In a major shift from last year, Seoul has emerged as the best city for students in the QS Best Student Cities Rankings 2026, replacing London at the top
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The top two spots are now held by Asian cities, as Tokyo takes second place worldwide
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Seoul scored a perfect 100 overall, performing strongly across all key parameters, with Employer Activity at 93.3, Desirability at 90.2, and Affordability at 51.8
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With a strong Student View score of 93.8 and Desirability at 89.8, Singapore continues to be a popular destination
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Rank 12): Recognised for its high affordability (73) and balanced education offerings
Image: UniversityofMalaya/FB
Beijing, China (Rank 13): Stands out with Employer Activity at 90.2 and a strong Affordability score of 76
Image: pku.edu.cn
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The other top-ranked student cities are: Taipei (Taiwan) Hong Kong SAR Kyoto Shanghai (China Mainland) Bangkok (Thailand)