Seoul tops the list, with half of the positions going to cities in the Asia-Pacific region, which is an indicator of the region’s growing influence on global education. Higher education analytics agency Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has published its annual ranking of the 150 best cities in the world for students to live and study. The list is topped by Seoul in South Korea, with half of the positions in the top 20 going to cities in the Asia-Pacific region, which, according to analysts, is an indicator of the region’s growing influence on global education.
To be included in the QS Best Student Cities ranking, a city must meet two main criteria: a population of at least 250,000 people and the presence of at least two universities included in the QS global university ranking.
When compiling the list, a number of parameters are assessed, including: the city’s attractiveness to students (level of safety, pollution, general quality of the urban environment), representation of international students, accessibility of life and education, as well as employment opportunities after graduation.
According to the QS Best Student Cities-2026 ranking, Seoul scored the maximum 100 points, having improved its affordability indicator compared to 2025. In addition, the result was influenced by the share of participants in the international QS survey on the desired city for study.
Second place was taken by Japanese Tokyo (99.9 points), which was highly rated for student satisfaction and their demand in the labor market.
London, which led the ranking for six years, dropped to third place with a score of 97.1 points. Despite the leadership in such criteria as “student opinion” and “university ranking”, the capital of the UK received an extremely low score for affordability – only 12.6, which significantly affected its position.
Fourth place went to Munich (96.3 points), which showed strong results in all main criteria, including “student opinion” and “city attractiveness”.
In fifth place is Melbourne (95.7 points), which became the absolute leader in the “student diversity” indicator.
Sydney came in sixth with 94.7 points, strengthening its position thanks to its high city attractiveness and international openness, despite its relatively low accessibility.
Seventh place was shared by two cities: Berlin and Paris (both with 93.3 points). Berlin received the highest score from students, while Paris received high scores for its academic reputation among employers.
Ninth place was taken by Zurich (91.5 points), distinguished, among other things, by its high quality of life and strong education system.
Vienna rounded out the top ten with 90.8 points, showing high scores for safety, comfort and the general level of the urban environment.
No U.S. city made the top 10. The best performing city was Boston, which came in at 15th place, followed by New York (23rd) and San Francisco (41st). Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington D.C. also made the top 50.
