The World's Best Student Cities 2027: QS Ranking

QS has released its ranking of the world’s best student cities for 2027. The compilers evaluate cities based on the quality of their universities, the composition of the student community, employment opportunities, affordability, and attractiveness.

We’ll tell you more below about which city topped the list, which regions strengthened their positions, and which cities dropped in the rankings.

Are you planning to study in one of the cities on the QS ranking?

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Which city is the best for students in 2027 according to QS?

Seoul has been named the best city for students in 2027. The capital of South Korea tops the QS Best Student Cities ranking for the second year in a row. Tokyo took second place, and London came in third. Thus, the top two spots in the overall ranking belong to cities in East Asia, while London has retained its status as Europe’s best student city.

Seoul holds the top spot thanks to the highest score in the “World University Rankings” sub-index and high ratings for employer activity. Tokyo ranked first for employer engagement and fourth for attractiveness. London remained in third place but was unable to climb any higher.

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What criteria does QS use to rank student cities?

The QS Best Student Cities ranking takes into account several groups of indicators that describe the conditions for studying and living as a student in a city. The assessment covers the quality of local universities, the diversity of the student body, opportunities in the job market, affordability, and the city’s overall appeal. The final ranking position is determined by the sum of these indicators. The main criteria are:

• the quality of universities, specifically their rankings in global university rankings;
• the diversity of the student body;
• employer engagement;
• affordability;
• attractiveness.

The employer engagement indicator is becoming increasingly important. Students are more likely to choose a city to study in based on post-graduation employment prospects, making this criterion one of the key factors.

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Top 10 Best Cities to Study in the World in 2027

The top ten of the 2027 QS ranking includes six European cities, two Asian cities, and two Australian cities. Seoul, Tokyo, and London occupy the top three spots, with Melbourne in fourth place. Munich and Sydney tied for fifth place. The rest of the top ten are Paris, Berlin, Vienna, and Zurich. The full list is as follows:

1. Seoul, South Korea.
2. Tokyo, Japan.
3. London, United Kingdom.
4. Melbourne, Australia.
5. Munich, Germany (tied).
6. Sydney, Australia (tied for 5th place).
7. Paris, France.
8. Berlin, Germany.
9. Vienna, Austria.
10. Zurich, Switzerland.

Asian Student Cities: Rising in the QS Rankings

The Asia-Pacific region has the largest representation among the top twenty cities in the 2027 QS rankings. In addition to Seoul and Tokyo, the top 20 includes Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore, Beijing, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Kyoto, and Hong Kong. Among the regions on the QS chart, this is the only one whose cities have risen by an average of approximately 7.5 positions over two years. Rankings and changes:

• Melbourne — 4th place (+1 over two years);
• Sydney — tied for 5th (+1);
• Singapore — 11th (+4);
• Beijing — 12th (+19);
• Taipei — 14th (+12);
• Kuala Lumpur — 15th (+8);
• Kyoto — 16th (+2 since entering the 2026 ranking);
• Hong Kong — 17th (unchanged).

QS attributes these results to broader trends in the region. Malaysia is among the markets with the highest growth forecasts in the world, and ASEAN countries are gaining greater visibility on the international stage.

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China’s Student Cities: Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing in the Rankings

Beijing ranks 12th globally and tops the list of Chinese student cities. Other cities in the country are also rising rapidly. Shanghai has improved its ranking by 25 spots in two years and now ranks 21st. Nanjing ranks 59th: it has climbed 10 spots in one year and 28 spots in two years.

Guangzhou shares 95th place with other cities. Compared to last year, it has climbed 24 spots.

European Student Cities: Leaders and Cities That Have Lost Ground

Europe maintains a strong presence at the top of the rankings: six cities in the region are in the top ten. London ranks highest among them (3rd place), followed by Munich (tied for 5th), Paris (7th), Berlin (8th), Vienna (9th), and Zurich (10th). At the same time, some European cities have dropped significantly. According to the QS rankings, the cities that lost the most positions since the 2025 edition are:

• Leicester—about 33;
• Wrocław—30;
• Graz—28;
• Toulouse—27;
• Lyon and Aberdeen—24 each;
• Brighton—23;
• Krakow—20;
• Stuttgart and Cluj-Napoca—14 each.

Over the past year, Lyon has dropped 17 positions (71st place), Graz—18 (tied for 124th), and Montpellier—13 (147th). On average over the past two years, cities in France and Germany (about 12 positions) and the United Kingdom (about 11) have fallen the most. In the Netherlands, the average drop is about 10 positions; in Switzerland, about 4; and across Europe as a whole, approximately 2.6.

Ranking of Countries by Education Spending — see this article.

Studying in the U.S. and Canada: City Rankings and Affordability

North American cities score highly for employer engagement and university quality, but are losing ground overall. Boston ranks highest among them (18th place). Montreal dropped two spots to 20th place. Toronto ranks 22nd, New York shares 23rd place, and Los Angeles ranks 42nd. Vancouver and Ottawa each dropped four spots, to 33rd and 84th place, respectively.

Affordability remains the region’s weak point. On this metric, Boston ranks 149th, New York and San Francisco are tied for 147th, and Washington, D.C., ranks 146th. According to the QS rankings, U.S. cities have dropped by an average of about 13 positions over the past two years, while North American cities as a whole have fallen by about 11.

See also: Studying in English Abroad: The World’s Leading Universities for International Students in 2026.

The Middle East and Latin America in the ranking of student cities

The Middle East is showing positive momentum. Abu Dhabi climbed eight positions and ranks 72nd (+19 over two years). Riyadh also climbed eight spots to 76th place (+21 over two years). Dubai (79th), Sharjah (80th), and Doha (tied for 81st) also made the ranking.

Latin America’s results are mixed. Buenos Aires ranks highest among the region’s cities (tied for 35th place), followed by Santiago (55th) and Mexico City (77th); all three cities have dropped in the rankings over the past year. Bogotá and Lima each lost one position and now rank 111th and 149th, respectively. According to the QS rankings, the region’s average change in ranking over two years is approximately −1.4.

We previously wrote about studying in Europe as a path to a residence permit.

Important! Choosing a city to study abroad requires preparing documents and understanding the requirements of the country and the university. An education lawyer from the Visit World portal will help you navigate admission requirements, the list of required documents, and the application process for studying abroad. A consultation will allow you to plan your admission in advance and avoid mistakes in your documents.

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Reminder! In our previous article, we discussed the top 10 universities in Europe for 2026.

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