Seoul Ranked as the Best City for University Students in 2025

Seoul has been named the top city for university students in the latest rankings released by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) on July 15, 2025. This marks the first time Seoul has achieved this position since the rankings began in 2014. The QS rankings evaluate cities based on factors such as employment opportunities, cost of living, and student population, using data from 1,500 universities across 140 cities included in the 2025 World University Rankings.
Following Seoul, Tokyo (Japan) secured the second spot, while London (UK), which held the number one position for six consecutive years until last year, dropped to third place due to rising living costs.
Seoul excelled particularly in the number of prestigious universities it hosts, with 23 institutions included in this year's World University Rankings, the highest of any city globally. Notable universities in Seoul include Seoul National University (38th), Yonsei University (50th), Korea University (61st), Sungkyunkwan University (126th), and Hanyang University (159th), all of which are ranked within the top 200.
In addition to its strong academic presence, Seoul ranked third in the 'employment environment' category, which assesses the size of companies and institutions where graduates can find jobs. The city also scored seventh in 'city preference,' which considers safety, weather, and transportation infrastructure. In terms of 'affordability,' which evaluates living costs and tuition fees, Seoul improved significantly from 91st last year to 68th this year, benefiting from relatively lower living costs compared to other cities in Europe and the Anglophone world. The 'student diversity' category, reflecting the variety of students' nationalities and cities, saw Seoul ranked at 51st.
Among other South Korean cities, Busan ranked 117th, while Daegu made its debut in the rankings at 131st. Ben Sowter, QS's Senior Vice President, noted that a recent survey of global university students highlighted 'city safety' alongside quality education and comfortable living conditions as crucial factors in choosing a city for long-term study. He emphasized that Seoul meets these criteria exceptionally well. Sowter also pointed out that Seoul's rich cultural ecosystem, including K-pop and film, along with its top-notch digital infrastructure, contributes to an outstanding experience for students from around the world.
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