Seoul leads QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2027

Seoul has retained its top position as the world's best student city in the QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2027. Tokyo secured the second spot, and London ranked third, highlighting a strong showing from Asian cities. European cities, however, presented a more varied performance in the rankings.

The South Korean capital achieved its leading rank due to its strong performance across all metrics, particularly in university rankings, which assess the number and reputation of educational institutions. Tokyo excelled in employer reputation and student attractiveness, while London's position was bolstered by its university quality and student experience.

QS evaluated 150 cities across 59 higher education systems for the 2027 ranking. The United Kingdom had the most cities listed with 16, followed by the United States with 14 and China with 10. Sydney was the only other city to break into the top five.

In Europe, Vienna climbed to ninth place globally and was ranked second for student desirability. Cities like Munich and Berlin were also highly regarded by students and graduates. Several Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, improved their positions, driven by affordability and university connections, though limited international diversity was noted as a factor.

Amsterdam, the sole Dutch city in the ranking, rose to 19th and topped the global desirability index, despite Dutch efforts to curb international student enrollment. Swiss cities Zurich and Lausanne were recognized for their high levels of internationalization.