It's not easy to see Spain's two most prestigious universities behind Barcelona's beautiful view
Paris – the best in everything
The QS Best Student Cities – 2015 ranking's top spot goes to Paris, where 250,000 students study. According to the ranking compilers, Parisian students have the opportunity to interact with leading scientists and undergo intensive training, despite the relatively low cost of education.
Melbourne – student favorite
Melbourne rose three spots compared to last year and now ranks second. The city won first place in the "Desirability" category due to a large number of students from different countries and a high level of tolerance, as well as a rich cultural program and high quality of life.
London: the best universities in the world
Bronze went to London with the best universities in the world, according to QS. The UK capital offers students a wealth of cultural leisure opportunities, luxurious libraries, and good career prospects in finance, mass media, and the arts.
Sydney: it's all about finance
Fourth place went to Sydney, Australia's financial and economic center. The city received very high scores due to its popularity among young people, quality of student life, and employer activity, but its high cost of tuition and living overall prevented it from reaching the top of the ranking.
Hong Kong – a bustling metropolis
Hong Kong became the leader among Asian cities and took fifth place in the list of best student cities. Tuition here is higher than in Western Europe but lower than in the US. Lovers of big metropolises will appreciate the dynamic and rich life of this city.
Boston – intellectual center of the USA
In sixth place is Boston. Thanks to universities such as Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston is the intellectual center of the US and is called the "Athens of America." The high cost of tuition quickly pays off: graduates of Boston universities are in high demand among employers.
Tokyo: ecology lags behind
Tokyo improved its position by 10 points and ended up in seventh place. Although the city is one of the three largest financial centers in the world and offers good internship and employment opportunities, many students avoid it due to high air pollution and high costs.
Montreal: studying in the cultural capital
Montreal, with one of the largest proportions of students in the population (27 percent of them are foreigners), took eighth place. A large flow of immigration has favorably influenced cultural diversity: the city has become a venue for major international festivals and has won the title of Canada's cultural capital. The only drawback is high tuition and living expenses.
Toronto: for diversity enthusiasts
Another Canadian city, Toronto, took ninth place in the list. Montreal's competitor for the title of Canada's cultural capital also offers students a diverse cultural program (from exhibitions to nightclubs). This fact, along with rich nature and opportunities for outdoor activities, helped Toronto take fourth place in the ranking of cities by quality of life.
Seoul: education 24/7
The capital of South Korea, Seoul, rounds out the top ten best cities for students. Seoul's universities have a good reputation among employers. Libraries, cafes, and snack bars operate around the clock specifically for students, where they can prepare for exams.
Zurich: cleanliness and order
One of the cleanest and safest cities in Europe, Zurich, took 11th place in the ranking. Although the cost of living in this city is very high, tuition fees for international students are quite tolerable compared to the UK or the US. Another advantage of Zurich is the picturesque area in which it is located.
Vancouver: the best ski resorts
12th place in the ranking went to Vancouver. In the global city ranking by quality of life, it takes third place. The city's advantages also include a large number of students, low environmental pollution, picturesque nature, and the most popular ski resorts in North America.
San Francisco – the capital of IT technologies
Known for its high standard of living, San Francisco received 13th place from the ranking compilers. The city attracts ambitious students and graduates primarily due to the headquarters of innovative companies such as Apple, Facebook, and IBM.
Munich: the most affordable education
Munich, Germany's third-largest city, was awarded 14th place. Compared to other cities in the ranking, this city has the lowest tuition costs. Although living expenses here are higher than in Berlin, students are attracted by Bavarian culture and dynamic city life.
Singapore: tropical paradise
In 15th place is densely populated Singapore. The city ranks fourth in the list of the most expensive cities in the world, which also explains the high cost of studying at its universities. However, Singapore's advantages include low crime and unemployment rates, popularity among employers, and proximity to tropical resorts in Southeast Asia.
Berlin: a magnet for international students
Berlin, which occupies 16th place in the ranking, together with Munich leads in the category 'Affordability of Education' due to the absence of tuition fees for both German and international students. Every year, the German capital is gaining more and more popularity among international students due to the large number of courses in English.
New York – a city of great opportunities
"The Big Apple", as New York is also called, is in 17th place. New York has the same concentration of prestigious universities as London or Boston. The only thing that prevented it from becoming a leader in the ranking is the high cost of living and tuition. Otherwise, this city can offer students endless opportunities.
Chicago: a unique academic environment
Immediately after New York comes another American city – Chicago (18th place). The city received good scores for attractiveness to students and employers, but the cost of tuition at Chicago universities is also very high. Students are drawn to this city primarily by its unique scientific, social, and cultural opportunities.
Barcelona: the best education in Spain
Barcelona, which occupies 19th place in the ranking, is home to two of the most prestigious universities in Spain, which affects the cost of tuition – it is higher than in neighboring France. In addition to a large number of students from different countries, Barcelona's advantages include its warm climate and diverse cultural life.
Vienna: art and affordability
The 20th place in the QS ranking for 2015 is given to Vienna, which, along with Berlin, is one of the most affordable cities for international students. Vienna is among the top ten most desirable cities for students due to its high standard of living, rich cultural heritage, low tuition fees, and a large number of students from abroad.