Lingnan University
Lingnan University is a public university located in Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong.
Lingnan University has 3 faculties, 3 Schools, 16 departments, 2 language centres, and 2 units, offering 29 degree honours programmes spanning various disciplines in humanities, business, and social sciences. Lingnan's small class size facilitates interaction. Lingnan also provides a diverse array of taught masters, research master’s and PhD programmes. Total students comprise more than 6,200 students.
Lingnan University has over 270 partners across more than 50 countries/regions facilitating international exchanges or participation in short-term summer or winter programmes for over 80% of undergraduates. Currently, Lingnan University has dual-degree programmes with the Hong Kong Metropolitan University, National Chengchi University, Shenzhen University, Wuhan University and Beijing Normal University in some of the master's and doctoral research areas.
Lingnan achieved historic recognition in 2025 by ranking World No. 1 for SDG 4: Quality Education in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. This is the first time a Hong Kong higher education institution has secured the top global position in any SDG category and reflects Lingnan’s deep commitment to advancing high quality education and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Beyond SDG 4, the University actively advances many other SDGs through interdisciplinary research, community partnerships, and innovation that address global and regional development challenges.
Lingnan has also entered the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, placing among the top 301–350 universities worldwide out of 2,191 institutions across 115 countries or territories. The University performed strongly across multiple indicators, including an impressive 47th place globally in International Outlook, demonstrating Lingnan’s success in fostering international diversity and global research collaboration.
History
The university was originally founded in 1888 by Andrew Happer at the request of the American Presbyterian Mission in Canton with the goal of providing a non-denominational Christian education. The university split, relocated, and was separately incorporated several times during its existence. It moved to Macau, then a Portuguese colony, in 1900 to escape the repressive measures implemented by the ruling Qing dynasty of China. In 1903, the Chinese name was changed to Lingnan Academy in Macau. It moved back to Canton in 1904.In 1953, Lingnan University was incorporated into Chung Shan University.
In 1967, some members of the university who fled from China's Communist rule to Hong Kong founded the Lingnan College in Hong Kong to continue the spirit of the university.
In 1999, the college acquired university status and renamed as Lingnan University.
Research
Lingnan's research in humanities, social sciences and business were classified as "World Leading" and "Internationally Excellent" in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020, conducted by the University Grants Committee using international benchmarks to identity the areas of relative strengths of the city's public universities. Lingnan came first or second among all public universities in terms of the percentage of "World Leading" research work in Accountancy, Sociology & Anthropology, Social Work & Social Policy, and Philosophy.Faculties and departments
Faculty of Arts
- Department of Chinese
- Department of Cultural Studies
- Department of Digital Arts and Creative Industries
- Department of English
- Department of History
- Department of Philosophy
- Department of Translation
- Centre for English and Additional Languages
- Chinese Language Education and Assessment Centre
Faculty of Business
- Undergraduate Programmes Office
- Taught Postgraduate Programmes Office
- Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies
- Department of Accountancy
- Department of Finance
- Department of Management
- Department of Marketing and International Business
Faculty of Social Sciences
- Office of the Faculty of Social Sciences
- Department of Psychology
- Department of Economics
- Department of Government and International Affairs
- Department of Sociology and Social Policy
School of Graduate Studies
School of Interdisciplinary Studies
- Office of the Core Curriculum
- Science Unit
- Wong Bing Lai Music and Performing Arts Unit
School of Data Science
- Division of Artificial Intelligence
- Division of Industrial Data Science
- LEO Dr David P. Chan Institute of Data Science
Institute of Policy Studies
Student life
Representative Council
| Period | Chairperson | Vice Chairperson | Secretary | Chairperson of Finance Committee | Chairperson of Constitution Revising Committee | Chairperson of Auditing Committee | Chairperson of Monitoring Committee | Chairperson of Election Committee | Chairperson of Affiliated Clubs' and Societies' Affairs Committee | Chairperson of associate degree Programme Affairs Committee |
| 46th | Haven Yu | Teli Tang | Irene Lam | Justin Lo | Yip Ka-cheong | King Wong | Lee Pik-wah | Dennis Leung | – | |
| 45th | Kenny Yeung | Yuen Hon-ming | Kevin Chau | Charles Yau | Janice Kwan | Dicky Kwan | Dexter Pang | Jonathan Chan | – | |
| 44th | Leo Tang | Vivian Li | Joseph Tong | Yoyo Kwan | CY Tsang | Elvis Siu | Siu Tsz-ching | Kitty Wong | – |
Executive Council
| Period | Name | President | Vice-President | External Vice-President | Financial Officer | general secretary | Internal Secretary | External Secretary | University Affairs Officer | Academic Affairs Officer | Current Affairs and China Proper Track Officer | Public Relations OFficer | Recreation Officer | Information Management Officer | Publication Officer | Welfare Officer | Social Movements Officer | Human Capital and Resources Management Officer | International Communication Officer |
| 46th | 逆風 | Vivian Yip | Sonia Tsang | Cindy Ng | Branting Lai | Chan Wai-ning | Patience Wong | Gary Mak | Max Wu | Ronnie Lam | – | Kelly Lee | Ho Yiu-fai‡ | Leung Chi-hin‡ | Clara Chan | Manyi Cheung | – | – | – |
| 45th | 狂瀾 | Eddie Chan | Natalie Wu | Willis Ho | Lok-pui Lum | Mandy Chow | Stephanie Kwok | Lai Tsz-yeung | Haven Yu | Amis Kwok | Yu Wai-pan | Ho Yan-ming‡ | Chan Sze-yan‡ Eddie Yip† | Chun Hei-tung‡ | Koey Lee | Au Wai-ho† | Law Kun-kit | - | |
| 43rd | 鼎築 | Howard Cheng | Isabel Chang | Leo Tang | Ho Hung-hing | Lilian Ngan | Lucy Zhao | Debby Chan | Gary Chan | Liu Tsz-lam | – | Pandora Wong | Li Hua-zhen | Xathieur Yue | Kristy Ho | Chris Wong | – | – | – |
† Resigned
‡ Added
Press Bureau
| Period | Name | Editor-in-Chief | Vice Editor-in-Chief | Vice Editor-in-Chief | Financial Secretary | general secretary | Public Relations Officer | Art Director | Editor |
| 46th | 甦 | Manni Cheung | Chichio Suen | Sylvia Lam | Remoni Choi | Alice Lam | Christine Lee | Wayne Wong Wong Chung-ying | Tracee Law† Lau Cheung-Yee Helen Yeung Emn Kwan Fiona Ko Mankei Tse Ruby Yiu Ryan Tai |
† Resigned
‡ Added
Business Administration Society
- Senate of Business Administration Society of Lingnan University Students' Union
- Executive Committee of Business Administration Society of Lingnan University Students' Union
Controversies