The Best MBA Programs in Hong Kong – Head to Head (2022)
Looking for the best full-time MBA programs in Hong Kong? Here’s your ultimate guide! Now you can compare the city’s best MBA programs head-to-head and get the inside scoop from Admissions Directors, MBA alumni and more from Hong Kong’s best MBA programs.
last updated December 2021
Why Hong Kong for your MBA?
Five Reasons to Get Your MBA in Hong Kong:
1. Hong Kong is one of the world’s major banking and finance hubs, featuring 75 of the world’s largest 100 banks, and is consistently ranked one of the top 3-4 financial centers worldwide and top 3-4 in terms of funds raised through IPO. Hong Kong is the largest international private wealth management and hedge fund centre in Asia.
2. Hong Kong hosts more than 6,000 multinational companies, 3,800 of which have have regional headquarters in the city. Hong Kong was ranked the world’s freest economy for nearly 20 years from 1995-2019, by the Heritage Foundation. The IMD World Competitiveness Center ranked Hong Kong the world’s 7th most competitive economy in 2021.
3. Hong Kong has the world’s second busiest cargo airport, the world’s largest container port, and state-of-the-art business infrastructure. Hong Kong is one of the world’s most efficient cities, renowned for its logistics.
4. Hong Kong is a gateway to China – the territory originates and intermediates two-thirds of China’s inward foreign direct investment and outward direct investment as well as most financial investments. Hong Kong is the largest global offshore renminbi (RMB) business hub; over 70% of the world’s RMB payments are settled through Hong Kong.
5. Hong Kong is a dynamic place to live and study! More than 9,000 restaurants provide a mouth-watering choice of dining options from all over the world. Hong Kong is known as a shopping paradise, offering everything from high-end shopping malls to street markets. Its public transport system is one of the best in the world. Country parks cover 40% of Hong Kong’s territory and, with the outlying islands, provide plenty of walks, trails and beaches for those who wish to experience the greener and calmer side of Hong Kong.
Top Full-time MBA Programs in Hong Kong
HKUST, HKU and CUHK are the top-ranked MBA programs in Hong Kong, consistently placing in the top 50 in the Financial Times Global MBA ranking. All universities have outstanding reputations too, placing top 50 in QS worldwide university rankings.
Click on school name to get a full writeup and in-depth podcast interview exploring what makes each program unique
Hong Kong University (HKU) MBA
- Founded over 100 years ago, HKU is Hong Kong’s oldest and most prestigious university. QS ranked the university #22 worldwide in 2021; it is consistently ranked top 5 in the Asia region
- After finishing 9 months of core courses at HKU, students can study at Columbia Business School, London Business School, or Fudan University for one semester
- 14-month program with 50 students/year
- HKU has its own Asia Case Research Centre; case studies are focused on business in China and Asia
- Centrally located and closer to Central Business District than HKUST or CUHK
- #1 ranked Hong Kong MBA program by Poets & Quants in 2020 and Economist in 2021
Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) MBA
- Founded in 1991, HKUST is well known for its science, engineering and business and management research faculties. HKUST was ranked #27 worldwide by QS in 2021.
- The Financial Times ranked the HKUST MBA a top 20 MBA program globally for 13 consecutive years; in 2021, it was ranked #22 globally
- Ranked top 3 Asian MBA program in the world by Financial Times for past 14 years
- 12 or 16-month options, and participants are guaranteed exchange spots with nearly 60 MBA programs around the world
- Larger class (80 students) than HKU and CUHK
- Financial Times rated HKUST’s faculty #3 for research in Asia
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) MBA
- CUHK was founded in 1963 to bring together China and West and is known for its research; four Nobel Laureates are associated with the university. It has the largest campus of any university on Hong Kong
- Longest established Asia MBA Program and Hong Kong’s oldest business school – launched in 1966 with over 40,000 business school alumni and 6,000 MBA alumni
- 12 or 16-month options with 50 students per year, with exchange relationships with 50+ b-schools
- Elite Mentorship Program pairs full-time students with successful, senior alumni who match their career interests and aspirations
- Practical curriculum with 6 optional concentrations: Business Analytics, China Business, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Finance, Information and Technology Management and Marketing
- Extensive support for starting entrepreneurial ventures
Insider Interviews with Hong Kong MBA Admissions Directors
Listen to our in-depth interviews about what makes each MBA program unique and what you can do to give yourself the best chance of getting in:
Touch MBA’s Admissions Advice
- Hong Kong MBA programs are looking for diversity – applicants from Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa & Middle East are highly sought
- As all programs have a China focus, demonstrating interest in region is key; experience with Hong Kong/China and Mandarin or Cantonese-skills a plus
- Demonstrating well-researched and achievable post-MBA career plans is important as Hong Kong is one of the world’s most open labor markets
Get free school selection help and an expert profile review from Touch MBA.
Plus, get feedback from from HKUST and/or CUHK MBA before you apply. Thank you HKUST and CUHK for supporting Touch MBA’s mission to make expert MBA guidance accessible to applicants worldwide.
What’s it Really Like at Top Hong Kong MBA Programs?
MBA students and alumni share their experience:
Post-MBA Careers in Hong Kong
- Visa – MBA graduates can stay in Hong Kong for 1 year after graduation to look for jobs. After the 1-year period, the visa can be extended if graduates have full-time jobs at the time of extension
- Taxes – Low income taxes with 17% for the highest income bracket
- Geography – 30-50% of graduates at HKU, CUHK and HKUST stay in Hong Kong to work. Other popular post-MBA destinations for Hong Kong MBA grads are China (roughly 10-20%) and the rest of Asia Pacific (20-30%).
- Industry – the majority of Hong Kong MBA grads enter Finance (30-40%). Consulting (10-25%) and IT/tech (10-30%) were other leading sectors for 2020 graduates.
- Return on Investment – HKUST ranked #36 for value for money by Financial Times in 2021; CUHK and HKU were ranked in the 60s. All 3 have strong exchange relationships. Hong Kong MBA Programs are generally less expensive than US and European programs, so you get a discount on your semester abroad
"All too often foreigners are hired and quickly leave, deterring employers from bringing them on board. The more successful you are at demonstrating you seriously want to live and work in Asia, the higher your chances are of being hired.”
- Tanya Vucetic, Business Development Manager, Asia Jet (China), HKUST MBA '17
Head to Head – HKUST MBA vs. HKU MBA vs. CUHK MBA
Comparison table best viewed on bigger screen. Last updated December 2021
| HKU | HKUST | CUHK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degrees Offered | MBA | MBA Dual Masters of Advanced Management with Yale, Global Real Estate Masters with University of Wisconsin | MBA Dual MBA degrees with Texas McCombs, HEC Paris, RSM Erasmus JD/MBA |
| Class Size | 50 | 80 | 50 |
| GMAT (avg) | 640 | 660 | 630 |
| Age (avg) | 29-30 | 29 | 30 |
| Work Exp (avg) | 6-7 | 6 | 6.8 |
| No. Nationalities | 15-25 | 15-25 | 15-20 |
| Start Date | June | August | August |
| Length | 14 months | 12 or 16 months | 12 or 16 months |
| RANKINGS | |||
| Financial Times 2021 (2020, 2019) | 29 (56, 41) | 22 (19, 18) | 48 (50, 57) |
| Economist 2021 (2019, 2018) | 50 (67, 39) | NR (NR, NR) | NR (NR, NR) |
| Bloomberg Businessweek 2021-22 | NR | #2 in Asia | NR |
| ADMISSIONS | |||
| Requirements | Bachelor’s Degree GMAT/GRE Min 2 years workexp English Language Proficiency: Minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based)/80 (Internet-based) or IELTS band 6.5, with no subtest score lower than 5.5 | Bachelor’s Degree GMAT Min 2 years workexp TOEFL/IELTS | Bachelor’s Degree GMAT/GRE Min 2 years workexp English Language Proficiency: TOEFL (79), IELTS (6.5), GMAT (21 Verbal), or degree taught in English |
| Deadlines | Rolling admissions, next deadline is Dec 30 | 3 rounds, typically Rd 1: Nov 10 Rd 2: Jan 12 Rd 3: Mar 9 | 4 rounds, typically Rd 1: Oct 17 Rd 2: Dec 12 Rd 3: Feb 13 Rd 4: Apr 20 |
| Application Fee | 300 HKD | 1,000 HKD | 800 HKD |
| Tuition | 588,000 HKD | 600,000 HKD | 560,000 HKD |
| Est Living Costs (taken from school websites) | 15,500HKD/month | 17,000 HKD/month | 16,500-32,000 HKD/month |
| Application Materials | Online application Resume 2 recommendations Academic transcripts Official GMAT/GRE report TOEFL/IELTS score report (if applicable) | Online application Resume 2 essays 2 recommendations Academic transcripts GMAT/GRE score report TOEFL/ IELTS score report (if applicable) Proof of employment | Online application Resume Objective Statement 2 recommendations Academic transcripts GMAT/GRE score report TOEFL/IELTS score report (if applicable) |
| Exchange | London Business School, Columbia Business School, Fudan | 60 schools in 18 countries | 42 schools in 18 countries |
| Scholarship | Merit scholarships ranging from 25-60% of tuition available | 10 types of merit scholarships up to full tuition available | 7 types of merit scholarships available |
| Location | HKU station - 15-20 minutes to city center by public transportation | Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, beautiful view of bay - 45 minutes away from CBD using public transportation | Shatin, New Territories, beautiful view of bay - 45 minutes away from CBD using public transportation |
| PROGRAM | |||
| Core Curriculum | CORE (10) Accounting for Business Decisions Analytics for Managers Business Ethics Capstone Project China and the Global Economy Competitive Strategy Corporate Finance Managing Digital Innovation Managerial Economics Marketing Strategy | REQUIRED CORE (7) Financial Accounting Marketing Strategy & Policy IT Management Strategic Management Corporate Finance Operations Management Managerial Microeconomics FLEXIBLE CORE (choose 6 of 14) Big Data Analytics Cryptocurrency, Blockchain and Their Business Applications Global Macroeconomics Managerial Communications Deep Learning Business Applications w/ Python Responsible Leadership & Ethics Behavioral Economics Chinese Economy | CORE (10) Management: Competencies and Current Perspectives Corporate Financial Reporting Statistical Analysis Financial Management Marketing Management Leadership Development Macroeconomics for Business Executives Strategic Management Operations Management |
| Electives | Choose 6 from 35 electives at HKU and electives at 3 partner schools (London Business School, Columbia Business School, Fudan) | Choose 8-9 from 70 electives | Choose 9 from 50 electives |
| Concentrations | Managing in China & Asia Business Tech & Innovation Finance Marketing & General Management Strategy & Consulting | Business Technology & Analytics Finance Consulting & Strategic Management Sustainable Leadership Marketing | Finance & Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovation |
| CAREERS | Class of 2019 & 2020 | Class of 2020 & 2021 | Class of 2020 |
| Placement w/in 3 months | 91% | 95% | 80% |
| Average Salary | Not available (133,311 USD average salary 3 years after graduation - Financial Times) | 72,630 USD (excluding signing bonus) (151,758 USD average salary 3 years after graduation - Financial Times) | Not available (123,175 USD average salary 3 years after graduation - Financial Times) |
| Salary Increase, 3 years after graduation | 127% | 109% | 114% |
| Top Geographies | 50% Hong Kong 30% Other regions of Asia 10% Mainland China 6% Americas 4% Europe | 34% Other Asia-Pacific 30% Hong Kong 14% China 11% Americas 9% Japan & Korea | 33% Hong Kong 28% China 22% Other APAC 18% India |
| Top Industries | 31% Financial Services 17% Advisory Services / Consulting 14% Technology 12% Consumer Goods, Fashion, Retail | 32% Financial Services 27% Technology 11% Consulting 9% Energy 5% Healthcare | 39% Financial Services 24% Consulting 11% Technology |
| Top Functions | 20% Finance 19% Branding, Business Development, Marketing 16% Planning, Strategy 14% Consulting, Professional Services 8% General Management | not available | 21% Consulting 18% Finance / Accounting 18% Marketing / Sales 11% General Management 8% Operations / Logistics |
| Alumni | 4,500+ with 26 regional chapters; HKU has 245,000+ alumni in 150 countries | 5,000+ across 60 countries; HKUST has more than 20,000 alumni | 7,000+ in 25 countries; CUHK Business School has more than 40,000 alumni worldwide |
Need More Help with Hong Kong MBA Programs?
Get free school selection help and an expert profile review from Touch MBA.
Plus, get feedback from from HKUST MBA and/or CUHK MBA before you apply. Thank you HKUST and CUHK for supporting Touch MBA’s mission to make expert MBA guidance accessible to applicants worldwide.
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