Seoul has claimed the top spot in the 2026 QS Best Student Cities ranking, overtaking London, which held the number one position for the past six years. Tokyo has secured the second position, while London has moved to third place.
The drop in London’s ranking is largely attributed to a decline in the ‘affordability’ indicator, where it now stands at 137th globally.
The 2026 list features four Indian cities among the top 150, as per the QS Rankings. Compiled by London-based global higher education consultancy QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the rankings evaluate cities based on several factors such as affordability, desirability, and student feedback.
Four Indian cities among world’s most student-friendly
Four Indian cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai—have been ranked among the world’s top 130 cities for students in the 2026 QS Best Student Cities list, with all four improving their positions from previous years.
Mumbai made a significant leap, climbing 15 spots to re-enter the top 100 at 98th place. Delhi rose seven positions to rank 104th and earned the highest score globally in the affordability category, making it the most affordable city for students worldwide.
Bengaluru recorded the largest jump among the Indian cities, moving up 22 places to reach the 108th position. Chennai also saw notable progress, climbing 12 spots to rank 128th.
In the ‘Employer Activity’ category, Delhi and Mumbai were ranked among the world’s top 50 cities, reflecting strong job prospects for graduates. Bengaluru showed the most substantial gain in this metric, rising 41 spots to reach 59th place, while Chennai improved by 29 positions.
Commenting on India’s growing presence in the rankings, QS CEO Jessica Turner highlighted it as evidence of a “structural shift” in the country’s higher education landscape. She noted that the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is beginning to yield results, particularly in areas of global engagement, quality enhancement, and student-focused learning.
Source: Hindustan Times
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