London has once again topped the list of best cities for international students, according to the 2023 edition of the QS Best Student Cities ranking produced by British consultancy QS.
São Paulo ranks 83rd on the list and Rio de Janeiro ranks 121st in the first edition.
The most student-friendly city in Latin America is Buenos Aires (Argentina), which ranks 23rd.
To be considered, each city must have a population of more than 250,000 and have at least two universities that are already included in a ranking of universities created by the same consulting firm.
Other criteria taken into account are how many students the city has, how many of them are international students and how inclusive the city is.
It assesses whether the city is safe, the cost of living and housing affordability for a student, as well as job opportunities.
Despite the high cost of living and housing, the UK capital tops the list, the advice says, “as a diverse and culturally rich city that offers its students everything from world-renowned museums to delicious multicultural restaurants”.
The city is home to some of the world’s most prestigious educational institutions, such as King’s College London and UCL (University College London).
Second is Munich (Germany) and third is Seoul (South Korea). All three cities on the platform maintain the same status as in the last edition.
10 best cities for students, according to QS
- London, United Kingdom
- Munich, Germany
- Seoul, South Korea
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Melbourne, Australia
- Berlin, Germany
- Tokyo, Japan
- Paris, France
- Sydney, Australia
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Unique among Brazilian universities, USP contributes to São Paulo’s inclusion in the rankings – Photo: CECÍLIA BASTOS/USP via IMAGEM/BBC
Two Brazilian cities qualified for the second half of the ranking with a total of 140 cities.
São Paulo, ranked 83rd, has six universities in the QS Best Institutions ranking, with USP (University of São Paulo) best placed, ranked 115th.
USP, Unifesp (Federal University of São Paulo), PUC-SP (Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo) and three universities with campuses technically located in other cities, but with distances considered accessible by publication: Unicamp (State University of Campinas), UFSCAR (São Carlos Federal University) and UNESCO (São Paulo State University).
The consultancy points out that only 3% of university students in São Paulo are international students, but the metropolis is the “financial and cultural capital of Brazil” and has a “generous offer” of universities of international quality.
Other criteria that place São Paulo at 83 include:
– The cost of living and studying in the capital city of São Paulo is low compared to other global cities mentioned;
- The cuisine in the city is rich in street food and restaurants from different parts of the world;
- São Paulo’s culture – suggesting the metropolis has no shortage of joie de vivre (joy of living in French) – includes street carnival, nightlife, more than 100 museums and 300 theaters, and ethnic diversity. population.
- Job opportunities emphasize the number of vacancies for university graduates in sectors such as IT, business, finance and the automotive and pharmaceutical industries – however, the company points out that knowledge of Portuguese is required for international students. For most vacancies.
Rio de Janeiro entered for the first time this year at 121st place.
The consulting firm points out that the city has 4 universities in its ranking, emphasizing UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) at 333rd place.
As positive points of studying in the metropolis, advises, “sunny beaches”, “cariocas friendly” and warm weather.
Buenos Aires is the highest-ranking city in Latin America – Photo: via Getty Images/BBC
There are 10 Latin American cities in the ranking, although performance is uneven.
Buenos Aires tops the Latin America list for the fourth consecutive year, although it has fallen one place to 23rd place from the previous edition.
Argentina’s capital is a “prolific city, with opportunities for growth and an ideal city for Spanish-speaking students,” the publication says.
According to the same consultancy, Buenos Aires has 10 universities classified in the ranking of the best universities in the world. Another thing is that graduates from these institutes have a good reputation among employers.
On the other hand, the ranking points out that the metropolis “still has very poor areas”, which lowers its score in terms of quality of life – but the capital has a lower cost of living.
You have to go all the way to 60th place to find the next Latin American city in the ranking, Santiago (Chile). This is because it has a relatively small international student community, but at the same time has many postgraduate opportunities.
Mexico City ranks 68th on the list, second only to Latin America. The city is “known and loved” for its street food, historic sites and diverse nightlife, the advisory said, adding that prospective students should be aware of high levels of pollution and crime and be prepared to deal with these issues.
Other Latin American cities besides the aforementioned São Paulo and Rio are Monterrey (Mexico) at number 96; Bogotá (Colombia), in 99; and Lima, in 112th place.
Quito (Ecuador) at 130th and Montevideo (Uruguay) at 135th entered the rankings for the first time.
Henry Blackwell is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. His work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism.