Best Student Cities
Looking to study abroad? Check out the Best Student Cities 2026 to discover the top locations for students around the globe. Seoul has claimed the top spot in this year's ranking, surpassing London as the number one student city. With Tokyo following closely behind in second place, both of the top student cities are now located in Asia. Learn more about studying in South Korea as an international student, or explore the methodology behind compiling these rankings. Get ready to embark on an exciting academic journey in one of the world's most student-friendly cities!
Displaying 150 cities
61
Istanbul
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
72.1
Student View
65.9
Student Mix
55.8
Employer Activity
68
Desirability
60.1
Affordability
50.5
Rankings
54.1
62
Liverpool
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
70.9
Student View
90.3
Student Mix
80.2
Employer Activity
42.9
Desirability
70.6
Affordability
25.8
Rankings
38.8
62
Osaka
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
70.9
Student View
42.6
Student Mix
44
Employer Activity
57.7
Desirability
76.8
Affordability
76.3
Rankings
51.3
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64
Amman
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
70.8
Student View
57.7
Student Mix
59.3
Employer Activity
67.4
Desirability
40.8
Affordability
73.4
Rankings
49.5
65
Belfast
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
70.6
Student View
80.2
Student Mix
90.3
Employer Activity
46.1
Desirability
66.2
Affordability
26.8
Rankings
37.5
66
Turin
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
70.2
Student View
71.2
Student Mix
74.2
Employer Activity
54.3
Desirability
54.1
Affordability
62.5
Rankings
28.9
67
Sheffield
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
69.7
Student View
77.3
Student Mix
87.4
Employer Activity
41
Desirability
66.6
Affordability
21.9
Rankings
48.6
68
Budapest
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
68.8
Student View
70.9
Student Mix
65.9
Employer Activity
66.1
Desirability
53.5
Affordability
61
Rankings
20.9
69
Nanjing
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
68.7
Student View
71.5
Student Mix
42.3
Employer Activity
40.5
Desirability
45.4
Affordability
84.5
Rankings
53.5
70
Philadelphia
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
68.4
Student View
60.2
Student Mix
64.5
Employer Activity
79.6
Desirability
59.8
Affordability
10.2
Rankings
61.9
71
Hsinchu
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
68.2
Student View
48.8
Student Mix
56.1
Employer Activity
52.9
Desirability
55.6
Affordability
77.9
Rankings
43.9
71
Cairo
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
68.2
Student View
50.6
Student Mix
60.2
Employer Activity
70.4
Desirability
34.6
Affordability
76.5
Rankings
42.8
73
Mexico City
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
67.7
Student View
47.4
Student Mix
47.2
Employer Activity
88.1
Desirability
42.1
Affordability
46.5
Rankings
61.3
74
Washington DC
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
67.6
Student View
78.4
Student Mix
66.9
Employer Activity
68.3
Desirability
64.5
Affordability
8.8
Rankings
45.5
75
Dubai
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
67.1
Student View
98.3
Student Mix
47.5
Employer Activity
55.5
Desirability
78.8
Affordability
29.1
Rankings
20.5
76
Sharjah
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
66.8
Student View
83.6
Student Mix
70.4
Employer Activity
50.3
Desirability
54.4
Affordability
39.5
Rankings
30.1
77
Cape Town
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
66.7
Student View
75
Student Mix
39.8
Employer Activity
53.9
Desirability
57
Affordability
63.7
Rankings
38.7
78
Oslo
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
65.7
Student View
75
Student Mix
66.3
Employer Activity
53.6
Desirability
87.5
Affordability
1
Rankings
39.5
79
Ankara
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
65.6
Student View
61.1
Student Mix
45.3
Employer Activity
59.3
Desirability
52.3
Affordability
66.4
Rankings
38.3
80
Abu Dhabi
2026 Best Student Cities
Score
65.4
Student View
89.7
Student Mix
50.5
Employer Activity
41.6
Desirability
64.1
Affordability
36.4
Rankings
39