The 8 Best Student Cities Around the Globe

Central Park in New York.

Take a look at the top 8 cities around the world to be a student at (according to the QS university ranking organization):

8. New York

New York City before sunrise.

It is no surprise that New York is one of the best cities for students to live in, with its amazing nightlife, quality of life, entertainment, work opportunities, and more. The city is one of the most modern and cosmopolitan centers on the planet and has many high-ranking universities. Housing and other services in the city is expensive, but places far from the city center can be quite affordable.

Some universities in the city:

• Columbia University;

• New York University;

• Fordham University;

• Cornell University (NYC sites such as the medical campus and Cornell Tech);

7. Boston

Charles River with Boston in the background.

Although not as large as New York, Boston has many great characteristics for student life, such as large parks, bars, clubs, and more. The city has many opportunities for students to study, become employed, and have fun, and is ranked by QS University Ranking as the best student city in the United States.

Some universities in the city:

• Harvard University;

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology;

• Boston University;

• Northeastern University;

6. Toronto

Toronto at night with CN tower at center.

Toronto, Canada’s largest city, has been described by QS as having “a diverse community, vibrant cultural scene, and nightlife, stunning natural surrounds, and of course world-leading universities”. The city is located on the shore of Lake Ontario, and so it has many activities that revolve around it. The city is extremely diverse and has a unique skyline composed of modern skyscrapers and the famous CN Tower.

Some universities in the city:

• University of Toronto;

• York University;

• Ryerson University;

• Humber College;

5. Paris

Eiffel Tower with La Défense District in the background.

Paris has many top-ranked universities with courses in English and low tuition fees and infinite possibilities of entertainment. The old European style of the city mixes with modern architecture and skyscrapers, such as in the La Défense district. It is recommended for students in Paris to learn French, as locals will better receive them, and most universities there teach it in free classes.

Some universities in the city:

• Sorbonne Université;

• Paristech (and its many branches);

• Université Paris-Saclay;

• Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University;

4. Berlin

Berlin at night with the Fernsehturm Berlin Tower in the background.

Berlin, the capital and largest city of Germany, has become an economic, political, and cultural hub in the past years. The city has great universities with many courses taught in English, and tuition fees are low. Students like Berlin especially for its high quality of life, affordable housing, nightlife, how they can easily live there only speaking in English.

Some universities in the city:

• Freie Universität Berlin;

• Technische Universität Berlin;

• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin;

• Charité - Universitätsmedizin (medical university) Berlin;

3. Rotterdam

Reflection of Rotterdam on the Maas River.

Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and is one of the largest cultural and economic centers in Europe. It was bombarded and completely destroyed during WWII, and so it was reconstructed as a very modern city, with skyscrapers that differentiate its skyline from other European cities. Rotterdam possesses the largest port in Europe and has many parks, bars, clubs, and other attractions for students living there. Most universities in the city are part of the Erasmus University conglomerate, one of the top universities in the world;

Some universities in the city:

• Erasmus University Rotterdam;

• Erasmus University College;

• Erasmus School of Economics;

• Rotterdam School of Management | Erasmus University;

2. Melbourne

Melbourne city center with Fitzroy gardens next to it.

Melbourne has an amazing quality of life, being ranked as one of the best student cities in the world. It has beautiful beaches, bars, parks, clubs, and many shows and exhibitions all year round. Despite this, the city has a high cost of living, like most cities in Australia, but that does not stop it from being a great destination for students.

Some universities in the city:

• University of Melbourne;

• Monash University;

• Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology;

• Victoria University;

1. London

London around the Thames at night.

In the top spot, London is elected both by students and QS as the best student city in the world. London is a major political, economic, educational, and cultural center. It has the top universities in the world of almost all courses and majors and provides an amazing quality of life for its inhabitants. The city has great entertainment and nightlife options and has events of all sorts during the whole year. Nowadays, London has skyscrapers and modern architecture that mixes with the classical buildings of the city, creating a unique skyline. It is quite expensive to live in London, but with some planning, life there can be affordable.

Some universities in the city:

• University College London;

• Imperial College London;

• King’s College London;

• London School of Economics;

Sources:

https://www.topuniversities.com/city-rankings/2019