Seoul named world's best student city for second year

Seoul has been named the world's best study destination for the second consecutive year in the QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2027. Tokyo followed in second place, with London securing the third spot. Seoul's top ranking is attributed to its strength in University Rankings, which assesses the quality and standing of a city's higher education institutions.

Tokyo combined prestige with employer demand, ranking first for Employer Activity, while London's position was bolstered by its university strength and student experience. The QS ranking assessed 150 cities across 59 higher education systems. The United Kingdom had the most represented cities with 16, followed by the United States with 14, and China with 10.

In Europe, Vienna rose to ninth overall and second for desirability. German cities Munich and Berlin were also highly regarded. Mainland China increased its representation, with cities like Beijing and Shanghai climbing in the rankings due to factors such as university quality, employer links, and affordability.

Milan improved to 39th in Italy, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands topped the desirability rankings globally. South Korea had five ranked cities, led by Seoul. The rankings showcased a strong performance from Asian cities, with a more mixed result across Europe, influenced by various factors including affordability and international student policies.