Lingnan University comes 84th in THE Asia University Rankings First-time participation wins place in top 100 and marks new milestone
Lingnan University comes 84th in its first entry in the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings.
The 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings have been released with Lingnan University participating for the first time and securing 84th place. Among a total of 929 universities from 36 countries and territories across Asia, Lingnan enters the top 100. This feat highlights the University’s growing ascendancy and recognition in the Asian academic landscape.
Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University expressed his delight at this important achievement, saying “Lingnan University’s first entry into THE Asia University Rankings and its inclusion in the top 100 marks an important milestone in the development of the University. It demonstrates the tangible results of our current teaching and research strategies, which build on Liberal Arts education as our traditional foundation while advancing ‘Liberal Arts plus Technology’ and ‘AI+’ initiatives, attracting top international scholars and strengthening student innovation and entrepreneurship. All of this consolidates Lingnan’s position as a research-oriented liberal arts university, comprehensive in arts and sciences, in the digital era.”
President Qin added “Making the best use of its geographical advantage as the Hong Kong SAR UGC-funded university closest to Shenzhen Bay Port and the Northern Metropolis, Lingnan University will continue to influence the Asian region, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration in industry, academia, research and knowledge transfer, and continuously improving its standing in these rankings.”
THE Asia University Rankings evaluate universities in Teaching, Research environment, Research quality, International outlook, and Industry, using a total of 18 performance indicators.
In recent years, Lingnan has made excellent progress in multiple areas. In the 2025 THE Impact Rankings, it came first internationally for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4): Quality Education, the first university in the Hong Kong SAR to achieve a global first in any SDG category. Lingnan also took part for the first time in the 2026 THE World University Rankings, placing within the world’s 301 to 350 band out of 2,191 universities, with its International Outlook ranking 47th worldwide.