QS Rankings 2026: London is no longer the world's best city for international students. This Asian capital is

Seoul claimed the top spot in the 2026 QS Best Student Cities Rankings with a perfect overall score of 100, driven by its top-rated universities, high desirability, and strong employer activity. Tokyo followed closely at second place with a score of 99.9, excelling in employer activity and student satisfaction. London, which had held the top rank for six years, slipped to third with an overall score of 97.1. While it leads in student view and mix, its affordability score remains low at 12.6, impacting its overall standing despite strong academic and career prospects.

No US city made it to the top 10. Boston ranked highest among American cities at 15th place, followed by New York City at 23rd and San Francisco at 41st. Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington DC also featured within the top 50.

Meanwhile, all four Indian metropolises featured in the list — Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai — have improved their positions, reflecting growing momentum in India's higher education appeal.


According to the rankings, Mumbai has re-entered the global top 100, rising 15 places to secure the 98th position. Delhi has climbed seven spots to 104th, while Bengaluru sees the most dramatic improvement among the Indian cities, soaring 22 places to 108th.

Chennai has also advanced significantly, gaining 12 positions to rank 128th. Mumbai and Bengaluru have also performed strongly on the affordability metric, placed within the top 15.

"India's rising presence in the 2026 QS Best Student Cities Rankings is more than a statistical bump — it reflects a structural shift in the country's higher education landscape. As we approach the fifth anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, its focus on global engagement, quality enhancement, and student-centric learning is starting to bear fruit on the international stage," said Jessica Turner, CEO of QS.

QS Rankings 2026: Top 10 cities for international students

Rank	City	Country	Overall Score
1	Seoul	South Korea	100
2	Tokyo	Japan	99.9
3	London	United Kingdom	97.1
4	Munich	Germany	96.3
5	Melbourne	Australia	95.7
6	Sydney	Australia	94.7
=7	Berlin	Germany	93.3
=7	Paris	France	93.3
9	Zurich	Switzerland	91.5
10	Vienna	Austria	90.8

The QS Best Student Cities ranking highlights the world’s top urban destinations for international students, based on a broad set of indicators across six key categories: university rankings, student mix, desirability, employer activity, affordability, and student view. To qualify, a city must have a population of over 250,000 and at least two universities listed in the latest QS World University Rankings