Kiev

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 118^th

Kiev (or Kyiv) is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, and an important industrial, scientific, educational, and cultural center of Eastern Europe.

Kiev is known for its beautiful religious architecture, reflecting its heritage as a holy center for Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The Saint Sophia Cathedral and Kiev Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves), together listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, each feature gold-domed churches and are significant religious and historical sites. Kiev’s history goes back at least 1,400 years and it is now a city where old and new coexist, with a large range of museums (including a History of Toilets museum).

The city has changed significantly since Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, with new Western-style residential complexes, classy restaurants and modern nightclubs opening in the city center. As well as its noted architectural and historical landmarks, Kiev is considered one of the greenest cities in Europe, with two botanical gardens and various large and small parks.

Kiev also has a diverse cultural scene and nightlife, with an impressive range of theaters to suit all tastes, plus cinemas and exhibition centers. As one student, commenting in our student survey, told us: “It's a big city and you can find a lot of things to do here. As it's the capital of Ukraine, it's the center of cultural, sport and art events.”

Kiev is home to a large number of higher education institutions, including the second-highest ranked in Ukraine, Taras Schevchenko National University of Kyiv.

The city is ranked 20^th in the affordability category of the Best Student Cities index, with much lower living costs than many other European cities. English-taught courses are available, but you’ll still need to practice your Ukrainian in order to navigate daily life in the city!

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Internationally ranked universities in Kiev

More about Kiev

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.