Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has released its updated ranking of the best student cities, the QS Best Student Cities. For the first time since 2018, London has lost its top spot and dropped to third place. Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea, has taken over the top spot, with Tokyo in second place.
How the cities were selected
The ranking includes cities that meet three mandatory conditions. A population of at least 250,000 people. The city must have at least two universities included in the latest QS list of the best universities in the world. And the risk level, according to the International SOS index (which evaluates safety and quality of healthcare), must range from negligible to moderate.
Position in the ranking is determined by several categories: the number of top universities and international students, the demand for graduates from local universities in the labor market, student satisfaction with city life, cost of living, and other parameters.
Top 10 student cities
First place – Seoul. Second – Tokyo. Third – London. Then Munich, Melbourne, Sydney, Berlin, Paris, Zurich, and Vienna follow.
Asian Breakthrough:
As QS notes, the most notable feature of the current ranking is that the top two spots are now occupied by Asian cities. Seoul topped the list, Tokyo consolidated its position in second place, and London, which held the lead since 2018, fell to third.
