Five universities from Hong Kong continue to make the list in the Quacquarelli Symonds(QS) Global MBA Ranking 2026, with Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) overtaking the University of Hong Kong (HKU) for the top spot in the city.
The QS ranking includes over 390 programs from 80 countries and regions, assessing criteria such as employability, entrepreneurship, alumni outcomes, return on investment, thought leadership, and the diversity of classes and faculty.
Although US institutions still claim the top four global rankings, Stanford Graduate School of Business has fallen to fourth place after five consecutive years in the lead.
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania claimed the top rank, followed by Harvard Business School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management.
In Asia, the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School retains its position as the best-ranked business school, achieving a new high at 23rd globally.
Despite HKUST's lead in the city, its ranking has slightly declined from last year's 46th position to 49th this year.
HKU has dropped eight places to 51st, while the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) fell five spots to 85th.
On the other hand, the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) rises to 98th and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), which debuted in the rankings last year, remains in the 201-250 range.
University responses
In response to the rankings, HKUST stated that while rankings serve as one reference point for assessing university performance, the focus should remain on the long-term quality of teaching and research.
With the high recognitions among different indicators, HKUST reiterated its commitment to optimizing its MBA program to nurture talent for future competitiveness.
HKU's business school highlighted the importance of international assessments, including QS, in evaluating educational standards and fostering collaborations with global institutions.
Looking ahead, HKU expressed its intention to enhance its MBA program to develop future leaders with a global perspective.
Noting different ranking systems have their own criteria, CUHK stressed its commitment to assess its performance while leveraging its unique strengths to provide a diverse and international learning experience for students.
CityU pointed out that its MBA program has seen improvements in several assessment indicators compared to last year, with four programs maintaining their position among the top five in Asia, adding that College of Business will continue to grow globally-minded business talent through enhanced courses that adapt to global changes.
