS Top 50 Under 50, having been established in 1986 by steel company POSCO. Relatively small compared to the other top universities in Asia, POSTECH has a current student enrollment of 2,100 postgraduates and 1,300 undergraduates.
POSTECH is ranked within the top 50 worldwide for chemical engineering and materials sciences, and in the top 200 in a further eight subjects.
