The 10 best student cities in the world 2015

What makes these cities so desirable for students? Read on to find out.

Best student cities in the world 2015

Image: Find out which are the best student cities in the world.
Courtesy: Collegedegrees360/Creative Commons and collage created from Creative Commons

Every year, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a leading networking organisation specialising in higher education, draws up a list of the best student cities in the world.

To be considered for ranking, each of these cities must meet two basic criteria: a population of at least 2,50,000 and at least two higher education institutions featured in the QS university rankings.

While nearly 116 cities were considered for the rankings, Top 50 cities were selected.

To arrive at this year's list, the organisation used 18 different indicators which were then combined to score under five key categories -- university rankings, student mix, desirability, employer activity and affordability. With 100 points for each category, the overall score was rated out of 500.

While QS has released a list of Top 50 best student cities, we bring you the Top 10.

10. Seoul, South Korea

Kyung Hee Univ. Administration Building, Seoul Campus

Image: Kyung Hee University Administration Building(Seoul Campus). Courtesy: Kys951/Creative Commons

Overall score: 372 out of 500

Number of universities ranked by QS: 14

Average tuition fees: US$6,300 (Approx 3,89,600 INR)

Mercer Cost of Living rank: 14th (out of 214)

Top ranked institutions: Seoul National University (SNU); Korea University

Known for its active social life, it isn't surprising to find Seoul in the list of best student cities in the world.

With 14 top ranked universities, the city scores high among university rankings and employer activity, as per the QS rankings for 'Best Student Cities 2015'.

9. Toronto, Canada

Image: University of Toronto campus. Courtesy: Steve Chou/Creative Commons

Overall score: 375 out of 500

Number of universities ranked by QS: 3

Average tuition fees: US$21,700 (Approx 13,41,990 INR)

Mercer Cost of Living rank: 101st (out of 214)

Top ranked institutions: University of Toronto; York University

In ninth place is Toronto.

The city leads for its desirability factor (quality of life), and scores a straight 100 toppling cities like Sydney and Tokyo that score 98 and 95 under the desirability index.

8. Montreal, Canada

Image: A young woman walks along the banks of St Lawrence River in Montreal.
Courtesy: Shaun Best/Reuters

Overall score: 380 out of 500

Number of universities ranked by QS: 3

Average tuition fees: US$14,300 (Approx 8,84,350 INR)

Mercer Cost of Living rank: NA

Top ranked institutions: McGill University; Universite de Montreal; Concordia University

The cultural capital of Canada, Montreal scores the highest in the list for its 'student mix'.

According to QS, the city provides a host of professional and internship opportunities, thus adding to its 'employer activity', both domestically and internationally.

7. Tokyo, Japan

Image: Students wait outside Waseda University in Tokyo. Courtesy: Dick Thomas Johnson/Creative Commons

Overall score: 385 out of 500

Number of universities ranked by QS: 12

Average tuition fees: US$7,700 (Approx 4,76,190 INR)

Mercer Cost of Living rank: 7th (out of 214)

Top ranked institutions: University of Tokyo; Tokyo Institute of Technology

According to QS, the city scores well on the 'desirability' index which comprises factors such as safety, quality of living, tolerance, transparency and pollution.

6. Boston, Massachusetts

Image: International students attend a guided tour of the Northeastern University, Boston campus.
Courtesy: Abbey Road Programs/Creative Commons

Overall score: 386 out of 500

Number of universities ranked by QS: 7

Average tuition fees: US$43,900 (Approx 27,14,900 INR)

Mercer Cost of Living rank: 109th (out of 214)

Top ranked institutions: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); Harvard University; Boston University

With top ranked institutions like the MIT, Harvard and Boston University, the city naturally attracts student population from across the world.

Add to it, positive employer activity and need-based funding, Boston makes for an attractive education destination.

5. Hong Kong, Asia

Image: City University of Hong Kong. Courtesy: Andrew Stern/Creative Commons

Overall score: 387 out of 500

Number of universities ranked by QS: 7

Average tuition fees: US$13,000 (Approx 8,03,960 INR)

Mercer Cost of Living rank: 3rd (out of 214)

Top ranked institutions: University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

The city races up two places from last year's rankings to emerge fifth on the list.

According to QS, what worked in its favour is its "diverse student community, high rating from graduate employers, and a strong overall score in the 'desirability' category".

4. Sydney, Australia

Image: A student relaxes outside Sydney University. Courtesy: Joseph Younis/Creative Commons

Overall score: 388 out of 500

Number of universities ranked by QS: Five

Top ranked institutions: The University of Sydney; The University of New South Wales (UNSW)

Average tuition fees: US$28,600

Mercer Cost of Living rank: 26th (out of 214)

According to QS, the city scores high on student mix (consider factors like student diversity, social inclusion and tolerance), desirability (quality of life) and employer activity’.

3. London, United Kingdom

Image: University College London. Courtesy: David Edgan/Creative Commons

Overall score: 392 out of 500

Number of universities ranked by QS: 18

Average tuition fees: US$22,100 (Approx 13,66,730 INR)

Mercer Cost of Living rank: 12th (out of 214)

Top ranked institutions: Imperial College London, UCL (University College London); King's College London (KCL); London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

According to an estimate from the UK's National Union of Students (NUS), the average annual cost of living in England (excluding London) for students is £12,056 (US$19,490).

The financial city largely attracts students who want to make a mark in the corporate world -- London scored 100 under the 'employer activity' index.

With so many world class universities combined with the affordability factor, the city favours both home and international students.

2. Melbourne, Australia

Image: A student works on his computer at Monash University campus. Courtesy: Monash University/Creative Commons

Overall score: 397 out of 500

Number of universities ranked by QS: Seven

Mercer Cost of Living rank: 33rd (out of 214)

Average tuition fees: US$22,700 (Approx 14,02,240 INR)

Top ranked institutions: University of Melbourne, Monash University, Deakin University

With eight top ranked institutions, the Australian city has moved up three places from last year's rankings to feature on the second place.

According to QS, Melbourne has the highest 'student mix' -- calculated based on the relative size and diversity of each city’s student population, as well as levels of social inclusion and tolerance.

It also ranked best for 'employer activity' and 'desirability' (quality of living).

1. Paris, France