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Combining prominent touristic appeal with famously admired academic reputations, the US and Europe are both home to world-renowned universities for master's in management degrees, as highlighted in the recently released QS Masters in Management Rankings 2019. Of the 135 business schools in the ranking, 21 are in the US, while a whopping 96 are based in Europe, including 27 in the UK. The ranking assesses each institution according to five important indicators: employability, alumni outcomes, value for money, thought leadership, and diversity.

In addition, both study destinations are very well known for their many business-savvy cities, which makes them the ultimate study environments for students wishing to pursue careers in the world of business and management.

If you’re trying to decide whether to study your master’s in management degree in the US or Europe, read on for an in-depth breakdown of how they compare.

United States

For applicants aspiring to further their studies in management, there are numerous top US business schools currently offering internationally-renowned master’s in management courses which provide students with valuable theoretical knowledge, as well as practical work experience to prepare future business managers for the competitive and ever-changing world of business.

For master’s in management courses, the US is home to four institutions in the global top 50, and 11 are ranked in the top 100. Ranked number one in the US in this year’s master’s in management ranking, the Michigan Ross School of Business is currently placed at joint 16^th in the world for the subject, scoring the highest in the country for thought leadership, and its second-highest score for the alumni outcomes indicator, followed by value for money. Given its impressive scores overall, the school’s Master of Management course – through relevant action-based curriculum – provides students with the leadership skills and capabilities required in business managerial roles, including a job-search program designed and intended to boost students’ potential to land their perfect job.

Of course, prestige often comes with a hefty price tag, and with that notion firmly embedded in mind, it’s no surprise that tuition fees across US universities are the most expensive in the world – with fees at Michigan currently standing at $48,733.

However, topping the master’s in management rankings as the US institution which offers the most value for its money is Northeastern University’s D’Amore McKim School of Business, which currently ranks fifth in the US and 58^th in the world. With tuition fees of US$24,000 (far lower than the global average of $51,916), the university also promises a high starting salary for graduates, who can expect to earn around a sizeable US$81,000 per annum.  

For those who want to study at a highly diverse business school, the highest-ranked US institution for the diversity indicator in the Master’s in Management Ranking is Boston University's Questrom School of Business, which is ranked joint 39th overall for its MS in Management Studies. 55 percent of students enrolled in the school’s MS in Management program are from outside the US, with a total of 19 nationalities represented.

Master’s in management classes in the US tend to be less diverse overall than the world average, with international students making up 37 percent of a typical class, while the global average is 48 percent. However, they do have an equal 50/50 split between women and men, which is in line with the global average.

Europe

Leading the rankings with some of the most globally respected institutions for higher education, European business schools boast an uninterrupted run in the top 10 for master’s in management courses. They also tend to charge much less than US business schools – these include UK universities which, although still expensive, can charge tuition fees that are up to two or three times lower.

Currently ranked number one in the world for its MSc Strategic Management program, HEC Paris achieves the second-highest score in the top 10 for its value for money. Although fees are high, standing at €39,700 for non-EU students (approximately US$46,500), 2017 graduates earned an impressive starting salary of US$70,036. HEC Paris also excels in a few other departments, scoring a perfect score for alumni outcomes and very high scores across thought leadership and employability, respectively. 

However, the highest-ranked European business school for the value for money indicator is Spain’s ESIC Business & Marketing School, ranked 78^th overall for its master’s in management program, which has tuition fees of €20,700 (~US$24,200). ESIC graduates in 2017 earned an average starting salary of an impressive $85,000, making an excellent return on their investment.

In terms of diversity, it’s no secret that the US is also home to some of the most multicultural cities in the world, but with UK capital London eminent for its unparalleled cultural diversity, other famous European cities – such as Paris and Berlin – encompass a range of nationalities and cultures, combined with a prevailing touristic appeal.

Scoring the highest and most perfect percentage for diversity, IE Business School ranks sixth in the world for its Master in Management degree, with 79 percent of its class of new students in 2017 made up of international students, and 66 nationalities represented in total. Overall, international students make up 54 percent of the average master’s in management class in Europe, higher than the global average (48 percent) and with 17 nationalities represented, higher than the US in which only seven nationalities on average are represented in master’s in management classes. European business schools also tend to have a slightly more diverse faculty, with 43 percent of professors coming from outside the host country, in contrast with the US, where it’s 27 percent.

Like the US, there is an equal 50/50 split between men and women in European business schools, with London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE, ranked seventh) having a particularly good split in what can sometimes be a male-dominated course, as 59 percent of students are women.

At a glance: Master’s in Management Degrees in the US and Europe

So which will it be for you, the US or Europe? Here’s a full overview of the main stats:

United States

Europe

Which one gets your vote? Let us know in the comments below, and find out more about studying in a particular country with our study destination guides.

Included in the QS World University Rankings: Business Masters Rankings is the Masters in Finance Rankings 2019, which features 158 of the world’s top business schools for this degree, based on a methodology in which each institution was considered using five indicators: employability, value for money, alumni outcomes, thought leadership and diversity.

55 of the top business schools in the ranking are based in the US, while 79 are based in Europe. If you’re thinking of studying a master’s in finance degree in the US or Europe, how can you decide which suits you the best? Read on as we compare and contrast important pieces of information to help you decide.

United States

Looking firstly at the top business schools in the US for master’s in finance degrees, and its top three entrants are all ranked within the global top 10: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s Sloan School of Management is the country’s top entrant at third in the world, while UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business is eighth and UCLA’s Anderson School of Management is 10^th.

Sloan achieved a perfect score for the thought leadership category, demonstrating its excellent reputation and strong history of ground-breaking ideas in management and finance, such as the Black–Scholes model. The school’s next highest scores are for alumni outcomes and employability, with 92 percent of its Master of Finance students in employment three months after graduation, earning an average starting salary of US$80,000. Tuition fees for this course are over double the global average of $33,073, currently standing at $78,000.

Of course, Sloan is by no means the only top business school in the US charging high tuition fees, but for many students, the high price tag will be worth every penny when you consider the huge probable return on their investment. Graduates of US master’s in finance courses typically earn a starting salary of $67,890. When you narrow the results down by the value for money indicator, the highest-ranked US institution is UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business – its Master of Financial Engineering costs $68,725, but students have a starting salary of an incredible $160,083 – double that of MIT’s Sloan.

If you place importance on your master’s in finance classmates and faculty members being diverse, Florida International University, appropriately enough given its name, is the leading US institution in the diversity indicator, with 63 percent of students and 60 percent of faculty members coming from outside the US. Overall, around 68 percent of students in US master’s in finance classes are international, with eight nationalities represented – this is slightly below the global average of 71 percent of students being international, made up of 10 nationalities. And in terms of gender, US business schools have the same percentage (41 percent) of female students enrolled in master’s in finance courses as the global average.

Europe

Across the Atlantic, Europe is home to 79 of the world’s top business schools for master’s in finance degrees, including 25 in the UK. Of the UK entries, four are in the global top 10, with London Business School (LBS) taking the top spot for the second time this year for its MSc in Finance degree, which earned its strongest scores in the employability and alumni outcomes indicators. 92 percent of LBS’ Class of 2017 graduates accepted job offers three months after graduation, with an average starting salary of a whopping $91,522. Tuition fees for this course currently stand at £45,250, equivalent to around US$51,500.

While this is undoubtably a lot of money, this fee is still lower than global average, $56,798. Master’s in finance courses are on the whole about $4,400 lower than the global average, and $15,500 lower than the US. However, average starting salaries are also lower, standing at $52,376, while the global average is $56,798.

Elsewhere in Europe, other strong business schools for this program include France’s HEC Paris (ranked second in the world for its Master in International Finance degree) which earns the highest score in the ranking for the alumni outcomes indicator, with 99 percent of graduates finding employment within three months. Also featured in the top 10 is Spain’s ESADE, ranked seventh for its MSc in Finance program, again with a very high score for alumni outcomes.

If you’re interested in choosing a highly diverse place to study, LBS is again ranked number one for the diversity indicator, with 95 percent of students and 83 percent of faculty members coming from outside the UK. Overall, 80 percent of students at ranked master’s in finance degree classes are from outside their host country, higher than the global average of 71 percent. 16 nationalities are represented in a typical class, which is twice as many as the US. 

Alternatively, if you want to study at a business school which offers an excellent value for money and return on your investment, the strongest European school for the value for money indicator is Spain’s ESIC Business & Marketing School (ranked 101+ overall for its Master in Financial Management) ranked second in the world for this indicator. The tuition fee is only $16,200, and 2017 graduates earned an average starting salary of an impressive $87,500, far higher than the global average.  

At a glance: Master’s in Finance Degrees in the US and Europe

Below you can see how the top 10 US and European business schools compare for factors such as average starting salary and tuition fees.

United States

Europe

 Which one gets your vote? Let us know in the comments below, and find out more about studying in a particular country with our study destination guides.

The University of Oxford has been ranked as the best university in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019.

Unveiled today at the THE World Academic Summit in Singapore, the rankings see Japanese universities outnumber those from the UK for the first time ever. Despite the strong performance of both Oxford and the University of Cambridge, signs exist that other UK universities are beginning to stumble and Asian institutions are seemingly well-placed to take advantage.

According to Ellie Bothwell, of the THE rankings: "Stiff competition from Asia will put European universities under a great deal of pressure over the coming 12 months." 

However, they still have some way to go with no Asian institutions featuring in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019 top 20.

By contrast, the QS World University Rankings 2019 published earlier this year contained three Asian institutions in its top 20: the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Tsinghua University. The differences don't end there, although the two top 10s do have some similarities. Key differences include the fact the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019 finds space in the top 10 for Princeton and Yale, while QS names ETH Zurich and UCL (University College London) among their top 10.

Differences between the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019 and their QS equivalent can largely be explained by differences between the methodologies used to rank universities. The QS methodology, which can be viewed here, uses six metrics, including measures of academic and employer reputation which are based on worldwide surveys collating tens of thousands of responses. A comparison between this and the THE methodology can be found below.

*Information used from THE 2018 methodology.

The 2019 edition of the QS World University Rankings: Business Masters Rankings, out now, includes the new Masters in Marketing Rankings. Featuring 70 of the world’s top universities to study a master’s in marketing degree, the ranking has been calculated based on a methodology which considers each institution on five indicators, including employability, value for money and diversity. There are 44 European institutions in the ranking, including 17 in the UK, while the US has 21 representatives. But if you’re looking to study a master’s in marketing in either the US or Europe, which is best for you? Read on to find out how they compare.

United States

Starting off with the US, which is home to the number one university for master’s in marketing degrees this year: Columbia Business School. Other top business schools for marketing in the US include McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin and Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, ranked seventh and eighth respectively.  

Columbia earned its best score for alumni outcomes, with a large number of CEOs and business founders among its alumni. Its MSc in Marketing Analytics is STEM eligible, meaning it can be classed as a STEM degree, takes 12 months to complete, and costs $62,460. As typical with US business schools, this is very high in comparison to the global average tuition fee - $26,304. However, for many students the high fees are offset by the return on their investment, as the high prestige of US business schools improves their employability and salary prospects. According to our research, the average starting salary for 2017 graduates of master’s in marketing degrees around the world is $46,010, but for the US it rises to $61,534.

While Columbia received a high score for the value for money indicator, it was the University of Cincinnati’s Lindner College of Business which earned the highest score of any US institution for this indicator in the QS Masters in Marketing Rankings. Tuition fees at Lindner are actually lower than the global average at $14,398, and the school is ranked 43^rd overall for its MS in Marketing degree.

In terms of diversity, master’s in marketing classes in the US are slightly less diverse than the global average – with 50 percent of students international, whilst the global average is 68 percent. Seven nationalities are represented in the average master’s in marketing class in the US, while the global average is 12. If you want to study in the US and place importance on the class and faculty’s diversity, Columbia and Florida International University College of Business are the two highest ranked US business schools for this indicator. And looking at gender, the US has a slightly higher percentage of women enrolled for master’s in marketing degrees than the global average, at 70 percent.  

Europe

Moving on to Europe, which is home to an impressive seven of the top 10 institutions for master’s in marketing degrees, including Imperial College Business School, ranked second in the world after Columbia for its MSc in Strategic Marketing, which aims to teach students quick problem-solving tactics within authentic business circumstances. Imperial achieves its best score in the employability indicator, with 93 percent of students employed three months after graduation, earning an average starting salary of US$55,000. As is typical with the UK, tuition fees are higher than the global average, standing at £28,300 (equal to around US$37,200).

However, overall, students studying a master’s in marketing degree in Europe can expect to pay lower tuition fees than the global average, with fees averaging US$22,344 (the global average is $26,304).

Unfortunately, in contrast to the US, the typical starting salary for graduates who completed a master’s in marketing in Europe in 2017 was lower than the global average, but is nonetheless high at US$40,434 (the global average is $46,010).

However, if it’s important to you that your chosen business school is highly diverse, you’re in luck if you study in Europe – 83 percent of students in master’s in marketing classes are from outside the host country, while the global average is 69 percent, and an average of 15 nationalities are represented in each class. The university faculty members are highly diverse too, with nearly half (47 percent) coming from outside the host country – this shows another contrast with the US, where only around 21 percent of faculty members are international.

It could also be said that master’s in marketing degrees in Europe are more suitable for those with less work experience, as students tend to have an average of a year of work experience – less than both the global average (two years) and the US (2.7 years).

Other top business schools in Europe for this program include France’s HEC Paris (ranked third in the world) and Spain’s ESADE Business School (fourth), with both receiving a perfect score for the alumni outcomes indicator (higher than Imperial). Both business schools are known as some of the most prestigious in the world, and both have a high proportion of international students.

For those looking for the best value for money in their European business school, the highest-ranked entrant in the region for this indicator is Spain’s ESIC Business and Marketing School, which is ranked 42^nd overall for its Master in Marketing Management. Tuition fees for this course are below the global average at US$24,000, and graduates earned an average starting salary of a whopping $86,900. However, it’s worth mentioning that students at ESIC tend to be older (29) and have more experience under their belt (five years) in contrast to both the global and regional averages, which is likely to be a factor in their higher salaries.

At a glance: Master’s in Marketing Degrees in the US and Europe

Below you can see how the top 10 US and European business schools compare for factors such as average starting salary and tuition fees.

United States

Europe

 Which one gets your vote? Let us know in the comments below, and find out more about studying in a particular country with our study destination guides.

The wait is over, and the QS World University Rankings: Business Masters Rankings has finally launched for the second time, and this year includes the new QS Masters in Marketing ranking. Each of the universities were ranked according to five relevant indicators: employability, alumni outcomes, value for money, thought leadership, and diversity. This year’s masters in marketing ranking includes 70 universities in total, 21 of which are based in the US, 17 in the UK, and nine in France.

Read on to discover the 10 universities for masters in marketing degrees in 2019, or click here for the full table.

10. Warwick Business School (WBS) – MSc Marketing and Strategy

Location: Coventry, United Kingdom

Starting with the 10th best university in the world for master’s in marketing, Warwick Business School also claims third place for the subject in the UK. Originally established in 1967 as the School of Industrial and Business Studies, the school has educated an alumni which now hold management positions in corporate, government, and academic institutions around the world.

WBS’ MSc Marketing and Strategy course incorporates the two disciplines, enabling students to acquire essential theoretical knowledge for tough decision-making in the marketing world, as well as to apply the learned techniques to real-life business situations.

With a network of graduates vastly landing leadership roles, it’s no surprise that WBS scores the highest in the ranking for the thought leadership indicator. It also achieves high scores for both diversity and employability – with international members making up 97 percent of its students, and 76 percent of its faculty.

9. Vlerick Business School – Master in Marketing Management

Location: Belgium and Russia

Ranked ninth in the new master’s in marketing ranking is Vlerick Business School, a private Belgian business school with campuses spread out cross Ghent, Leuven, Brussels and St. Petersburg, Russia. Its Master in Marketing Management course provides aspiring business moguls with an intensive learning experience, including a three-month market research program within noteworthy marketing companies such as LinkedIn, Google, and Oracle.

As the only ranked business school in Belgium and the ninth in the world for master’s in marketing degrees, it achieves admirable scores for its value for money, employability, and diversity – boasting its highest score for the alumni outcomes category, with some of its most prominent former students including Belgian chairman and former CEO of Nestlé Paul Bulcke, and chairman of the travel company Thomas Cook Group plc. Frank Meysman.

8. USC Marshall School of Business – MSc in Marketing

Location: Los Angeles, California, United States

USC Marshall School of Business is the private business school of the University of Southern California and is one of the most respected institutions in the world for business, currently ranking third in the US and eighth in the world for its MSc in Marketing degree.

USC Marshall’s Master of Science in Marketing is a one-year course for full-time students, and up to five years for part-time students who wish to further their studies whilst remaining in employment and immediately applying their academic knowledge and pragmatism to their work roles.

As a private higher-education institution, USC Marshall receives an excellent score for its value for money and achieves its highest score in the alumni outcomes category. Graduates in the Class of 2017 have proudly landed careers in some of the world’s top business companies, including ESPN, Netflix, LinkedIn, Disney, Hyundai, and NYX.

7. Texas McCombs School of Business – MSc in Marketing

Location: Austin, Texas, US

Part of the University of Texas at Austin, the McCombs School of Business is placed seventh this year in the global rankings for master’s in marketing courses, and at second place in the nation for the subject.

Receiving particularly impressive scores for its value for money, thought leadership and alumni outcomes, the school’s MSc in Marketing course aims to provide students with intense theoretical training as well as data analysis courses, offering one-on-one professional training which includes career exploration, mock interviews, and company treks. The course is open to all majors, and no experience is required to qualify.

6. Alliance Manchester Business School – MSc Marketing

Location: Manchester, UK

Ranked sixth in the world this year for its master’s in marketing course, Alliance Manchester Business School is the number one most targeted higher-education business institution by graduate employers, according to the High Fliers Report 2018.

With a global network of over 60,000 alumni in 176 countries and a student population comprised of 135 nationalities, it receives among the highest scores for thought leadership, and its second highest for diversity.

Manchester’s MSc Marketing course offers applicants a wide range of specialist pathways to choose from, including business-to-business, consumer behaviour, international marketing, retailing, and services. Additionally, it provides students with the opportunity to apply for an international exchange, should they wish to study overseas and gain a broad, international outlook on business and marketing.

5. ESCP Europe Business School – MSc in Marketing & Creativity

Location: London and Paris

With a global ranking of fifth for master’s in marketing degrees, the MSc in Marketing & Creativity course at ESCP Europe Business School ensures students graduate with not only an analytical, but also a creative approach to business and marketing management. With its combination of consultancy projects, creative seminars, tangible experiences in emerging markets and much more, the program aims to put students’ learning into action through a minimum of four months’ work experience within a variety of potential employers, including companies such as L’Oréal, Apple, and Amazon.

ESCP Europe shines the most for the employability indicator, as MSc in Marketing & Creativity graduates can expect to earn an impressive average salary increase of 79 percent, while 92 percent secure a job that has an international dimension.

4. ESADE Business School – MSc in Marketing Management

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Located in the cultural, Mediterranean city of Barcelona, ESADE Business School boasts a diverse campus population of 109 nationalities overall – with a 43/57 ratio of male and female students and 24 nationalities from five continents having made up the MSc in Marketing Management Class of 2018-2019. ESADE is ranked fourth in the new master’s in marketing ranking, receiving excellent scores across four of the indicators, including a perfect score for alumni outcomes, and its second-highest score for the employability indicator.

ESADE is a world-renowned center for academic excellence, and its MSc in Marketing Management course is one which is based on a unique principle which encourages students to develop strategic thinking, as well as the confidence to question tradition and initiate change.

3. HEC Paris – MSc in Marketing

Location: Paris, France

HEC Paris is currently number one in France for master’s in marketing degrees and ranks third in the world for the subject. Scoring high scores across most of the categories, HEC performs particularly well for alumni outcomes, employability, and thought leadership.

HEC Paris’ MSc in Marketing course provides aspiring marketers with the essential theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for a successful career in today’s professional world of marketing. To qualify for graduation, students are required to write a thesis in addition to completing a four-month period of work experience – which ensures graduates leave with a guaranteed level of confidence and professionalism in their field.

2. Imperial College Business School – MSc Strategic Marketing

Location: London, UK

Placed second this year in the QS Master’s in Marketing ranking, Imperial College Business School also claims first place in the UK, and is considered to be one of the most respected business schools globally. Its location in the business-savvy city of London provides students the privilege of full access to leading global organizations and the world’s top companies.

The school’s innovative and practical MSc Strategic Marketing course is designed to encourage and develop strategic thinking in future marketers, teaching students quick problem-solving tactics within authentic business circumstances, additionally providing them with the option of a work placement.

Scoring excellently across all five indicators, the college boasts its highest score in the employability category, followed by thought leadership, and diversity. A closer look at the scores shows that a decent 92 percent of former-students are employed within three months of graduating.

1. Columbia Business School – MS in Marketing Science

Location: New York City, US

And finally, as we leave the best till last, we conclude our list with the number one ranked school in the world for its master’s in marketing course – Columbia Business School. Its MS in Marketing Science program scores impeccably for all five indicators used to compile the ranking, receiving particularly high marks for thought leadership and employability, and scoring its highest for alumni outcomes.

As an intensive, two-semester STEM eligible course with a primary focus on marketing analytics, Columbia’s MS in Marketing Science program is tailored to fit marketing researchers with a desire to acquire the same level of competence, technical skills and expertise provided in the coursework component of a PhD program. It delivers the teachings required to hone researchers’ work skills in industry, consulting firm, non-profits, government, and other organizations where marketing analytics is essential.

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Today (September 25), TopUniversities launched the second edition of the QS World University Rankings: Business Masters Rankings, a ranking of the top postgraduate programs in management, finance, business analytics and (new this year) marketing. The ranking aims to provide greater insight for business-minded students who aren’t sure whether they should pursue a traditional MBA degree (Master of Business Administration) or a more specialized business master’s degree.

Of the four subjects featured this year, management, marketing and finance are both well-established study options, but business analytics is perhaps more unknown. Read on for more information about this growing area of study and find out whether it’s right for you.

What is business analytics?

Business analytics takes a data-driven approach to the world of business, using statistics and data modeling to develop new business insights. This blend of technology and business makes it an ideal study option for anyone with an interest in programming or working with big data.

While programs vary between universities and business schools, typically students will be trained in data analysis and business intelligence tools, so they’re able to do things such as predictive modeling. This involves analyzing data about a business’s past performance to predict how it will perform in the future and make business decisions accordingly. For example, a chain of restaurants may use data to decide where to open their next branch.

Why is it becoming more popular now?

As a postgraduate program, business analytics is relatively new. However, the concept dates back to the late 19^th century and was notably used by car manufacturer Henry Ford, who would measure the time it took to make each component on the assembly line in his factories. Business analytics has developed vastly since then though, with the rise in computing power allowing for increasingly complicated analysis to take place.

Now, business analytics is used in most of the world’s major companies and is particularly valuable in Silicon Valley, where tech start-ups are keen to exploit any data-driven advantages which will help them break into the mass market. Some larger businesses may not have their own in-house business analysts, but there are also a notable range of business analytics companies which offer their services on a consulting basis.

Due to the rising interest in business analytics in the tech sector, more and more business schools have begun to offer a master’s in business analytics. This rise has largely been driven by American universities and schools, which explains why the majority of institutions in the QS Business Analytics Rankings are from the US.

So, which are the best business schools for studying business analytics?

The latest ranking of business analytics degrees was topped by Sloan Graduate School of Management at MIT in the US. Containing over 70 institutions, you can view the full table here, and compare different schools on the five indicators used to compile the ranking. 

Sponsored by The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK)

If you’re interested in working on research that has the ability to change our world for the better, there are few challenges more pressing than the vast amounts of food which is wasted or thrown away every year. According to recent estimates, roughly one third of the food produced for human consumption - approximately 1.3 billion tonnes - is lost or wasted every year.

These figures are particularly distressing when one considers how many people - particularly in developing countries - suffer from hunger or malnutrition. So, it’s no surprise that the world’s brightest policymakers and scientists have attempted to find solutions.

Think you’d like to know more about the groundbreaking research happening in this area? We spoke to The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) to learn more about the work their scientists are doing to find an innovative new use for leftovers.

From food waste to fish feed

Image: Fish feeds produced from food waste

Researchers at EdUHK have been working on a way to take food waste that would usually end up in landfill and transform it into low-cost, nutritious fish feed pellets, to be used in the aquaculture industry.

Made exclusively from recycled food, the pellets contain the same level of protein as commercial fish feed, providing an ecologically sound and commercially viable alternative.

The feed was tested in a year-long scientific study at a fish farm in Hong Kong, with the results published in international journals such as Aquaculture International, Science of the Total Environment and Environmental Pollution.

Heading the project is Professor Wong Ming-hung, Advisor (Environmental Science) at EdUHK. He said: “Fish feed pellets made from food waste can be a viable alternative to manufactured fish feed as the primary protein source for cultured fish. We have found that fish raised in this way are also safer to consume.”

Image: Laboratory-scale fish feeding trial

To improve fish health, Professor Wong’s team incorporates residue left over from decocting Chinese herbal medicines, such as goji berries, into the pellets. Enzymes are also added to make the feed easier to digest. The pellets have been sold to local fish farmers raising freshwater, plant-eating fish. This new environmentally friendly fish-farming option has been well received because it is affordable and results in good quality fish.

Professor Wong’s work hasn’t stopped there though. With two patents pending, he has already started work on creating fish pellets which contain enough protein for predatory fish species.

Exciting, innovative studies like this are just one of the many benefits of studying at a research-focused institution like EdUHK. Apart from Professor Wong’s projects, EdUHK has conducted various knowledge transfer projects in collaboration with government agencies and intergovernmental organisations, including the World Bank, UNESCO, the Asian Development Bank and the European Union.

In June, the University set up a State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution. Endorsed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the laboratory conducts pioneering research and provides research-based professional advice on various local and global problems, including marine pollution.

Want to learn more about the research projects at EdUHK and how you could apply to study here? Click here for more information.