School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong

What School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong does

The School of Public Health (HKUSPH) is an academic department within The University of Hong Kong's Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, established in 2003 and headquartered at G/F, Patrick Manson Building (North Wing), 7 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. It conducts research and delivers education across epidemiology, biostatistics, infectious disease epidemiology and control, health economics, kinesiology, and environmental health, and operates specialized units including the WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, the State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole (joint with Institut Pasteur since 2000), and the Jockey Club Institute of Cancer Care. Teaching offerings include the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Global Health and Development, a Kinesiology minor, MBBS and other health-sciences curriculum integration, the Master of Public Health, MPhil/PhD research postgraduate programs, and executive leadership training through the NAM-HKU Fellowship and the HKU JC Nursing Leadership Development Fellowship.

HKUSPH runs proprietary research and surveillance platforms including the COVID-19 Real-time Surveillance System (Rt and case fatality modeling), the Hedley Environmental Index, the Influenza Surveillance Dashboard, and the FAMILY Cohort GIS targeting 8,000 households. Its revenue mechanics blend tuition and fees from undergraduate, postgraduate and executive programs with competitive research grants from Hong Kong's Health and Medical Research Fund, Food and Health Bureau, University Grants Committee (including a HKD 75.06 million theme-based grant in 2014), international bodies (WHO, WADA, AXA Research Fund), and commissioned services such as school-based influenza vaccination (over 20,000 doses since 2018/19) and tobacco control policy studies. Customer segments span HKU medical and health-sciences students, MPH and research postgraduate cohorts, the HKSAR Government Department of Health, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, and Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health. The school had 64 employees and 23 researchers ranked in the Top 1% worldwide by citations in 2025.

Name

School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong

Legal name

School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong

Website

https://sph.hku.hk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong is an academic department within the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine that delivers public health education (BASc GHD, MPH, MPhil/PhD, executive fellowships) and conducts research in epidemiology, infectious diseases, health economics, kinesiology and environmental health, housing the WHO Collaborating Centre and State Key Laboratory units.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Education and Research

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Schools of Public Health (EDAHAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Global Health Institutes & Programs (EDAHAGAM), Public Research Universities with Academic Medical Centers (AMCs) (EDAHAAAC), School & Campus Public Health Departments (HLAJAAAG)

Keywords

• Public health education
• Epidemiology research
• Infectious disease control
• Global health programs
• Health policy training

Headquarters

HQ city

Hong Kong

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Academic Education and Training: The school generates revenue through tuition fees from undergraduate programs (MBBS, Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Global Health and Development), postgraduate programs (Master of Public Health, Research Postgraduate MPhil/PhD), and professional development courses including leadership training programs like NAM-HKU Fellowship and HKU JC Nursing Leadership Development Fellowship
2. Research Grants and Contracts: Funded through competitive research grants from government bodies (Health and Medical Research Fund, Food and Health Bureau), international organizations (WHO, World Anti-Doping Agency, AXA Research Fund), and theme-based research grants. A notable 2014 theme-based research grant was worth $75.06 million
3. Community Health Programs: Revenue from commissioned studies and health promotion services including tobacco control policy evaluation, school-based vaccination programs, and cancer screening initiatives funded by government agencies

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The School of Public Health is an academic department within The University of Hong Kong's Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine that delivers undergraduate, taught postgraduate, and research postgraduate education in public health, complemented by executive leadership fellowships. It conducts research in epidemiology, biostatistics, infectious diseases, health economics, kinesiology, and environmental health, and operates specialised units such as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, the State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, and the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole. It also delivers commissioned research, policy advisory, and community health programs for the HKSAR government and international partners.

Product overview

The School of Public Health at The University of Hong Kong operates as an academic and research institution within the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and research initiatives. Its teaching portfolio includes undergraduate programs (Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Global Health and Development, Minor in Kinesiology), taught postgraduate programs (Master of Public Health), and research postgraduate programs (MPhil and PhD). The school also provides leadership training through the NAM-HKU Fellowship and HKU JC Nursing Leadership Development Fellowship. Research activities are conducted through specialized units including the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, with community engagement projects such as the FAMILY Cohort, Hedley Environmental Index, Influenza Surveillance Dashboard, and COVID-19 Research Platform serving as key research tools and portals for public health monitoring and knowledge exchange.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Master of Public Health (MPH): Taught postgraduate program in public health
• Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Global Health and Development (BASc GHD)
• Minor in Kinesiology
• Jockey Club DATAZONE Primary Healthcare Project
• Little Dr Flu
• Microbe Fighter HKU

Products and services

• Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Global Health and Development (BASc GHD) Undergraduate degree programme focused on global health and development, aimed at students seeking interdisciplinary training for careers in global health policy and international development.
• Minor in Kinesiology Multidisciplinary undergraduate minor programme introducing students to key subdisciplines of kinesiology including exercise physiology, exercise prescription, biomechanics, and movement measurement.
• Master of Public Health (MPH) Taught postgraduate degree programme providing comprehensive training in public health theory and practice for graduates seeking careers in public health practice, policy, and research.
• Research Postgraduate Programmes (MPhil and PhD) Research-focused graduate programmes offering MPhil and PhD degrees across public health research areas including influenza, non-communicable diseases, and global health, for students pursuing advanced academic research careers.
• NAM-HKU Fellowship in Global Health Leadership Fellowship programme developed in partnership with the US National Academy of Medicine to develop global health leaders through advanced leadership training and immersion.
• HKU JC Nursing Leadership Development Fellowship Fellowship programme aimed at developing nursing leadership capabilities in healthcare settings for senior nursing professionals.
• FAMILY Cohort Territory-wide cohort study investigating health, happiness and harmony (the 3Hs) of individuals and households in Hong Kong, funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and serving as a longitudinal research resource.
• Jockey Club DATAZONE Primary Healthcare Project Community primary healthcare project aimed at aligning with government healthcare reform initiatives by enhancing district well-being through health profiling and evidence-based primary healthcare service models.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23 researchers ranked in Top 1% worldwide by citations in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor, core and regional.

• Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2025MoU signed in November 2025 for collaboration in public health talent cultivation and research exchange. The partnership aims to strengthen public health capacity building and scientific collaboration between mainland China and Hong Kong.
• Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2025MoU signing in June 2025 between HKUSPH and Vanke School of Public Health of Tsinghua University. The collaboration focuses on advancing public health research and education between two leading institutions.
• Andong National UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2024Collaboration between HKU-Pasteur Research Pole and Andong National University to advance vaccine development and biotechnology research.
• Institut PasteurcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000HKU-Pasteur Research Pole is a joint laboratory established in 2000 between HKU and Institut Pasteur. The partnership focuses on cell biology of viral infections, influenza research, and developing international educational programs for students and young scientists. The collaboration celebrates 20 years of partnership in 2020.
• World Health OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control designated in 2015. The school serves as a key partner for WHO in infectious disease surveillance, pandemic preparedness, and global health emergency response. The school also houses WHO H5 Reference Laboratory.
• Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funding partner supporting multiple initiatives including FAMILY Project, Jockey Club DATAZONE Primary Healthcare Project, GenWell Youth Mental Wellness Programme, and Jockey Club Institute of Cancer Care. The partnership enables large-scale community health interventions across Hong Kong.
• HKU-LSHTM Partnership Development FundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership Development Fund supporting collaboration between HKU School of Public Health and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The fund enables joint research initiatives and academic exchange programs.
• Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance Public Health Sub-AllianceregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU renewed in 2023 with partners of the GHMUA Public Health Sub-Alliance to strengthen regional collaboration in public health research and education.
• Hong Kong Government Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned partner for school-based influenza vaccination program under Vaccine Subsidy Scheme. The school serves as one of the largest service providers conducting school-based vaccination covering over 20,000 vaccinations.
• Hong Kong Council on Smoking and HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating partner for Tobacco Control Policy Survey (2013-2018) and commissioned study on evaluating tobacco control policies in Hong Kong funded by Health and Medical Research Fund.
• Chinese Ministry of Science and TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases established by Ministry of Science and Technology in 2005. The laboratory collaborates with other state key laboratories in mainland China for national research programmes on infectious diseases.
• APRU (Association of Pacific Rim Universities)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHKUSPH co-organized APRU Global Health Conference 2021, bringing together academics from around the world to discuss global health issues.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Columbia Mailman School of Public Health: US school of public health with comparable disciplinary coverage and global health programming; competes for international students and faculty in the same talent market as HKU SPH.
• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Elite US public health school with overlapping research strengths in infectious disease epidemiology, environmental health, and health policy. Often co-publishes with HKU SPH faculty and competes for the same global talent pool.
• Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University: Mainland China-based peer school of public health that signed an MoU with HKU SPH in June 2025. Closest direct competitor in the Greater China region for postgraduate training and policy advisory work.
• London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine: UK-based graduate public health school with comparable focus on infectious disease epidemiology, global health research, and postgraduate training. The school has an active HKU-LSHTM Partnership Development Fund evidencing peer-level research collaboration.
• Imperial College School of Public Health: UK-based school of public health with strong infectious disease modelling, COVID-19 surveillance, and global health programmes. Ben Cowling at HKU SPH holds an MBE, evidencing a similar cohort of internationally recognised epidemiologists.
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: Large US public research school of public health with parallel divisions in epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, and global health. Comparable in citation leadership and in running applied surveillance and policy programmes.
• Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, NUS: Singapore-based regional peer public health school with comparable focus on Asian infectious disease epidemiology, non-communicable disease research, and postgraduate public health training. Direct competitor for regional students, faculty, and ASEAN grants.
• Karolinska Institutet Department of Global Public Health: European research-intensive public health department with similar breadth across epidemiology, biostatistics, and community health. Peer for citation-based rankings and EU-funded collaborative research.
• Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto: Major North American school of public health with comparable research intensity, WHO CC affiliations, and global health partnerships. Competes with HKU SPH for international students and multilateral funding.

Regional players

• Institut Pasteur: Paris-based biomedical research institute and the joint partner behind HKU-Pasteur Research Pole since 2000. Not a school of public health per se, but operates parallel infectious disease research and training programmes globally and shares deep institutional ties with HKU SPH.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HKU_SPH
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SPHHKU1
• Facebookfacebook.com/HKUPublicHealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/hkusph
• Instagraminstagram.com/hkupublichealth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong