QS Best Student Cities 2027: Seoul Holds First, Tokyo Second, London Third — Full Top 10 and What Moved
Direct answer
The QS Best Student Cities 2027 ranking, released by QS Quacquarelli Symonds in London on 2026-07-21, places Seoul first, Tokyo second, and London third. The full top 10 is: 1 Seoul, 2 Tokyo, 3 London, 4 Melbourne, 5 Munich and Sydney (tied), 7 Paris, 8 Berlin, 9 Vienna, 10 Zurich. This edition ranks 150 cities across 59 higher-education systems. The information below is drawn exclusively from the official QS press release; any details not stated there are not included.
The full top 10 and year-on-year movement
Compared with the previous edition, the top 10 saw limited reshuffling. Seoul held first (same as the prior year), Tokyo held second, and London held third. Melbourne rose from 5 to 4; Munich fell from 4 to a tie at 5; Sydney rose from 6 to the same tie at 5; Paris stayed at a tie for 7; Berlin stayed at a tie for 7; Vienna rose from 10 to 9; Zurich fell from 9 to 10. No new city entered the top 10 or the top 20. The only top-10 entry to move into the top five was Sydney. Beyond the top 10, Shanghai entered the top 25 and Leeds entered the top 50. Kyoto rose to 16.
What the indicators show: Seoul and Tokyo lead different measures
Seoul ranked first globally in the University Rankings indicator, which the press release describes as measuring the number and quality of universities within a city. Seoul is also confirmed as the top-ranked city for the second consecutive year. Tokyo ranked first in the Employer Activity indicator and fourth in the Desirability indicator. London’s position is attributed by the press release to two factors: institutional strength and student experience. Vienna, which rose to 9th, ranked second globally in the Desirability indicator. Paris ranked fifth in the institutional-strength indicator. The press release does not provide numeric scores for any indicator, so none are given here.
Country representation and notable movers
The United Kingdom has the most ranked cities, with 16; the United States follows with 14, and China (mainland) has 10, which the press release states is the highest number of mainland Chinese cities ever included. Beijing is 12th and Shanghai is 21st. Among other notable entries: Milan is 39th, the highest of three Italian cities in the ranking; Hamburg appears for the first time, at 103; Lyon is 71st, Toulouse 124th, and Montpellier 147th. The press release does not specify which other Italian cities are ranked or provide further details on mainland Chinese cities beyond Beijing and Shanghai.
What the ranking measures and what it does not
The QS Best Student Cities ranking assesses the world’s most attractive cities for higher education and student life, according to the press release. It covers 150 cities across 59 higher-education systems. The press release does not state the selection or eligibility criteria for inclusion (such as population thresholds or the required number of ranked universities), nor does it provide any composite scores or indicator scores. It also does not explain why specific cities rose or fell, beyond the attributions already noted for London and the indicator leaders. Therefore, this article does not speculate on causes of movement or on unlisted criteria. Official confirmation of any additional details would need to come from QS directly.
FAQ
When was the QS Best Student Cities 2027 ranking released?
The ranking was released on 2026-07-21 by QS Quacquarelli Symonds in London, according to the official press release.
Which city is ranked first in QS Best Student Cities 2027?
Seoul is ranked first, holding the top position for the second consecutive year, per the press release.
How many cities are included in the 2027 ranking?
The 2027 edition ranks 150 cities across 59 higher-education systems, as stated in the press release.
Which countries have the most ranked cities?
The United Kingdom has 16 ranked cities, the United States has 14, and China (mainland) has 10, according to the press release.
Did any new city enter the top 10 or top 20?
No. The press release states that no new city entered the top 10 or the top 20 in this edition.
Where can I read the official announcement?
The official press release is available at the QS announcement link listed under Official sources below.