Amongst hundreds of famous cities around the world, some are more famous for their educational opportunities. Some cities have effectively established themselves as an educational hub that students from all over the world are attracted to those cities. According to Top Universities, here are the top 10 best student cities in the world.
10. Seoul, South Korea
Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, is a 24/7 city in which life is never dull. Whether it’s the sounds of night-market sellers, the atmosphere of the all-night tea houses or the cries of gamers Seoul is as alive at 3 am as it is at 5 pm.
If you need some more restful downtime from your studies, Seoul also offers many opportunities to find your inner Zen, whether at one of many Buddhist temples or in a traditional sauna or spa. Students and graduates of the city certainly rate their experience highly. The diverse culture makes for a great experience, and everything is so convenient.
9. Sydney, Australia
As well as being Australia’s financial and economic hub, Sydney is known for the stunning panorama of its harbor, iconic opera house, a large selection of green spaces within the city, and proximity to beaches which are among the most beautiful not just in Australia but anywhere in the world.
The combination of education and lifestyle Sydney offers makes for a highly attractive proposition. Sydney ranks second in the world for desirability, reflecting the all-round high quality of life in the city, as well as its popularity among prospective students.
8. Zurich, Switzerland
An international hub, Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and among the wealthiest in Europe – which brings both pros and cons for international students. On the one hand, its affluence means Zurich is clean, safe and immaculately maintained, frequently ranking among the world’s most liveable cities.
But on the other hand, living expenses can be relatively high. While rent and socializing may cost a packet, international tuition fees in Switzerland are relatively low, so the overall costs of studying in Zurich are likely to be considerably lower compared to cities in the UK, US or Australia, for example.
7. Paris, France
Paris’ consistently strong performance in the ranking is largely due to its high concentration of internationally ranked universities. It lays claim to more world-leading institutions than almost any city on the planet – with the exceptions of Seoul and London (both have 18).
Elite Parisian universities and specialized schools such as ENS Paris, Ecole Polytechnique Paris Tech, Sciences Po Paris and HEC Paris have produced some of the most important philosophers, theorists, scientists, politicians, business leaders and mathematicians of the last 100 years. Today, Parisian graduates are targeted by a vast range of employers across the continent, as is reflected in the city’s strong score for employer activity in the ranking.
6. Montreal, Canada
Montréal is multicultural, multilingual and is widely referred to as Canada’s “cultural capital”. As a French-speaking city in a largely English-speaking nation that has experienced mass immigration from across the world, Montréal is known for its multicultural makeup and inclusive ethos.
It’s also popular for its laidback yet lively lifestyle, attractive boulevards, thriving creative industries, café culture, an eclectic range of arts venues, live performances and nightlife.
5. Berlin, Germany
In Berlin, the capital city of Germany, all undergraduate degrees (and some postgraduate programs) are free at public universities in Germany, even for international students. Berlin’s growing appeal as an international study destination is also due in part to a greater provision of courses in English, particularly at postgraduate level.
With a high quality of living, affordable costs, a liberal atmosphere, and a happening party and music scene, the German capital has a huge amount to offer international students of all backgrounds and interests. As if to prove this, Berlin has moved up four places this year in the student view indicator to fourth place.
Also Read: Top 10 Universities To Study in Australia
4. Munich, Germany
Munich, another city of Germany, is now the joint most popular city with students, something which is no doubt partly due to the city’s affordability, ease of getting around, nightlife and friendliness. It also ranks among the best in the world for desirability, which draws on a broad selection of sources designed to assess the quality of life.
Most notably, however, Munich has a high score for affordability. This is due to the fact there are no tuition fees for undergraduate students at public universities in the majority of Germany, regardless of nationality. Living costs tend to be slightly higher in Munich than Berlin. Despite this, the incentive of free tuition with the distinctive Bavarian culture combines to make Munich one of the most appealing study destinations in Western Europe.
3. Melbourne, Australia
Known as Australia’s cultural capital, Melbourne regularly tops lists of the world’s most livable cities and is full of all the attractions that make the Australian lifestyle so appealing – including beautiful beaches, nightlife and a fair proportion of sunny days. The city’s cultural calendar is busy year-round – spanning arts, comedy, music, film, fashion, and a host of multicultural celebrations.
As well as boasting the highest score for student mix, Melbourne also scores particularly well for desirability – reflecting both the overall quality of life in the city and its status as an in-demand student destination.
Like other Australian cities, it stumbles only when it comes to affordability, with both fees and living costs on the high side in global terms. But, for high standards of living and incredible natural surroundings, Melbourne remains a tough city to beat. It is also up to three places to seventh in the employer activity indicator this year, demonstrating the number of opportunities for graduates.
2. Tokyo, Japan
The upshot of Tokyo’s gargantuan size is that it offers one of the most varied and cosmopolitan living environments on Earth. As one of the world’s three leading financial centers, alongside New York and London, it also provides enviable professional and internship opportunities, consistently ranking as the best in the world for the employer activity indicator.
Alongside a high rating from graduate employers, Tokyo scores notably well for desirability, which considers both the overall quality of living in the city and how in-demand it is among prospective international students.
1. London, United Kingdom
London is not exactly a cheap option for international students, home and EU students alike. In addition, rent and living costs are significantly higher in London than in the rest of the UK. Yet thanks to the concentration of world-class universities, professional and social opportunities and a mind-boggling cultural confluence that mixes the corporate and the alternative, the historical and the cutting-edge, studying in London may well be worth every penny.
Few cities in the world can rival London’s credentials as a nerve-center of global academia. UK’s capital is not just an academic hub – it’s an epicenter of international finance and business, culture and creativity, famed for its museums, arts scene, nightlife, and diversity. Anything you want to try, see, eat, learn or experience: it’s here.