Out Now: QS Best Student Cities 2019

By Craig OCallaghan Updated Apr 29, 2024

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Introduction
A ranking that’s bigger than ever

Out Now: QS Best Student Cities 2019 main image

Explore the full QS Best Student Cities 2019 ranking

London has been named the best city for students for a second year running in the QS Best Student Cities ranking.

Despite ongoing concerns about Brexit and anti-immigration rhetoric, London continues to be an attractive destination for students from around the world, beating second-placed Tokyo and third-placed Melbourne once again.

London mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed London’s status as the world’s best student city, saying: “The fact that London has again been ranked the best city in the world in which to be a student is fantastic news – and is no surprise given that London is home to world-leading higher education institutions and a vibrant cultural life.

"This is further evidence that London is open to students and talent from around the world.”

Interested in studying in London? You’ll find everything you need to know about student life in the UK in our guide.

A ranking that’s bigger than ever

Now featuring 120 cities from around the world, the Best Student Cities table reveals which cities offer the best student experience, from affordable cost of living and tuition to the level of diversity within the student population.

Cities are given scores in six different indicators: affordability, desirability, employer activity, student mix, student view and the performance of the universities within that city in university rankings. More information about how these work can be found in our methodology.

The expansion of this year’s ranking has allowed several cities to be included for the very first time. Bangalore, Abu Dhabi, Bristol, Beirut, Sheffield, Krakow, Liverpool, Wroclaw, Jakarta, Riga, Islamabad, Almaty, Dallas, Chennai, Lahore, Leicester and Minsk can now all proudly boast of being one of the world’s top destinations for students.

You can find this year’s top 10 in a table below, or click here to discover which 10 cities were the most popular with students we spoke to around the world.

Top 10 Student Cities: QS Best Student Cities 2019
Rank	City	Location
1	London	United Kingdom
2	Tokyo	Japan
3	Melbourne	Australia
4	Munich	Germany
5	Berlin	Germany
6	Montreal	Canada
7	Paris	France
8	Zurich	Switzerland
9	Sydney	Australia
10	Seoul	South Korea

Testimonials

"I formed such great bonds with my teammates and our mentor, it was an absolute pleasure collaborating with such remarkable individuals"

Read my story

Caryn CallistaChinese University of Hong Kong student, Future17 participant

“It’s exciting to work alongside experts in the field, where I get to learn and contribute to technologies that could help reshape the future.”

Read my story

Tanika DuivenvoordenUniversity of Queensland student, Future17 participant

"Canada offers a high quality of life and student experience, known for its peace, safety, and stunning natural beauty, especially in Vancouver"

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Nidhi Mohan KamalMBA student, UBC Sauder School of Business

"CUHK’s MBA programme provided me with the stepping stone into a larger sports Asian market wherein I could leverage the large alumni network to make the right connections for relevant discussions and learning."

Read my story

Abhinav Singh BhalChinese University of Hong Kong graduate

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Written by

Craig OCallaghan

As Head of Content, Craig is responsible for all articles and guides published across TopUniversities and TopMBA. He has nearly 10 years of experience writing for a student audience and extensive knowledge of universities and study programs around the world.