HKUST Engages Top UK and US Medical Schools to Advance Creation of Hong Kong’s Third Medical School | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is receiving advisory support from Imperial College London (Imperial) and engaging with the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) to pursue the establishment of the city’s third medical school, advancing medical education and clinical training. 

Echoing the government’s vision of building a third medical school that nurtures more doctors to meet the local demands and assists Hong Kong’s development into an international health and medical innovation hub, HKUST believes that new generations of doctors must possess the ability to serve and lead within the local context and leverage cutting-edge advancements in the global landscape of health and research. 

To this end, HKUST’s global collaborations in the field of medical education, along with its robust partnership network with leading medical schools and hospitals across Beijing, Shanghai, Central China, and the Greater Bay Area in Mainland China, are essential to the vision of building a new medical school that meets the highest international standards and attracts talents from around the world.  

Consistently ranked in the world’s top 10*, Imperial’s Faculty of Medicine has a proud record of developing outstanding new medical schools in Singapore and the UK that meet specific societal needs. Imperial is now advising HKUST on the vision for the establishment of another world-leading medical school and innovative curriculum for Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, UC San Diego’s School of Medicine, a tier-1 medical research institution in the United States**, will engage in student and faculty exchanges, as well as the research and international collaboration with HKUST. According to the recent Memorandum of Understanding between HKUST and UC San Diego, the latter may offer clinical courses and internships for HKUST students, as well as potential collaborations on training programs for resident physicians and specialists.

HKUST and UC San Diego may also consider establishing joint research teams or research centers to promote interdisciplinary research and practical applications of projects in medical education, clinical treatment technologies and basic medical research, while exploring collaborations with international organizations in the fields of medical research and education.  

HKUST President Prof. Nancy IP expressed her appreciation for the support from the two esteemed medical schools. “Imperial College London and UC San Diego are recognized leaders in innovation on medical education and research. Their support, along with contributions from prominent local and international experts on our Council Advisory Group, Planning Committee, and Medical Education Task Force, as well as leading medical institutions across Mainland China, brings a comprehensive perspective to our mission. Together, we aim to nurture future-ready doctors who are clinically competent and technology-savvy to meet the evolving demands of healthcare. With our strong research foundation and support from distinguished individuals and institutions locally, nationally, and internationally, our medical school initiative is envisaged to align with Hong Kong’s future medical education and healthcare advancements, thereby fostering the city’s growth in medical training, research and innovation.”  

Professor Deborah Ashby, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London, said: "Establishing a third medical school in Hong Kong will help train the next generation of medical students and meet the region’s healthcare needs. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has set out a compelling vision to meet this challenge. Imperial has long-standing experience of establishing medical schools around the world and is pleased to be advising HKUST on their bid.” 

Chancellor of the UC San Diego Prof. Pradeep K. KHOSLA said, “The collaboration with HKUST embodies our shared vision to redefine medical education through cross-disciplinary innovation.  By combining both institution’s strengths in cutting-edge technology with our expertise in translational research and compassionate, innovative clinical training, we aim to create a robust platform for advancing medical education and patient care, empowering students and faculty to pioneer solutions for tomorrow’s health care challenges.” 
 

*Imperial College London’s Faculty of Medicine ranked 4th in the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings and 8th in the QS World University Rankings 2025. 
**UC San Diego’s School of Medicine received a Tier 1 rating according to the U.S. News & World Report rankings of 2024 Best Medical Schools: Research.

About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology  
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university committed to innovative education, research excellence, and impactful knowledge transfer. Our holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach is recognized globally. HKUST placed 3rd in the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2024, 19th Worldwide and No.1 in Hong Kong in Times Higher Education’s impact Rankings. Twelve of HKUST’s subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024. Of these, "Data Science and Artificial Intelligence" ranked first in Hong Kong and 10th in the world. Our graduates are highly competitive, consistently placing among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. Our research and entrepreneurship endeavors are also innovative and impactful. Over 80% of our work was rated “Internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the latest Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. As of November 2024, HKUST members have founded 1,800 active start-ups, including 10 Unicorns and 16 exits (IPO or M&A).