Founded in 1994, City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has been upholding the principle of “integration of teaching and research”. It has a well-earned reputation as an innovative hub for research and professional education and for addressing global issues and empowering positive change. CityUHK has gained recognition for its professional education and research excellence both locally and globally. It continues to move up in global university rankings, climbing to the 62nd position in the QS World University Rankings 2025, the 10th in the QS Asian University Rankings 2025, and the 78th ranking in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025. Moreover, CityUHK has been ranked No.1 in both 2024 and 2025 "Most International Universities in the World" by Times Higher Education. According to Clarivate, 32 scholars were named Highly Cited Researchers for 2024, placing CityUHK 29th worldwide in this citation ranking. By faculty size, CityUHK's percentage of the world’s most Highly Cited Researchers puts it first in Hong Kong. CityUHK is one of the world-renowned internationalized research-intensive comprehensive universities.

In recent years, CityUHK has been expanding its exchanges and cooperation in Chinese mainland, establishing CityUHK Shenzhen Research Institute and CityUHK Chengdu Research Institute. CityUHK has enhanced academic exchanges and research collaboration, playing a leading role in the establishment of the State Key Laboratory of Terahertz and Millimeter Waves (SKLTMW) and the State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP). Actively integrating into the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), CityU collaborates with institutions and universities like China Spallation Neutron Source, Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, and Dongguan University of Technology to establish joint laboratories in the fields of photon-electromagnetic functional materials, neutron scattering and discrete manufacturing intelligence.

To further promote excellent research capabilities and professional education and serve the development of GBA, and to improve the region’s layout of higher education, in early 2020, CityUHK signed a cooperative education agreement with the Dongguan Municipal People’s Government and Dongguan University of Technology to establish the City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan)  (CityUHK (DG)) with independent legal status, in the Songshan Lake Science City. The campus covers an area of 523-mu (86 acres) with an additional 200-mu (33 acres) reserved for future development. The new campus is located in the Pingshan eastern section of Songshan Lake Science City, on the south side of the Dongguan-Shenzhen Expressway and nestled between mountains and water, as an ideal location for higher education.

CityUHK (DG) will play a leading role in teaching, research, innovation and knowledge transfer in the future. Building upon CityUHK’s strengths in programmes, international collaborations and faculty expertise, it will strengthen mutual support and interaction between the two universities in various academic fields. This will meet the needs of higher education in the GBA and suit the requirements of industrial development. The core aspect of the affiliation between CityUHK and CityUHK (DG) lies in maintaining consistent academic standards. Both universities will cooperate closely and complement each other through academic planning, student exchange, faculty training, research, and knowledge transfer. Graduates of CityUHK (DG) who meet the qualifications for degree conferment will receive degrees from CityUHK concurrently.

On 16 April 2024, the Ministry of Education officially approved the establishment of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan), a collaborative educational venture between mainland and Hong Kong, with an independent legal identity. This marks a significant milestone in enhancing the cooperation in higher education within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, aligning with the objectives laid out in the "Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area."

Led by the educational philosophies of "Integration of Teaching and Research," "Consistency in Academic Excellence," and "Innovating into the Future," CityUHK (DG) is committed to bringing CityUHK’s strengths to Chinese mainland, including its advanced management experience, internationalized educational concepts, outstanding research capabilities, and innovative teaching methods.

Initially, CityUHK (DG) will prioritize its academic programmes around the future industrial transformation and upgrading needs of the GBA, gradually establishing an open, interdisciplinary platform for education, research, and knowledge transfer. By fostering technological innovation and nurturing high-calibre talents, it aims to complement the advantages of both regions, actively contributing to optimizating GBA’s higher education landscape. This includes attracting top talents and building a comprehensive national science center, paving the way for CityUHK (DG) to develop into a world-class institution dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in research and education.