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Best universities in the Asia-Pacific region 2019

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

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February 20 2019
Best universities in the Asia Pacific

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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 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 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

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

Best universities in Australia

Top universities in the Asia-Pacific region 2019

Asia Pacific rank 2019Asia Pacific rank 2018World University Rank 2019UniversityCountry/region
1222Tsinghua UniversityChina
2123National University of SingaporeSingapore
34=32University of MelbourneAustralia
4=641Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyHong Kong
5536University of Hong KongHong Kong
6331Peking UniversityChina
7=651Nanyang Technological University, SingaporeSingapore
8849Australian National UniversityAustralia
91053Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong
101242The University of TokyoJapan
1111=59University of SydneyAustralia
12969University of QueenslandAustralia
131463Seoul National UniversitySouth Korea
1420=82Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)South Korea
1513=84Monash UniversityAustralia
161765Kyoto UniversityJapan
1723=93University of Science and Technology of ChinaChina
18=15102Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)South Korea
=19=15=96UNSW SydneyAustralia
=1926101Zhejiang UniversityChina
2121=110City University of Hong KongHong Kong
2218142Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)South Korea
2322=135University of AdelaideAustralia
2419134University of Western AustraliaAustralia
2524104Fudan UniversityChina
2625134Nanjing UniversityChina
2735198Korea UniversitySouth Korea
28=27159Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHong Kong
29=31196University of Technology SydneyAustralia
30=29201–250Yonsei University (Seoul campus)South Korea
3133201–250Ulsan National Institute of Science and TechnologySouth Korea
32=29189Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityChina
33=31201–250Queensland University of TechnologyAustralia
34=27201–250University of AucklandNew Zealand
3537170National Taiwan UniversityTaiwan
3634201–250University of South AustraliaAustralia
3741201–250University of WollongongAustralia
3840201–250Macquarie UniversityAustralia
3938201–250James Cook UniversityAustralia
4036201–250University of OtagoNew Zealand
4164251–300University of CanberraAustralia
4243251–300Griffith UniversityAustralia
4347251–300Flinders UniversityAustralia
4445251–300Tokyo Institute of TechnologyJapan
=4555351–400Kyung Hee UniversitySouth Korea
=4544251–300Tohoku UniversityJapan
4751351–400Hanyang UniversitySouth Korea
4846301–350Nagoya UniversityJapan
4942301–350University of NewcastleAustralia
50=56301–350La Trobe UniversityAustralia
=51=84301–350Auckland University of TechnologyNew Zealand
=5159301–350University of CanterburyNew Zealand
=5154301–350Victoria UniversityAustralia
5460301–350Wuhan UniversityChina
=5561301–350University of MalayaMalaysia
=5558301–350Sun Yat-sen UniversityChina
5766301–350Curtin UniversityAustralia
5839251–300Osaka UniversityJapan
59NR301–350Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)China
60=62351–400University of MacauMacao
61=70351–400Western Sydney UniversityAustralia
6248351–400University of TasmaniaAustralia
63NR351–400Nankai UniversityChina
6453401–500Gwangju Institute of Science and TechnologySouth Korea
6552351–400Deakin UniversityAustralia
6676351–400Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyChina
6773401–500Tongji UniversityChina
68=79401–500Harbin Institute of TechnologyChina
69=67401–500Kyushu UniversityJapan
7065401–500University of WaikatoNew Zealand
7150401–500National Tsing Hua UniversityTaiwan
=72=70401–500Murdoch UniversityAustralia
=7269401–500Swinburne University of TechnologyAustralia
=74=88501–600China Medical University, TaiwanTaiwan
=74=62401–500Victoria University of WellingtonNew Zealand
76=56401–500National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (Taiwan Tech)Taiwan
77=98501–600Taipei Medical UniversityTaiwan
7897501–600South China University of TechnologyChina
=79=100401–500Australian Catholic UniversityAustralia
=79=79401–500RMIT UniversityAustralia
=7978401–500Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU)Japan
82=74401–500Hokkaido UniversityJapan
83=67501–600National Chiao Tung UniversityTaiwan
=8472501–600Chung-Ang UniversitySouth Korea
=84=74401–500Hong Kong Baptist UniversityHong Kong
86=88501–600Soochow UniversityChina
8786501–600Southeast UniversityChina
=88101–110501–600Beihang UniversityChina
=88=98401–500Fujita Health UniversityJapan
9081401–500University of TsukubaJapan
9149501–600Charles Darwin UniversityAustralia
=9277501–600National Cheng Kung University (NCKU)Taiwan
=92NR401–500Teikyo UniversityJapan
94111–120401–500Tokyo Metropolitan UniversityJapan
95101–110501–600Bond UniversityAustralia
9687501–600Edith Cowan UniversityAustralia
9783501–600Tianjin UniversityChina
98131–140601–800Central South UniversityChina
9996501–600Xiamen UniversityChina
100101–110501–600Renmin University of ChinaChina
101–110101–110501–600East China Normal UniversityChina
101–110121–130501–600Hunan UniversityChina
101–110=100501–600Lincoln   UniversityNew Zealand
101–11091601–800National Taiwan Normal UniversityTaiwan
101–110151–160501–600University of the PhilippinesPhilippines
101–110=93501–600Shandong UniversityChina
101–11082501–600Southern Cross UniversityAustralia
101–110121–130601–800Universiti Teknologi PetronasMalaysia
101–110=93501–600University of UlsanSouth Korea
101–110101–110501–600Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityChina
111–12095501–600Central Queensland UniversityAustralia
111–120111–120601–800China Agricultural UniversityChina
111–120=84601–800Ewha Womans UniversitySouth Korea
111–120101–110601–800Konkuk UniversitySouth Korea
111–120101–110601–800Mahidol UniversityThailand
111–12090501–600Massey UniversityNew Zealand
111–120NR501–600Nanjing University of Information Science and TechnologyChina
111–120111–120501–600National Yang-Ming UniversityTaiwan
111–120111–120501–600Sejong UniversitySouth Korea
111–120NR601–800Shenzhen UniversityChina
111–120111–120501–600Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)Malaysia
121–130111–120601–800Beijing Institute of TechnologyChina
121–130111–120601–800Dalian University of TechnologyChina
121–130NR601–800Nippon Medical SchoolJapan
121–130131–140601–800Northwestern Polytechnical UniversityChina
121–130101–110601–800Pusan National UniversitySouth Korea
121–130121–130601–800Sichuan UniversityChina
121–130101–110601–800University of the Sunshine CoastAustralia
121–130121–130601–800Universiti Teknologi MalaysiaMalaysia
121–130161–170601–800Yokohama City UniversityJapan
131–140131–140601–800Chang Gung UniversityTaiwan
131–140121–130601–800China University of Geosciences, BeijingChina
131–140141–150801–1000China University of Petroleum, BeijingChina
131–140111–120601–800Hiroshima UniversityJapan
131–140191–200601–800University of IndonesiaIndonesia
131–140121–130601–800Keio UniversityJapan
131–140121–130601–800Nanjing Medical UniversityChina
131–140121–130601–800Sun Yat-sen UniversityTaiwan
131–140141–150601–800Northeast Normal UniversityChina
131–140NR601–800Rikkyo UniversityJapan
131–140141–150601–800University of Southern QueenslandAustralia
141–150131–140601–800The University of AizuJapan
141–150101–110601–800East China University of Science and TechnologyChina
141–150131–140601–800Fuzhou UniversityChina
141–150121–130601–800Huazhong Agricultural UniversityChina
141–150141–150601–800Kobe UniversityJapan
141–150131–140601–800Nanjing Agricultural UniversityChina
141–150151–160601–800Universiti Sains MalaysiaMalaysia
141–150171–180801–1000Shanghai UniversityChina
141–150111–120601–800Sogang UniversitySouth Korea
151–160131–140601–800Chiba UniversityJapan
151–160141–150601–800Juntendo UniversityJapan
151–160161–170601–800Universiti Kebangsaan MalaysiaMalaysia
151–160201–250601–800Kindai UniversityJapan
151–160171–180801–1000Kyungpook National UniversitySouth Korea
151–160151–160601–800Nanjing Normal UniversityChina
151–160141–150601–800Nanjing Tech UniversityChina
151–160131–140801–1000National Central UniversityTaiwan
151–160131–140601–800Waseda UniversityJapan
151–160151–160601–800Yeungnam UniversitySouth Korea
161–170191–200801–1000Ajou UniversitySouth Korea
161–170151–160801–1000China University of Geosciences, WuhanChina
161–170151–160801–1000Chulalongkorn UniversityThailand
161–170NR801–1000Hyogo College of MedicineJapan
161–170141–150801–1000Inha UniversitySouth Korea
161–170191–200801–1000Jikei University School of MedicineJapan
161–170191–200801–1000Jinan UniversityChina
161–170151–160801–1000National Taipei University of TechnologyTaiwan
161–170151–160801–1000Northeastern UniversityChina
161–170151–160801–1000University of Science and Technology BeijingChina
171–180201–250801–1000China University of Mining and TechnologyChina
171–180181–190801–1000Chongqing UniversityChina
171–180161–170801–1000Chonnam National UniversitySouth Korea
171–180141–150801–1000Kaohsiung Medical UniversityTaiwan
171–180171–180801–1000National Chengchi UniversityTaiwan
171–180181–190801–1000National Dong Hwa UniversityTaiwan
171–180131–140801–1000Universiti Putra MalaysiaMalaysia
171–180151–160801–1000Shantou UniversityChina
171–180141–150801–1000Tokyo University of Agriculture and TechnologyJapan
171–180NR801–1000Tokyo Medical UniversityJapan
181–190181–190801–1000Asia University, TaiwanTaiwan
181–190181–190801–1000Beijing Jiaotong UniversityChina
181–190171–180801–1000Capital Medical UniversityChina
181–190NR801–1000Jilin UniversityChina
181–190141–150801–1000Kanazawa UniversityJapan
181–190161–170801–1000Okayama UniversityJapan
181–190181–190801–1000University of SeoulSouth Korea
181–190161–170801–1000Suranaree University of TechnologyThailand
181–190191–200801–1000Xiangtan UniversityChina
181–190201–250801–1000Xidian UniversityChina
191–200201–250801–1000Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB)Indonesia
191–200161–170801–1000Chonbuk National UniversitySouth Korea
191–200121–130801–1000King Mongkut’s University of Technology ThonburiThailand
191–200201–250801–1000National Taipei UniversityTaiwan
191–200201–250801–1000Niigata UniversityJapan
191–200171–180801–1000Osaka City UniversityJapan
191–200NR801–1000Sapporo Medical UniversityJapan
191–200161–170801–1000Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN)Malaysia
191–200171–180801–1000Tokushima UniversityJapan
191–200161–170801–1000Tokyo University of ScienceJapan
201–250NR801–1000Aichi Medical UniversityJapan
201–250191–200801–1000Chiang Mai UniversityThailand
201–250NR801–1000China Pharmaceutical UniversityChina
201–250201–2501001+Chungnam National UniversitySouth Korea
201–250181–190801–1000Chung Yuan Christian UniversityTaiwan
201–250NR801–1000La Salle UniversityPhilippines
201–250201–2501001+Ehime UniversityJapan
201–250191–2001001+The University of Electro-CommunicationsJapan
201–250191–2001001+Feng Chia UniversityTaiwan
201–250201–250801–1000Fu Jen Catholic UniversityTaiwan
201–250NR1001+Gunma UniversityJapan
201–250201–250801–1000Hamamatsu University School of MedicineJapan
201–250NR1001+Harbin Engineering UniversityChina
201–250NR1001+Incheon National UniversitySouth Korea
201–250201–250801–1000Jiangsu UniversityChina
201–250161–170801–1000Kagawa UniversityJapan
201–250201–250801–1000Kansai Medical UniversityJapan
201–250201–2501001+Khon Kaen UniversityThailand
201–250201–2501001+King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology LadkrabangThailand
201–250171–180801–1000Kochi UniversityJapan
201–250171–180801–1000Kumamoto UniversityJapan
201–250201–250801–1000Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech)Japan
201–250201–2501001+Nagaoka University of TechnologyJapan
201–250201–250801–1000Nagasaki UniversityJapan
201–250161–170801–1000Nagoya City UniversityJapan
201–250201–2501001+Nagoya Institute of TechnologyJapan
201–250201–2501001+Nara Medical UniversityJapan
201–250NR801–1000National Chung Hsing UniversityTaiwan
201–250171–180801–1000National Taiwan Ocean UniversityTaiwan
201–250191–200801–1000Northwest UniversityChina
201–250201–250801–1000NorthWest A&F UniversityChina
201–250181–190801–1000Ocean University of ChinaChina
201–250NR1001+Ochanomizu UniversityJapan
201–250201–2501001+Osaka Prefecture UniversityJapan
201–250201–2501001+Saga UniversityJapan
201–250201–250801–1000Saitama UniversityJapan
201–250201–2501001+Saitama Medical UniversityJapan
201–250NR1001+Sepuluh Nopember Institute of TechnologyIndonesia
201–250251+1001+Shanghai Maritime UniversityChina
201–250201–250801–1000Shinshu UniversityJapan
201–250201–2501001+Showa UniversityJapan
201–250NR801–1000Southern Medical UniversityChina
201–250NR1001+Thammasat UniversityThailand
201–250NR801–1000Toho UniversityJapan
201–250201–2501001+Tokyo University of Marine Science and TechnologyJapan
201–250201–2501001+University of ToyamaJapan
201–250201–250801–1000Toyohashi University of Technology (TUT)Japan
201–250251+801–1000Universiti Utara MalaysiaMalaysia
201–250201–250801–1000Wuhan University of TechnologyChina
201–250201–250801–1000Yamagata UniversityJapan
201–250201–250801–1000University of YamanashiJapan
201–250NR801–1000Yangzhou UniversityChina
201–250181–190801–1000Yokohama National UniversityJapan
201–250181–1901001+Yuan Ze UniversityTaiwan
251–300251+1001+Akita UniversityJapan
251–300NR1001+Aoyama Gakuin UniversityJapan
251–300201–2501001+Bogor Agricultural UniversityIndonesia
251–300NR1001+Chubu UniversityJapan
251–300201–2501001+Chuo UniversityJapan
251–300251+1001+University of FukuiJapan
251–300201–2501001+Universitas Gadjah MadaIndonesia
251–300201–2501001+Gifu UniversityJapan
251–300251+1001+Guangxi UniversityChina
251–300201–2501001+Hallym UniversitySouth Korea
251–300201–2501001+Hosei UniversityJapan
251–300201–2501001+Huaqiao UniversityChina
251–300251+1001+University of HyogoJapan
251–300201–2501001+I-Shou UniversityTaiwan
251–300201–2501001+Iwate UniversityJapan
251–300201–2501001+Kagoshima UniversityJapan
251–300251+1001+Kasetsart UniversityThailand
251–300251+1001+King Mongkut's University of Technology North BangkokThailand
251–300201–2501001+Kitasato UniversityJapan
251–300NR1001+Kookmin UniversitySouth Korea
251–300251+1001+Kyoto Institute of TechnologyJapan
251–300201–2501001+Meiji UniversityJapan
251–300201–2501001+University of MiyazakiJapan
251–300NR1001+Muroran Institute of TechnologyJapan
251–300NR1001+Naresuan UniversityThailand
251–300NR1001+National Changhua University of EducationTaiwan
251–300251+1001+National Chiayi UniversityTaiwan
251–300201–2501001+National Chung Cheng UniversityTaiwan
251–300251+1001+National University of KaohsiungTaiwan
251–300NR1001+North China Electric Power UniversityChina
251–300251+1001+Oita UniversityJapan
251–300201–2501001+Prince of Songkla UniversityThailand
251–300251+1001+Ritsumeikan UniversityJapan
251–300NR1001+University of the RyukyusJapan
251–300201–2501001+Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech)South Korea
251–300251+1001+Shibaura Institute of Technology TokyoJapan
251–300251+1001+Shimane UniversityJapan
251–300251+1001+Shizuoka UniversityJapan
251–300NR1001+University of ShizuokaJapan
251–300201–2501001+Sophia UniversityJapan
251–300201–2501001+Southwest Jiaotong UniversityChina
251–300251+1001+Tamkang UniversityTaiwan
251–300251+1001+Tokai UniversityJapan
251–300251+1001+Tottori UniversityJapan
251–300251+1001+Yamaguchi UniversityJapan
251–300NR1001+Yanshan UniversityChina
301+251+1001+Chaoyang University of TechnologyTaiwan
301+251+1001+Chiba Institute of TechnologyJapan
301+251+1001+Doshisha UniversityJapan
301+251+1001+Ibaraki UniversityJapan
301+251+1001+Kanagawa UniversityJapan
301+251+1001+Kansai UniversityJapan
301+251+1001+Kogakuin UniversityJapan
301+251+1001+Kwansei Gakuin UniversityJapan
301+NR1001+Mahasarakham UniversityThailand
301+251+1001+Meijo UniversityJapan
301+251+1001+Ming Chuan UniversityTaiwan
301+NR1001+University of South ChinaChina
301+NR1001+Srinakharinwirot UniversityThailand
301+NR1001+Universiti Teknologi MARAMalaysia
301+NR1001+Tokyo University of AgricultureJapan
301+251+1001+Tokyo City UniversityJapan
301+251+1001+Tokyo Denki UniversityJapan
301+251+1001+Toyo UniversityJapan
301+NR1001+Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)Malaysia
301+251+1001+Utsunomiya UniversityJapan

Read more: Best universities in Asia 

 

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