In the QS Best Student Cities 2027 ranking, Delhi was recognized as the most affordable city in the world for students. While Delhi tops the global list for affordability, Mumbai emerges as India’s highest-ranked student city in the overall rankings.The rankings, released on Tuesday by global higher education analyst QS Quacquarelli Symonds, assessed factors affecting student life and higher education in 150 cities around the world. These include university quality, employer activity, affordability, attractiveness, student structure and student experience.
Delhi leads the world in affordability
Delhi tops the global affordability category. The report shows that average international tuition fees in the capital are about $2,700 per year, making quality higher education relatively accessible.Strong job prospects also supported the city’s performance. Delhi ranks 29th globally for employer activity, reflecting strong demand for graduates from recruiters and industry.The combination of affordable education and promising career opportunities has helped Delhi cement its place in global rankings.
Mumbai becomes India’s highest-ranked student city
Mumbai is the most successful Indian city in the QS Best Student Cities 2027 overall ranking, ranking 91st globally.Additionally, Mumbai ranks 34th in employer activity, with good graduate employability. In terms of affordability, Mumbai ranks 12th in the global rankings, making it one of the most affordable locations for further education despite being one of the largest metropolitan cities in India.The report notes that the city’s combination of top universities, job prospects and relatively affordable education continues to attract students from around the world.
Chennai and Bangalore also feature on the list
Apart from Delhi and Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru also secured a place in the QS Best Student Cities 2027 ranking.Chennai is ranked 123rd globally and Bengaluru is jointly ranked 114th. According to QS, international tuition fees in Bangalore are the highest among the four Indian cities on the list, averaging about $5,400 per year.
How QS ranked the world’s best student cities
The QS Best Student Cities ranking uses six indicators to evaluate destinations:
- university quality
- Employer activities
- Affordability
- expected value
- student combination
- student view
These categories are measured across 23 separate indicators, using data from QS surveys and independent third-party sources.To qualify for the rankings, a city must have a population of more than 250,000 and have at least two universities ranked in the QS World University Rankings.
Seoul leads the global rankings
Globally, Seoul was named the best student city in the world in the QS Best Student Cities 2027 rankings. Tokyo ranks second, followed by London in third.Melbourne ranks fourth, with Munich and Sydney tied for fifth. Paris ranks seventh, followed by Berlin, Vienna and Zurich, completing the top ten.Among other major destinations in Asia, Singapore ranked 11th, Beijing ranked 12th and Kuala Lumpur ranked 15th.The QS rankings continue to serve as an important global benchmark for students choosing higher education destinations, providing insights into academic quality, affordability, employment opportunities and overall student life.
