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Want to study abroad in one of the world’s best student cities? This year, the top 10 (technically 11, as two are joint) cities in the Best Student Cities ranking are London, Tokyo, Melbourne, Munich, Berlin, Montréal, Paris, Zurich, Sydney, Seoul and Hong Kong (SAR).
If you’re hoping to study in any of these cities, but need funding to do so, look no further. Below is a select list of scholarships for international students in each of these cities, in reverse order (10-1) of how they ranked this year.
Requirements vary for all scholarships, so make sure to read through all information from each scholarship provider before applying.
=10. Scholarships to study in Hong Kong
Hong Kong (SAR) is up two places in this year's Best Student Cities, now sharing joint 10th place with fellow Asian megacity Seoul.
HKSAR Government Scholarships Fund – Government scholarships for local and non-local students to gain funding to study in Hong Kong at selected institutions, such as the Belt and Road Scholarship for outstanding students from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam (it will be expanded in phases to students from other Belt and Road countries).
Seoul, one of Asia’s most exciting student cities, shares joint 10th place with Hong Kong (SAR) this year. Seoul is home to 18 institutions ranked within the QS World University Rankings® 2020 as well as a large community of international students. See below for funding opportunities.
Also retaining its position in this year’s Best Student Cities ranking, Sydney is ranked second for both the desirability and student mix indicators, demonstrating that its diverse mix of students are certainly enjoying the city’s laid-back lifestyle. See what scholarships are on offer below.
Destination Australia Scholarships for International Students – Over 1,000 scholarships of up to AU$15,000 per student per year are available to both domestic and international students to study at all study levels at universities in regional Australia.
Ranked eighth in the Best Student Cities index is Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, which hosts some of the highest-ranked universities in Switzerland, including ETH Zurich (The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), the sixth best university in the world.
Unfortunately, studying in Zurich doesn’t come cheap, but here are some scholarships that can help:
Down two places to rank seventh in this year’s Best Student Cities, Paris is an iconic city packed with internationally ranked universities. See below for current scholarship opportunities to study in Paris.
General scholarships to study abroad in France:
Erasmus+ – A Europe-wide program led by the European Commission offering funding to international students looking to study in Europe.
HEC Paris – Various MBA scholarships for students to study in France at HEC Paris, including the Forté Foundation scholarships, for exceptional female students.
Montréal drops two places to rank sixth in this year’s city ranking, but is the second most popular city according to students themselves (based on our student view indicator). The city offers an eclectic cultural mix and three world-leading universities. For more Canadian scholarships, click here.
General scholarships to study abroad in Canada:
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships – Canadian government fellowships and scholarships for graduate students looking to study within natural and social sciences or health research subjects.
IDRC Research Awards – Canadian government scholarships for graduate students from developing countries to undertake a postgraduate research degree at a selected Canadian university.
HEC Montréal BBA Entrance Scholarships – Canadian scholarships for international students entering into the Bachelor of Business Administration program at HEC Montréal. (Page is in French).
Up two places in this year’s Best Student Cities index, Germany’s capital is one of the trendiest in Europe, as well as one of the most affordable, with free tuition at bachelor’s and PhD levels. However, there are still a number of scholarships available. Click here to see more scholarships to study in Germany.
General German scholarships:
DAAD Scholarships – The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers many scholarships for international students to study in Germany at various degree levels.
Erasmus+ – The largest provider of scholarships for study in the EU, Erasmus+ is led by the European Commission, funding international students to study in Europe. It provides grants towards living costs when participating in an exchange program to study in Europe.
Up two places to rank fourth in this year’s Best Student Cities, Munich is ranked first according to the student view indicator and is known for its vibrant Bavarian culture and beer. Like Berlin, it receives a high score for affordability, but higher accommodation costs mean you may wish to look for financial aid.
General German scholarships:
The Deutschland Stipendium – Merit-based scholarships of €300 a month to support highly talented students in Germany. Your personal income or nationality are not considered in your application.
Australia’s top study destination, Melbourne is home to seven world-leading institutions, as well as a vast array of cultural and natural delights. See below for various funding opportunities to study in Melbourne. For more scholarships to study in Australia, click here.
Destination Australia Scholarships for International Students – Over 1,000 scholarships of up to AU$15,000 per student per year are available to both domestic and international students to study at all study levels at universities in regional Australia.
Continuing to claim second place in the Best Student Cities, Tokyo boasts 12 internationally ranked institutions and offers students the chance to explore one of the most iconic and exciting metropolises in the world.
Otsuka Toshimi Scholarship Foundation – International scholarships for students of medicine, pharmacology, nutrition, physical education or business administration to study in Japan.
The UK’s cultural and economic hub, London has been crowned the best student city in the world for the second time in a row this year, and is home to 18 ranked institutions within the QS World University Rankings® 2020. For more scholarships to study in the UK, click here.
General UK scholarships:
British Chevening Scholarships – Graduate scholarships to study in London and the rest of the UK, funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Open to full- or part-time international students in any subject.
Laura is a former staff writer for TopUniversities.com, providing advice and guidance for students on a range of topics helping them to choose where to study, get admitted and find funding and scholarships. A graduate of Queen Mary University of London, Laura also blogs about student life.
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Scholarships to Study Abroad in the World’s Best Student Cities
Laura Tucker
Updated Aug 21, 2023Save
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Want to study abroad in one of the world’s best student cities? This year, the top 10 (technically 11, as two are joint) cities in the Best Student Cities ranking are London, Tokyo, Melbourne, Munich, Berlin, Montréal, Paris, Zurich, Sydney, Seoul and Hong Kong (SAR).
If you’re hoping to study in any of these cities, but need funding to do so, look no further. Below is a select list of scholarships for international students in each of these cities, in reverse order (10-1) of how they ranked this year.
Requirements vary for all scholarships, so make sure to read through all information from each scholarship provider before applying.
=10. Scholarships to study in Hong Kong
Hong Kong (SAR) is up two places in this year's Best Student Cities, now sharing joint 10th place with fellow Asian megacity Seoul.
Universities in Hong Kong offering international scholarships:
=10. Scholarships to study in Seoul, South Korea
Seoul, one of Asia’s most exciting student cities, shares joint 10th place with Hong Kong (SAR) this year. Seoul is home to 18 institutions ranked within the QS World University Rankings® 2020 as well as a large community of international students. See below for funding opportunities.
General scholarships for South Korea:
Scholarships to study in Seoul:
Other universities in Seoul offering international scholarships:
9. Scholarships to study in Sydney, Australia
Also retaining its position in this year’s Best Student Cities ranking, Sydney is ranked second for both the desirability and student mix indicators, demonstrating that its diverse mix of students are certainly enjoying the city’s laid-back lifestyle. See what scholarships are on offer below.
General Australian scholarships:
Scholarships to study in Sydney:
Other universities in Sydney offering international scholarships:
8. Scholarships to study in Zurich, Switzerland
Ranked eighth in the Best Student Cities index is Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, which hosts some of the highest-ranked universities in Switzerland, including ETH Zurich (The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), the sixth best university in the world.
Unfortunately, studying in Zurich doesn’t come cheap, but here are some scholarships that can help:
General Swiss scholarships:
Scholarships to study in Zurich:
7. Scholarships to study in Paris, France
Down two places to rank seventh in this year’s Best Student Cities, Paris is an iconic city packed with internationally ranked universities. See below for current scholarship opportunities to study in Paris.
General scholarships to study abroad in France:
Scholarships to study in Paris:
Other universities in Paris offering international scholarships:
6. Scholarships to study in Montréal, Canada
Montréal drops two places to rank sixth in this year’s city ranking, but is the second most popular city according to students themselves (based on our student view indicator). The city offers an eclectic cultural mix and three world-leading universities. For more Canadian scholarships, click here.
General scholarships to study abroad in Canada:
Scholarships to study in Montréal:
Other universities in Montréal offering international scholarships:
5. Scholarships to study in Berlin, Germany
Up two places in this year’s Best Student Cities index, Germany’s capital is one of the trendiest in Europe, as well as one of the most affordable, with free tuition at bachelor’s and PhD levels. However, there are still a number of scholarships available. Click here to see more scholarships to study in Germany.
General German scholarships:
Scholarships to study in Berlin:
Testimonials
4. Scholarships to study in Munich, Germany
Up two places to rank fourth in this year’s Best Student Cities, Munich is ranked first according to the student view indicator and is known for its vibrant Bavarian culture and beer. Like Berlin, it receives a high score for affordability, but higher accommodation costs mean you may wish to look for financial aid.
General German scholarships:
Scholarships to study in Munich:
Other universities in Munich offering international scholarships:
3. Scholarships to study in Melbourne, Australia
Australia’s top study destination, Melbourne is home to seven world-leading institutions, as well as a vast array of cultural and natural delights. See below for various funding opportunities to study in Melbourne. For more scholarships to study in Australia, click here.
General Australian scholarships:
Scholarships to study in Melbourne:
Other universities in Melbourne offering international scholarships:
2. Scholarships to study in Tokyo, Japan
Continuing to claim second place in the Best Student Cities, Tokyo boasts 12 internationally ranked institutions and offers students the chance to explore one of the most iconic and exciting metropolises in the world.
General Japanese scholarships:
Scholarships to study in Tokyo:
Other universities in Tokyo offering international scholarships:
1. Scholarships to study in London, UK
The UK’s cultural and economic hub, London has been crowned the best student city in the world for the second time in a row this year, and is home to 18 ranked institutions within the QS World University Rankings® 2020. For more scholarships to study in the UK, click here.
General UK scholarships:
Scholarships to study in London:
Other universities in London offering international scholarships:
This article was originally published in November 2014. It is updated at the time of every Best Student Cities launch, most recently in August 2019.
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Laura is a former staff writer for TopUniversities.com, providing advice and guidance for students on a range of topics helping them to choose where to study, get admitted and find funding and scholarships. A graduate of Queen Mary University of London, Laura also blogs about student life.
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