Seoul Retains Global Top Spot in QS Student Cities Ranking

Tokyo follows in second place, excelling in employer reputation and desirability, while London holds steady at third by balancing academic prestige with the overall student experience. The 2027 report evaluates 150 cities across 59 higher education systems, revealing a shifting landscape where Asian hubs gain ground through rapid institutional growth and improved employer links.

While the top of the table remains stable, notable movements occur further down. Vienna has climbed to ninth, driven by high desirability scores and an increasingly international outlook among Austrian universities. Meanwhile, mainland China has expanded its footprint with more ranked cities than ever before, led by Beijing at 12th and Shanghai at 21st. Conversely, several French cities, including Lyon and Toulouse, have experienced sharp declines, though the nation’s near-free tuition policies ensure it remains a significant draw for cost-conscious students. In South Korea, the government’s aggressive recruitment efforts—which met the goal of 300,000 international students two years ahead of the 2027 deadline—have bolstered the profiles of emerging hubs like Daejeon and Gwangju.