Best universities in the Asia-Pacific region 2019

The top universities in the Asia-Pacific region according to data from Times Higher Education 

February 20 2019
Best universities in the Asia Pacific

Times Higher Education has once again released the Asia-Pacific University Ranking to reflect the region’s growing strength in the higher education sector.

THE’s Asia-Pacific University Ranking 2019 analysed universities across East Asia, South-east Asia and Oceania. The overall ranking features more than 300 universities from 13 different nations.

The ranking uses the same performance indicators as the THE World University Rankings 2019, however the weightings have been adjusted to reflect the younger profile of some of the universities in the region. The full methodology can be found here.

Japan is the most represented nation, with 103 universities featured. China is in second place with 72 universities. Other countries with a strong presence in the ranking are Australia (35 universities), Taiwan (32), South Korea (29) and Thailand (14).

The University of Melbourne is again the only university outside Asia to crack the top five, claiming third place (one up from fourth last year). The other universities featured in the top five are Tsinghua University (in first place), the National University of Singapore (second place), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (fourth place) and the University of Hong Kong (fifth place).

Scroll down for the full list of top universities in the region

1. Tsinghua University, China

Tsinghua University, one of the most selective institutions in the world, is a comprehensive research university. Its 20 schools and 54 departments cover disciplines including art, economics, education, engineering, history, management, medicine, law, literature, philosophy and the sciences.

Tsinghua has more than 110 student associations and groups covering five areas: science and technology, physical training, humanities, arts and public welfare.

Tsinghua’s campus is in north-west Beijing, in the Haidian district, which was traditionally reserved specifically for universities and other academic institutes.

2. National University of Singapore, Singapore

The National University of Singapore is a highly international university – more than half its student body is made up of international students. It has overseas colleges in many locations, including Israel, Germany, the US and Sweden. It has also formed collaborations with leading US institutions Duke University and Yale University.

The university has 17 schools across three campuses in Singapore, and it regularly ranks highly in both the Asia University Rankings and the THE World University Rankings.

The university started as a medical school in 1905 and has since developed into one of Asia’s flagship universities. It was established as the National University of Singapore after the merger of the University of Singapore and Nanyang University in 1980.

3. University of Melbourne, Australia

The University of Melbourne is a public research institution and Australia’s second-oldest university. Four Australian prime ministers have graduated from the institution, and nine Nobel laureates have been associated with it.

The undergraduate curriculum is unusual for Australia because it offers nine generalised three-year degrees instead of more specialised undergraduate courses. This style of teaching has been labelled the “Melbourne Model”. The university also offers postgraduate courses.

Melbourne is one of the leading research universities in Australia, and some of the research developed there has been adopted throughout the world. In the 1970s, research at the institution led to the first successful cochlear implant. Since 1984, more than 220,000 people worldwide have received a cochlear implant.

Student experience in the Asia-Pacific

International perspective: a Chinese student in New Zealand
International perspective: a Zambian student in Australia
Why more students are choosing to study in China
A day in the life of a student in Australia
A day in the life of a student in Singapore
International perspective: a Brazilian student in Japan
Why I chose to study at Osaka City University
The highlights of my time as a Chinese University of Hong Kong student
International perspective: an American student in China

4. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is a public research university in Clear Water Bay in Hong Kong, which was established in 1991.

The university consists of four academic schools, providing programmes in science, engineering, business and management, and the humanities and the social sciences.

Students at HKUST come from 80 different countries around the world. There are more than 100 student societies at the institution covering different academic disciplines, residential halls, sports and other interests.

5. University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

The University of Hong Kong has maintained its fifth-place position for the second year running. It was founded in 1911, but its origins can be traced back to the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese, which was established in 1887.

The university is split into 10 academic faculties, and English is the main language of teaching. Admission to the university is highly competitive, with approximately only one in every 12 applicants admitted.

It is becoming an increasingly popular choice for international students, who come from about 83 countries across the world.

Best universities in the Asia-Pacific

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Top universities in the Asia-Pacific region 2019

Asia Pacific rank 2019 Asia Pacific rank 2018 World University Rank 2019 University Country/region
1 2 22 Tsinghua University China
2 1 23 National University of Singapore Singapore
3 4 =32 University of Melbourne Australia
4 =6 41 Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Hong Kong
5 5 36 University of Hong Kong Hong Kong
6 3 31 Peking University China
7 =6 51 Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Singapore
8 8 49 Australian National University Australia
9 10 53 Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong
10 12 42 The University of Tokyo Japan
11 11 =59 University of Sydney Australia
12 9 69 University of Queensland Australia
13 14 63 Seoul National University South Korea
14 20 =82 Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) South Korea
15 13 =84 Monash University Australia
16 17 65 Kyoto University Japan
17 23 =93 University of Science and Technology of China China
18 =15 102 Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) South Korea
=19 =15 =96 UNSW Sydney Australia
=19 26 101 Zhejiang University China
21 21 =110 City University of Hong Kong Hong Kong
22 18 142 Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) South Korea
23 22 =135 University of Adelaide Australia
24 19 134 University of Western Australia Australia
25 24 104 Fudan University China
26 25 134 Nanjing University China
27 35 198 Korea University South Korea
28 =27 159 Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong
29 =31 196 University of Technology Sydney Australia
30 =29 201–250 Yonsei University (Seoul campus) South Korea
31 33 201–250 Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology South Korea
32 =29 189 Shanghai Jiao Tong University China
33 =31 201–250 Queensland University of Technology Australia
34 =27 201–250 University of Auckland New Zealand
35 37 170 National Taiwan University Taiwan
36 34 201–250 University of South Australia Australia
37 41 201–250 University of Wollongong Australia
38 40 201–250 Macquarie University Australia
39 38 201–250 James Cook University Australia
40 36 201–250 University of Otago New Zealand
41 64 251–300 University of Canberra Australia
42 43 251–300 Griffith University Australia
43 47 251–300 Flinders University Australia
44 45 251–300 Tokyo Institute of Technology Japan
=45 55 351–400 Kyung Hee University South Korea
=45 44 251–300 Tohoku University Japan
47 51 351–400 Hanyang University South Korea
48 46 301–350 Nagoya University Japan
49 42 301–350 University of Newcastle Australia
50 =56 301–350 La Trobe University Australia
=51 =84 301–350 Auckland University of Technology New Zealand
=51 59 301–350 University of Canterbury New Zealand
=51 54 301–350 Victoria University Australia
54 60 301–350 Wuhan University China
=55 61 301–350 University of Malaya Malaysia
=55 58 301–350 Sun Yat-sen University China
57 66 301–350 Curtin University Australia
58 39 251–300 Osaka University Japan
59 NR 301–350 Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) China
60 =62 351–400 University of Macau Macao
61 =70 351–400 Western Sydney University Australia
62 48 351–400 University of Tasmania Australia
63 NR 351–400 Nankai University China
64 53 401–500 Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology South Korea
65 52 351–400 Deakin University Australia
66 76 351–400 Huazhong University of Science and Technology China
67 73 401–500 Tongji University China
68 =79 401–500 Harbin Institute of Technology China
69 =67 401–500 Kyushu University Japan
70 65 401–500 University of Waikato New Zealand
71 50 401–500 National Tsing Hua University Taiwan
=72 =70 401–500 Murdoch University Australia
=72 69 401–500 Swinburne University of Technology Australia
=74 =88 501–600 China Medical University, Taiwan Taiwan
=74 =62 401–500 Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand
76 =56 401–500 National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (Taiwan Tech) Taiwan
77 =98 501–600 Taipei Medical University Taiwan
78 97 501–600 South China University of Technology China
=79 =100 401–500 Australian Catholic University Australia
=79 =79 401–500 RMIT University Australia
=79 78 401–500 Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) Japan
82 =74 401–500 Hokkaido University Japan
83 =67 501–600 National Chiao Tung University Taiwan
=84 72 501–600 Chung-Ang University South Korea
=84 =74 401–500 Hong Kong Baptist University Hong Kong
86 =88 501–600 Soochow University China
87 86 501–600 Southeast University China
=88 101–110 501–600 Beihang University China
=88 =98 401–500 Fujita Health University Japan
90 81 401–500 University of Tsukuba Japan
91 49 501–600 Charles Darwin University Australia
=92 77 501–600 National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) Taiwan
=92 NR 401–500 Teikyo University Japan
94 111–120 401–500 Tokyo Metropolitan University Japan
95 101–110 501–600 Bond University Australia
96 87 501–600 Edith Cowan University Australia
97 83 501–600 Tianjin University China
98 131–140 601–800 Central South University China
99 96 501–600 Xiamen University China
100 101–110 501–600 Renmin University of China China
101–110 101–110 501–600 East China Normal University China
101–110 121–130 501–600 Hunan University China
101–110 =100 501–600 Lincoln   University New Zealand
101–110 91 601–800 National Taiwan Normal University Taiwan
101–110 151–160 501–600 University of the Philippines Philippines
101–110 =93 501–600 Shandong University China
101–110 82 501–600 Southern Cross University Australia
101–110 121–130 601–800 Universiti Teknologi Petronas Malaysia
101–110 =93 501–600 University of Ulsan South Korea
101–110 101–110 501–600 Xi’an Jiaotong University China
111–120 95 501–600 Central Queensland University Australia
111–120 111–120 601–800 China Agricultural University China
111–120 =84 601–800 Ewha Womans University South Korea
111–120 101–110 601–800 Konkuk University South Korea
111–120 101–110 601–800 Mahidol University Thailand
111–120 90 501–600 Massey University New Zealand
111–120 NR 501–600 Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology China
111–120 111–120 501–600 National Yang-Ming University Taiwan
111–120 111–120 501–600 Sejong University South Korea
111–120 NR 601–800 Shenzhen University China
111–120 111–120 501–600 Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Malaysia
121–130 111–120 601–800 Beijing Institute of Technology China
121–130 111–120 601–800 Dalian University of Technology China
121–130 NR 601–800 Nippon Medical School Japan
121–130 131–140 601–800 Northwestern Polytechnical University China
121–130 101–110 601–800 Pusan National University South Korea
121–130 121–130 601–800 Sichuan University China
121–130 101–110 601–800 University of the Sunshine Coast Australia
121–130 121–130 601–800 Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Malaysia
121–130 161–170 601–800 Yokohama City University Japan
131–140 131–140 601–800 Chang Gung University Taiwan
131–140 121–130 601–800 China University of Geosciences, Beijing China
131–140 141–150 801–1000 China University of Petroleum, Beijing China
131–140 111–120 601–800 Hiroshima University Japan
131–140 191–200 601–800 University of Indonesia Indonesia
131–140 121–130 601–800 Keio University Japan
131–140 121–130 601–800 Nanjing Medical University China
131–140 121–130 601–800 National Sun Yat-Sen University Taiwan
131–140 141–150 601–800 Northeast Normal University China
131–140 NR 601–800 Rikkyo University Japan
131–140 141–150 601–800 University of Southern Queensland Australia
141–150 131–140 601–800 The University of Aizu Japan
141–150 101–110 601–800 East China University of Science and Technology China
141–150 131–140 601–800 Fuzhou University China
141–150 121–130 601–800 Huazhong Agricultural University China
141–150 141–150 601–800 Kobe University Japan
141–150 131–140 601–800 Nanjing Agricultural University China
141–150 151–160 601–800 Universiti Sains Malaysia Malaysia
141–150 171–180 801–1000 Shanghai University China
141–150 111–120 601–800 Sogang University South Korea
151–160 131–140 601–800 Chiba University Japan
151–160 141–150 601–800 Juntendo University Japan
151–160 161–170 601–800 Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Malaysia
151–160 201–250 601–800 Kindai University Japan
151–160 171–180 801–1000 Kyungpook National University South Korea
151–160 151–160 601–800 Nanjing Normal University China
151–160 141–150 601–800 Nanjing Tech University China
151–160 131–140 801–1000 National Central University Taiwan
151–160 131–140 601–800 Waseda University Japan
151–160 151–160 601–800 Yeungnam University South Korea
161–170 191–200 801–1000 Ajou University South Korea
161–170 151–160 801–1000 China University of Geosciences, Wuhan China
161–170 151–160 801–1000 Chulalongkorn University Thailand
161–170 NR 801–1000 Hyogo College of Medicine Japan
161–170 141–150 801–1000 Inha University South Korea
161–170 191–200 801–1000 Jikei University School of Medicine Japan
161–170 191–200 801–1000 Jinan University China
161–170 151–160 801–1000 National Taipei University of Technology Taiwan
161–170 151–160 801–1000 Northeastern University China
161–170 151–160 801–1000 University of Science and Technology Beijing China
171–180 201–250 801–1000 China University of Mining and Technology China
171–180 181–190 801–1000 Chongqing University China
171–180 161–170 801–1000 Chonnam National University South Korea
171–180 141–150 801–1000 Kaohsiung Medical University Taiwan
171–180 171–180 801–1000 National Chengchi University Taiwan
171–180 181–190 801–1000 National Dong Hwa University Taiwan
171–180 131–140 801–1000 Universiti Putra Malaysia Malaysia
171–180 151–160 801–1000 Shantou University China
171–180 141–150 801–1000 Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Japan
171–180 NR 801–1000 Tokyo Medical University Japan
181–190 181–190 801–1000 Asia University, Taiwan Taiwan
181–190 181–190 801–1000 Beijing Jiaotong University China
181–190 171–180 801–1000 Capital Medical University China
181–190 NR 801–1000 Jilin University China
181–190 141–150 801–1000 Kanazawa University Japan
181–190 161–170 801–1000 Okayama University Japan
181–190 181–190 801–1000 University of Seoul South Korea
181–190 161–170 801–1000 Suranaree University of Technology Thailand
181–190 191–200 801–1000 Xiangtan University China
181–190 201–250 801–1000 Xidian University China
191–200 201–250 801–1000 Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Indonesia
191–200 161–170 801–1000 Chonbuk National University South Korea
191–200 121–130 801–1000 King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi Thailand
191–200 201–250 801–1000 National Taipei University Taiwan
191–200 201–250 801–1000 Niigata University Japan
191–200 171–180 801–1000 Osaka City University Japan
191–200 NR 801–1000 Sapporo Medical University Japan
191–200 161–170 801–1000 Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) Malaysia
191–200 171–180 801–1000 Tokushima University Japan
191–200 161–170 801–1000 Tokyo University of Science Japan
201–250 NR 801–1000 Aichi Medical University Japan
201–250 191–200 801–1000 Chiang Mai University Thailand
201–250 NR 801–1000 China Pharmaceutical University China
201–250 201–250 1001+ Chungnam National University South Korea
201–250 181–190 801–1000 Chung Yuan Christian University Taiwan
201–250 NR 801–1000 De La Salle University Philippines
201–250 201–250 1001+ Ehime University Japan
201–250 191–200 1001+ The University of Electro-Communications Japan
201–250 191–200 1001+ Feng Chia University Taiwan
201–250 201–250 801–1000 Fu Jen Catholic University Taiwan
201–250 NR 1001+ Gunma University Japan
201–250 201–250 801–1000 Hamamatsu University School of Medicine Japan
201–250 NR 1001+ Harbin Engineering University China
201–250 NR 1001+ Incheon National University South Korea
201–250 201–250 801–1000 Jiangsu University China
201–250 161–170 801–1000 Kagawa University Japan
201–250 201–250 801–1000 Kansai Medical University Japan
201–250 201–250 1001+ Khon Kaen University Thailand
201–250 201–250 1001+ King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang Thailand
201–250 171–180 801–1000 Kochi University Japan
201–250 171–180 801–1000 Kumamoto University Japan
201–250 201–250 801–1000 Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) Japan
201–250 201–250 1001+ Nagaoka University of Technology Japan
201–250 201–250 801–1000 Nagasaki University Japan
201–250 161–170 801–1000 Nagoya City University Japan
201–250 201–250 1001+ Nagoya Institute of Technology Japan
201–250 201–250 1001+ Nara Medical University Japan
201–250 NR 801–1000 National Chung Hsing University Taiwan
201–250 171–180 801–1000 National Taiwan Ocean University Taiwan
201–250 191–200 801–1000 Northwest University China
201–250 201–250 801–1000 NorthWest A&F University China
201–250 181–190 801–1000 Ocean University of China China
201–250 NR 1001+ Ochanomizu University Japan
201–250 201–250 1001+ Osaka Prefecture University Japan
201–250 201–250 1001+ Saga University Japan
201–250 201–250 801–1000 Saitama University Japan
201–250 201–250 1001+ Saitama Medical University Japan
201–250 NR 1001+ Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology Indonesia
201–250 251+ 1001+ Shanghai Maritime University China
201–250 201–250 801–1000 Shinshu University Japan
201–250 201–250 1001+ Showa University Japan
201–250 NR 801–1000 Southern Medical University China
201–250 NR 1001+ Thammasat University Thailand
201–250 NR 801–1000 Toho University Japan
201–250 201–250 1001+ Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology Japan
201–250 201–250 1001+ University of Toyama Japan
201–250 201–250 801–1000 Toyohashi University of Technology (TUT) Japan
201–250 251+ 801–1000 Universiti Utara Malaysia Malaysia
201–250 201–250 801–1000 Wuhan University of Technology China
201–250 201–250 801–1000 Yamagata University Japan
201–250 201–250 801–1000 University of Yamanashi Japan
201–250 NR 801–1000 Yangzhou University China
201–250 181–190 801–1000 Yokohama National University Japan
201–250 181–190 1001+ Yuan Ze University Taiwan
251–300 251+ 1001+ Akita University Japan
251–300 NR 1001+ Aoyama Gakuin University Japan
251–300 201–250 1001+ Bogor Agricultural University Indonesia
251–300 NR 1001+ Chubu University Japan
251–300 201–250 1001+ Chuo University Japan
251–300 251+ 1001+ University of Fukui Japan
251–300 201–250 1001+ Universitas Gadjah Mada Indonesia
251–300 201–250 1001+ Gifu University Japan
251–300 251+ 1001+ Guangxi University China
251–300 201–250 1001+ Hallym University South Korea
251–300 201–250 1001+ Hosei University Japan
251–300 201–250 1001+ Huaqiao University China
251–300 251+ 1001+ University of Hyogo Japan
251–300 201–250 1001+ I-Shou University Taiwan
251–300 201–250 1001+ Iwate University Japan
251–300 201–250 1001+ Kagoshima University Japan
251–300 251+ 1001+ Kasetsart University Thailand
251–300 251+ 1001+ King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok Thailand
251–300 201–250 1001+ Kitasato University Japan
251–300 NR 1001+ Kookmin University South Korea
251–300 251+ 1001+ Kyoto Institute of Technology Japan
251–300 201–250 1001+ Meiji University Japan
251–300 201–250 1001+ University of Miyazaki Japan
251–300 NR 1001+ Muroran Institute of Technology Japan
251–300 NR 1001+ Naresuan University Thailand
251–300 NR 1001+ National Changhua University of Education Taiwan
251–300 251+ 1001+ National Chiayi University Taiwan
251–300 201–250 1001+ National Chung Cheng University Taiwan
251–300 251+ 1001+ National University of Kaohsiung Taiwan
251–300 NR 1001+ North China Electric Power University China
251–300 251+ 1001+ Oita University Japan
251–300 201–250 1001+ Prince of Songkla University Thailand
251–300 251+ 1001+ Ritsumeikan University Japan
251–300 NR 1001+ University of the Ryukyus Japan
251–300 201–250 1001+ Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech) South Korea
251–300 251+ 1001+ Shibaura Institute of Technology Tokyo Japan
251–300 251+ 1001+ Shimane University Japan
251–300 251+ 1001+ Shizuoka University Japan
251–300 NR 1001+ University of Shizuoka Japan
251–300 201–250 1001+ Sophia University Japan
251–300 201–250 1001+ Southwest Jiaotong University China
251–300 251+ 1001+ Tamkang University Taiwan
251–300 251+ 1001+ Tokai University Japan
251–300 251+ 1001+ Tottori University Japan
251–300 251+ 1001+ Yamaguchi University Japan
251–300 NR 1001+ Yanshan University China
301+ 251+ 1001+ Chaoyang University of Technology Taiwan
301+ 251+ 1001+ Chiba Institute of Technology Japan
301+ 251+ 1001+ Doshisha University Japan
301+ 251+ 1001+ Ibaraki University Japan
301+ 251+ 1001+ Kanagawa University Japan
301+ 251+ 1001+ Kansai University Japan
301+ 251+ 1001+ Kogakuin University Japan
301+ 251+ 1001+ Kwansei Gakuin University Japan
301+ NR 1001+ Mahasarakham University Thailand
301+ 251+ 1001+ Meijo University Japan
301+ 251+ 1001+ Ming Chuan University Taiwan
301+ NR 1001+ University of South China China
301+ NR 1001+ Srinakharinwirot University Thailand
301+ NR 1001+ Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia
301+ NR 1001+ Tokyo University of Agriculture Japan
301+ 251+ 1001+ Tokyo City University Japan
301+ 251+ 1001+ Tokyo Denki University Japan
301+ 251+ 1001+ Toyo University Japan
301+ NR 1001+ Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Malaysia
301+ 251+ 1001+ Utsunomiya University Japan

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