QS has announced the Best Student Cities Ranking for 2026.
LONDON, July 15, 2025 — Seoul has been named the world’s best study destination, according to the QS Best Student Cities Ranking, ending London’s six-year reign at the top. Seoul has moved up two spots, reflecting its strong international appeal and an outstanding selection of universities. London has dropped to third place due to a decrease in its Affordability rating.
QS has ranked 150 cities across 58 countries and territories. The US and UK have the most representation, with 16 cities each. Vienna enters the top 10, while Kuala Lumpur (12th), Taipei (14th), and Hong Kong (17th) make it into the top 20.
Ju-Ho Lee, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education of the Republic of Korea stated, “We are proud that Seoul has been recognized as the best student city in the world. This achievement reflects the global confidence in Korea’s higher education system. It showcases Seoul’s ability to combine academic excellence with a vibrant culture, cutting-edge innovation, and a safe, welcoming environment.”
Global Highlights
- In the UK, only Nottingham (49th) and Leeds (51st) have seen improvements. The UK excels in Desirability but faces challenges with Affordability.
- Among all ranked US cities, only Boston (15th) has improved; however, US cities continue to struggle with Student Mix and Desirability.
- All four Canadian cities have dropped in rankings, but they all remain in the top 100, led by Montreal (18th).
- Melbourne and Sydney continue to rank in the top 10, reinforcing Australia’s status as one of the world’s premier study destinations.
- Tokyo ranks second globally and leads in Employer Activity.
- Beijing achieves its highest position ever at 13th, leading all eight ranked cities in Mainland China.
- Mumbai, India, has entered the top 100 at 98th place, thanks to its strong performance in Affordability (11th) and Employer Activity (37th).
- Germany and Australia are the only countries with two cities in the top 10; both Munich and Berlin are highly regarded by students and graduates who have studied and lived there.
- Paris maintains its 7th place and stands out as the European leader in the QS World University Rankings indicator, reflecting its exceptional universities.
- Madrid has entered the Top 30, while Milan and Rome are now in the Top 50.
- Amman ranks as the highest city in the Arab Region, at 64th, marking an impressive 19-place rise year-on-year. Cairo leads in Africa, ranking 71st.
- Buenos Aires tops the Latin America rankings, placing 32nd and improving by 10 spots, followed by Santiago at 50th.
QS BEST STUDENT CITIES 2026
RANK – CITY – COUNTRY
- Seoul – South Korea
- Tokyo – Japan
- London – United Kingdom
- Munich – Germany
- Melbourne – Australia
- Sydney – Australia
- Berlin – Germany
- Paris – France
- Zurich – Switzerland
- Vienna – Austria
- Singapore – Singapore
- Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia
- Beijing – China (Mainland)
- Taipei – Taiwan
- Boston – United States
- Edinburgh – United Kingdom
- Hong Kong SAR – Hong Kong SAR
- Kyoto – Japan
- Montreal – Canada
- Amsterdam – Netherlands
- Lausanne – Switzerland
- Toronto – Canada
- New York – United States
- Stockholm – Sweden
- Auckland – New Zealand
- Brisbane – Australia
- Shanghai – China (Mainland)
- Madrid – Spain
- Prague – Czech Republic
- Vancouver – Canada
- Adelaide – Australia
- Buenos Aires – Argentina
- Leuven – Belgium
- Copenhagen – Denmark
- Barcelona – Spain
- Glasgow – United Kingdom
- Perth – Australia
- Canberra – Australia
- Dublin – Ireland
- Manchester – United Kingdom
- Newcastle Upon Tyne – United Kingdom
- San Francisco – United States
- Los Angeles – United States
- Milan – Italy
- Coventry – United Kingdom
- Rome – Italy
- Bristol – United Kingdom
- Chicago – United States
- Nottingham – United Kingdom
- Santiago – Chile
- Leeds – United Kingdom
- Gothenburg – Sweden
- Brussels – Belgium
- Lyon – France
- Bangkok – Thailand
- Warsaw – Poland
- Brno – Czech Republic
- Lisbon – Portugal
- Birmingham – United Kingdom
- Helsinki – Finland
- Istanbul – Türkiye
- Liverpool – United Kingdom
- Osaka – Japan
- Amman – Jordan
- Belfast – United Kingdom
- Turin – Italy
- Sheffield – United Kingdom
- Budapest – Hungary
- Nanjing – China (Mainland)
- Philadelphia – United States
- Cairo – Egypt
- Hsinchu – Taiwan
- Mexico City – Mexico
- Washington DC – United States
- Dubai – United Arab Emirates
- Sharjah – United Arab Emirates
- Cape Town – South Africa
- Oslo – Norway
- Ankara – Türkiye
- Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates
- Atlanta – United States
- Ottawa – Canada
- Valencia – Spain
- Riyadh – Saudi Arabia
- Doha – Qatar
- Aberdeen – United Kingdom
- San Diego – United States
- Manila – Philippines
- Pittsburgh – United States
- Wuhan – China (Mainland)
- Almaty – Kazakhstan
- Brighton – United Kingdom
- Tainan – Taiwan
- Christchurch – New Zealand
- Gold Coast – Australia
- Seattle – United States
- Beirut – Lebanon
- Mumbai – India
- Bogota – Colombia
- Johannesburg – South Africa
- Sao Paulo – Brazil
- Athens – Greece
- Baltimore – United States
- Delhi – India
- Riga – Latvia
- Toulouse – France
- Al-Ain – United Arab Emirates
- Bangalore – India
- Graz – Austria
- Krakow – Poland
- Monterrey – Mexico
- Nagoya – Japan
- Taichung – Taiwan
- Houston – United States
- Vilnius – Lithuania
- Jakarta – Indonesia
- Baku – Azerbaijan
- Busan – South Korea
- Guangzhou – China (Mainland)
- Stuttgart – Germany
- Yogyakarta – Indonesia
- Jeddah – Saudi Arabia
- Bandung – Indonesia
- Xi’an – China (Mainland)
- Leicester – United Kingdom
- Miami – United States
- Astana – Kazakhstan
- Chennai – India
- Tallinn – Estonia
- Taoyuan District – Taiwan
- Daegu – South Korea
- Tianjin – China (Mainland)
- Pretoria – South Africa
- Macau – Macau SAR
- Lima – Peru
- Dhaka – Bangladesh
- Montpellier – France
- Bishkek – Kyrgyzstan
- Tel Aviv-Yafo – Israel
- Wroclaw – Poland
- Izmir – Türkiye
- Kaunas – Lithuania
- Surabaya – Indonesia
- Rio de Janeiro – Brazil
- Shah Alam – Malaysia
- Chengdu – China (Mainland)
- Dallas – United States
- Cluj-Napoca – Romania
- Durham – United States
- Irbid – Jordan
– The following four cities from India are featured in the QS World Student Cities Rankings 2026:
- Mumbai: Rank 98, Overall Score: 61.6
- Delhi: Rank 104, Overall Score: 60.5
- Bangalore: Rank 108, Overall Score: 59.6
- Chennai: Rank 128, Overall Score: 54.1
– The QS Best Student Cities ranking highlights the top urban destinations for international students based on a diverse range of indicators divided into six main categories.
– To be eligible for inclusion, each city must have a population of over 250,000 and host at least two universities that are featured in the most recent QS World University Rankings. Whenever possible, population metrics are based on the metropolitan area.
– The six main categories considered are:
- University Rankings
- Student Mix
- Desirability
- Employer Activity
- Affordability
- Student views
Source: QS
- Post by Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, Government of India:
– Editor’s Comments on Student Cities in India:
- The QS Best Student Cities 2026 rankings, unveiled on July 15, 2025, spotlight Mumbai (98th), Delhi (104th), Bengaluru (108th), and Chennai (128th) as emerging global education hubs that are shaping the future of learning in India. This notable rise in rankings is primarily attributed to the transformative National Education Policy 2020, which emphasizes both internationalization and affordability, making quality education more accessible to a diverse student population. In a remarkable distinction, Delhi has earned the title of the world’s most affordable student city, as highlighted in a comprehensive report by the Times of India.
- Since its introduction in 2020 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the National Education Policy has catalyzed a staggering 390% increase in the number of Indian universities included in the prestigious QS World University Rankings over the past decade, according to data from QS. This impressive advancement challenges the long-held perception of India’s education system as underdeveloped, bringing it more in line with global standards. The policy has sparked significant reforms, including the establishment of renowned foreign university campuses in vibrant cities such as Ahmedabad and New Delhi, thereby fostering a richer educational experience for students across the nation.
- Indian cities have shown notable progress in various global rankings, yet they still struggle significantly with the student mix indicator. For instance, Mumbai, a bustling metropolis known for its vibrant culture and economic opportunities, ranks a lowly 150th in this category, reflecting a starkly limited presence of international students. This concern is further emphasized by a 2023 UNESCO study, which reveals that India accounts for only 0.6% of the world’s mobile student population —a troubling statistic that highlights the challenges faced in attracting foreign talent. Despite advancements in educational policies aimed at enhancing the learning environment, considerable gaps in essential infrastructure and inclusivity remain that urgently require focused attention and improvement.
CHANDIGARH, INDIA
Cities such as Chandigarh in India are not eligible for inclusion in the QS Best Student City rankings, as they do not host a minimum of two universities that are featured in the most recent QS World University Rankings. This criterion ensures that only cities with a substantial and diverse higher education framework are considered, thereby emphasizing the importance of a competitive university environment in enriching the student experience and enhancing academic opportunities.
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