Seoul named world's best city for students for second year running

Seoul has once again claimed the top position as the world's best city for students, according to the QS Best Student Cities 2027 rankings released by the British higher education analytics firm QS (Quacquarelli Symonds).

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Seoul's universities ranked first in the world for competitiveness and the number of universities in the city.

This marks the second consecutive year Seoul has secured the number one spot, following its initial ascent to the top in the 2026 rankings. The city has now dethroned London, which had maintained the top position for six consecutive years. In the 2027 rankings, Seoul is followed by Tokyo in second place and London in third.

The QS Best Student Cities index evaluates cities based on their suitability for students, considering six key indicators: university rankings, student mix, city desirability, employer reputation, affordability, and student voice. Seoul achieved the highest score globally in the university rankings indicator, reflecting the quality and competitiveness of its higher education institutions.

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Seoul has maintained its top position by demonstrating world-class competitiveness in academic excellence, industry, employment, and urban living.

Furthermore, Seoul received high marks in the employer reputation category, which assesses how attractive graduates are to employers, and in graduate employment prospects. City officials highlighted that these results demonstrate Seoul's comprehensive competitiveness, extending beyond academic excellence to encompass education, industry, employment, and overall urban living standards.

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We will continue to strengthen support for nurturing future industry talent and fostering startups, so that university students and young people in Seoul can learn, grow, and become global leaders.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon expressed his commitment to further enhancing the city's appeal to young people. He stated plans to strengthen support for nurturing future industry talent and fostering startups, aiming to empower university students and young individuals to learn, grow, and become global leaders in Seoul. The city also intends to continuously expand cultural and tourism content, as well as transportation and living infrastructure, to solidify its status as a desirable global hub for study, work, and living.

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We will also continuously expand cultural and tourism content, as well as transportation and living infrastructure, to make it a city where people from all over the world want to study, work, and stay.