Seoul is named the world’s best student city for a second consecutive year in the QS Best Student Cities 2027 rankings. QS reports that Seoul records the only perfect score of 100, finishing ahead of Tokyo (98) and London (97.3). The top three positions are unchanged from the previous year, reinforcing Seoul’s standing as a leading hub for international higher education.
QS publishes the annual study, assessing 150 cities using factors that include the strength of local universities, graduate employment outcomes, affordability, student diversity, quality of life, and feedback from students. To be included, cities must have a population of more than 250,000 and host at least two institutions that appear in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
Beyond Seoul’s ranking, the reports note that multiple South Korean cities appear in the wider list. Daejeon and Gwangju enter the rankings for the first time. The ranking also shows strong international representation, with the United Kingdom leading in number of listed cities, followed by the United States, mainland China, and Australia.
