QS Releases 2026 Ranking of the World’s Best Student Cities

Each year, QS ranks the world’s best student cities by evaluating factors like university quality, affordability, student diversity, and overall experience. In its newly released 2026 edition, published on July 15, Seoul has claimed the title of the world’s best city for students. Notably, for the first time, two Asian cities dominate the very top, with Seoul (South Korea) taking first place and Tokyo (Japan) securing second, highlighting Asia’s growing influence in global higher education. 

Top 10 Ranking (2026)

1. Seoul, South Korea (with an overall score of 100)
2. Tokyo, Japan (with an overall score of 99.9)
3. London, United Kingdom (with an overall score of 97.1)
4. Munich, Germany (with an overall score of 96.3)
5. Melbourne, Australia (with an overall score of 95.7)
6. Sydney, Australia (with an overall score of 94.7)
7. Berlin, Germany and Paris, France (both holding an overall score of 93.3)
8. =
9. Zurich, Switzerland (with an overall score of 91.5)
10. Vienna, Austria (with an overall score of 90.8)

Key Highlights 

This year's ranking highlights a global shift, where affordability, quality of life, and employment prospects are becoming as important as academic reputation. As a result of this shift, Asia stands out as a leader this year, with South Korea and Japan taking the top two spots for the first time. Seoul achieved a perfect overall score, praised for its vibrant student life, affordability, and strong employer activity. Tokyo maintained high marks for infrastructure, safety, and international reputation. Australia’s Melbourne and Sydney remained among the world’s top student cities, despite facing challenges.

Meanwhile, London slipped from the top spot for the first time in six years due to rising living costs, despite hosting world-leading universities. Although three of the top five cities were from the Asia-Pacific region, European cities also held strong, making Europe the most represented region in the top 10. Vienna made a notable entry into the top 10, climbing from 14th to 10th place, reflecting its growing appeal to international students. Additionally, Germany and Australia are the only countries with two cities in the top 10.

London’s Setback and Seoul’s Rise 

London dropped from first to third place after six consecutive years at the top, largely because of a steep decline in affordability. The city ranked 137th in affordability, with average student rent reaching £13,595, now exceeding the £13,348 maximum maintenance loan meant to cover all living costs. Alarmingly, 14% of student rooms cost over £20,000 a year, and rents have risen 18% in just two years. London also saw a decline in its student mix score, reflecting fewer gains in diversity and inclusivity, despite hosting 18 top‑ranked universities. The newly introduced levy and Basic Compliance Assessment are also part of ongoing changes that could potentially affect the higher education sector in the UK. (Source)

Seoul, meanwhile, surged to first place by achieving a perfect overall score. The city stands out for its vibrant student life, cultural richness, and strong employer activity, with three of its universities, Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University, ranked in the global top 100. South Korea currently hosts over 200,000 international students, backed by government initiatives to support and attract talent, cementing Seoul’s status as the world’s best student city in 2026.

Methodology & How Indicators Are Measured 

To qualify for the ranking, cities must have a population exceeding 250,000 and host at least two universities featured in the latest QS World University Rankings. Currently, around 125 cities meet these criteria, each assessed across six carefully structured categories measured with data from trusted sources and QS’s own surveys: University Rankings, Student Mix, Desirability, Employer Activity, Affordability, and Student View. (Source)

Each category contributes a maximum of 100 points, adding up to a theoretical maximum score of 600 (later scaled to 100 for simplicity). Below is a closer look at what each category measures and how. 

1. In the University Rankings category, a city’s performance is judged based on the number of ranked universities it hosts and the quality of those institutions.

• Institution Count: Straight count of universities in the city featured in the QS World University Rankings.
• Indexed Score: How well those universities performed in the latest rankings.
• Top Score: Based on the position of the city’s highest-ranked university.

2. In the Student Mix category, the main focus is the city's student population and international diversity.

• Student Population: Number of students as a proportion of the city’s population.
• International Volume: Total number of international students.
• International Ratio: International students as a percentage of total students.
• Tolerance & Inclusion: Measures how welcoming the city is, using the Social Progress Index.

3. Desirability category aims to evaluate a city’s general appeal, considering safety, liveability, pollution levels, corruption perceptions, and students’ aspirational preferences - asking respondents in a global survey, which collected over 85,000 responses worldwide, to name their “dream student city”
4. The Employer Activity category measures how attractive a city’s graduates are to employers. Data from QS’s extensive global employer surveys identifies

• How many local (domestic) employers recognize universities in that city as producing high-quality graduates.
• Weighted count of international employers who identified at least one institution in the city as producing excellent graduates.
• World Bank data on youth employment rates for each country.

5. The Affordability category reflects how expensive or affordable it is for students to live and study in the city. QS combines multiple indicators to create a balanced view of real costs. It looks at average tuition fee data from ranked universities in each city, as well as the Big Mac Index from The Economist to measure daily costs, the iPad Index to reflect general goods prices, and the Mercer Cost of Living Index to show typical expenses like housing and transport.
6. The Student View category captures the voices of students themselves. Based on survey responses, this category reflects how students rate their overall experience in the city, including nightlife, diversity, friendliness, cultural life, and affordability. It also measures whether students choose to stay in the city at least a year after graduation, providing insight into employment prospects.

Significance for Students 

The QS Best Student Cities 2026 ranking provides invaluable guidance for international students choosing where to study abroad. It goes beyond university prestige to consider the cost of living, diversity, safety, and career opportunities after graduation. As a result, students can make more informed decisions, balancing academic excellence with quality of life and long-term prospects.