Recently, QS released the "2023 Best Student Cities" ranking!
This ranking compares 140 cities, including 30 new entries, and covers major global study destinations.
Although the overall ranking is not very different from last year, it's still exciting that London has topped the list for four consecutive years!
Meanwhile, Seoul finally overtook Tokyo, rising one spot to tie with Munich for second, forming a new three-way leadership.
The best student cities ranking essentially showcases factors like study costs, academic environment, livability, inclusiveness, and job opportunities in each city.
Understanding the living environment of cities with target universities can positively impact your school selection during the application process.
Ranking Conditions and Indicators
Cities must meet two conditions to be included
1. The population must exceed 250,000.
2. At least two universities in the city must be featured in the latest QS World University Rankings.
QS Best Student Cities ranking uses six major indicators
1. University Rankings
Reflects the collective performance of a city's universities in the QS World University Rankings. Does the city have a range of highly ranked universities?
2. Desirability
Reflects the overall desirability of each city. Is it an ideal place to live? Do prospective students consistently express a desire to study there?
3. Affordability
Indicates a city's affordability considering tuition fees and general living costs. Includes tuition, living expenses, etc.
4. Employer Activity
Reflects which cities are most sought after by graduate employers. Do employers highly value the city's universities? Are there economic opportunities for graduates?
5. Student Mix
Areas with a larger international student population are better prepared to welcome more. Is the city a diverse and inclusive place to live?
6. Student View
Based on a global survey collecting over 95,000 student responses. Through feedback on their study experience in specific cities, it captures eight types of ratings and the proportion of students staying in the city within one year after graduation.
The indicators and their weightings remain the same as previous years.
Top 10 Best Student Cities
London, UK, tops this year's ranking, marking its fourth consecutive year at number one. Munich, Germany, and Seoul, South Korea, tie for second place.
Zurich not only overtook Melbourne but also jumped from seventh to fourth, while Melbourne follows closely in fifth. Edinburgh, ranked 12th last year, broke into the top 10 this year, landing at tenth.
In the global top 10 best student cities, the UK, Germany, and Australia each have two representatives. However, the popular study destination USA did not have a single city in the top 10; Boston only placed 11th.
👉 For the full ranking list, check the official website
https://www.qschina.cn/city-rankings/2023
Now let's take a closer look at the top 10 cities~
London, UK
As the capital of the UK, London is the political, economic, cultural, and financial center of the country. It is home to 19 Fortune 500 company headquarters, offering highly valuable internship and job opportunities.
London also boasts one of the highest numbers of museums, libraries, and sports venues. Thus, it scores very high on university rankings, student diversity, and employer activity.
Moreover, London is packed with prestigious universities, including three of the world-class G5 group.
Notable institutions: University College London, Imperial College London, London School of Economics and Political Science, Queen Mary University of London, King's College London
Munich, Germany
Munich, the capital of Bavaria, retains its cityscape characterized by many church towers and historic buildings, presenting a beautiful, old, rustic, and civilized city.
It is also Germany's economic center, with a diversified economy, a concentration of high-tech industries, and super strong innovative capacity—one reason for its consistently high ranking.
Plus, German universities are tuition-free. Therefore, Munich scores well across the board, firmly securing second place.
Notable institutions: University of Munich, Technical University of Munich, Bundeswehr University Munich, Goethe-Institut
Seoul, South Korea
Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is not only the country's political, economic, technological, educational, and cultural center, but also one of Asia's major financial hubs.
Seoul is vibrant with its K-pop culture beloved by young people while also having a long history, making it an ideal place for international students to study and live.
Additionally, South Korea offers high education quality but at a much lower cost compared to many European and American countries.
Notable institutions: Seoul National University, Hanyang University, Sungkyunkwan University, Yonsei University, Korea University
Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich, located in north-central Switzerland, is the country's largest city and most important commercial and industrial hub, as well as the center of the Swiss financial system, hosting over 120 global bank headquarters.
"Pan Zhoudan, 29 years old, graduated from ETH Zurich." The recent internet sensation Pan Zhoudan graduated from ETH Zurich, which is located in the city. It not only ranks high in QS but also has very reasonable tuition fees; for example, a year's tuition plus living expenses at a public university is around 200,000 RMB.
Notable institutions: University of Zurich, ETH Zurich
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, has been named one of the "World's Most Livable Cities" by the EIU for many years. It is not only Australia's cultural center but also features Victorian architecture, saturated with a strong cultural and artistic atmosphere.
Melbourne offers high education quality and recognition, a quality learning environment, and advanced educational facilities.
The University of Melbourne has ranked first in Australia in multiple world rankings, with a very high graduate employment rate, and most investment banks' target schools include Melbourne.
Notable institutions: University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria University
Berlin, Germany
As Germany's capital, Berlin is undoubtedly Europe's business center with good employment prospects. Many world-famous companies like Siemens, Lufthansa, and Deutsche Bank were founded here.
Additionally, Berlin boasts a thriving cultural landscape, being a hub for design, fashion, music, and art, rivaling New York and London.
However, compared to some mainstream study destinations, the cost of studying in Berlin is much lower. Moreover, since international students can apply for tuition-free education, studying in Berlin has become increasingly popular in recent years.
Notable institutions: Humboldt University of Berlin, Technical University of Berlin, Free University of Berlin, Berlin University of the Arts, Berlin Music Academy
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, boasts a beautiful environment and excellent public safety. You can also enjoy a wide variety of cuisine. It is traditionally one of the world's four major global cities, with a global city economic competitiveness index ranking sixth.
Japanese institutions have very high teaching standards; in the latest QS World University Rankings, five Japanese universities are among the top 100.
As a megacity, Tokyo has top-notch educational resources. Furthermore, Japanese university tuition is relatively affordable.
Notable institutions: University of Tokyo, Waseda University, Keio University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Paris, France
Located in the heart of Europe, Paris is often rated one of the most livable cities in Europe. It is not only the political, economic, and cultural center of France but also of Western Europe. Graduates here have opportunities to connect with companies and employers from across Europe.
Moreover, studying in France: tuition at public universities is covered by the state, with students only paying a small registration fee. France also has relatively relaxed employment policies.
Furthermore, the French government provides a one-year job-seeker visa for international students, offering broader employment prospects.
Notable institutions: Collège de France, University of Paris, École Polytechnique, École Normale Supérieure, ENSAE (National School of Statistics and Economic Administration)
Sydney, Australia
As an important financial center in Australia, Sydney attracts thousands of international students each year. A world-famous tourist destination, Sydney is renowned for Darling Harbour, beaches, the Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge.
Australia's pace of life is relatively slow, making living and studying in Sydney very comfortable. Also, the time difference with China is minimal (about 2-3 hours), so international students can easily keep in touch with family and friends back home.
Notable institutions: University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney, Macquarie University, Western Sydney University
Edinburgh, UK
Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is an important birthplace of Scottish history and culture. Walking through Edinburgh's streets feels like a grand medieval stage set, with spires, castles, crags, and classical stone pillars. Today, Edinburgh mainly develops its financial sector and is the UK's largest financial center outside London.
This cultural and historic city attracts students from around the world, with living costs being moderately high but great value in daily necessities, food, and transportation.
Notable institutions: University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University
The city can be a reference factor when choosing a school, but it should not be the sole criterion.
Students should make a multi-faceted decision based on their actual situation to finally pick their ideal institution!
