London once again leads the ranking of the best urban destinations for international students, according to the latest edition of QS Best Student Cities 2023 produced by the British QS consultancy. Buenos Aires is positioned as the first city in Latin America preferred by students and ranks 23rd.
Also, this year there 3 Latin American cities to enter the list for the first time.
To be considered, each city must have a population of more than 250,000 inhabitants and host at least two universities that already appear in the ranking of universities made by the same consultant.
Other values that take into account is How many students are there in that city, how many of them are international and how inclusive is the city.
Also if the city is safe, if the cost of living is adequate for a student to live there, as well as the employment opportunities it offers.
The UK capital tops the list for being a “diverse and culturally rich city that offers its students everything from world-renowned museums to delicious multicultural dining offerings.”
It houses some of the most prestigious academic institutions in the world, such as King’s College London and UCL (University College London).
London shares podium with Munich (Germany) and Seoul, in South Korea. The three maintain the same position as in the last edition. In fourth place is Zurich, in Switzerland and in fifth Melbourne (Australia).
Top 10 cities for students
- London, United Kingdom)
- Munich, Germany)
- Seoul, South Korea)
- Zurich (Switzerland)
- Melbourne (Australia)
- Berlin Germany)
- Tokyo Japan)
- Paris France)
- Sydney (Australia)
- Edinburgh (UK)
Latin America present
The ranking includes 10 Latin American citiesalbeit with uneven performance.
Buenos Aires leads the list for the fourth consecutive year, although it drops points compared to the previous edition and ranks 23rd, one lower.
In the survey, they highlight that the Argentine capital is a «dynamic city with growing opportunities and the best city for students in the Spanish-speaking world».
Not surprisingly, Buenos Aires is home to 10 universities classified within the ranking of the best universities in the world, according to the same consultancy. Another point is that the graduates of these centers have a great reputation among employers.
Although they point out that “still has very poor areas”leading to a lower quality of life score, also indicate that this leads to a lower cost of living.
You have to go down to rank 60 to find another Latin American city, in this case, Santiago de Chileof which they highlight that, although it has a relatively small community of international students, it is a city full of postgraduate opportunities.
Next on the list is Mexico City, in position 68. Although they point out that this capital “is known and loved” for its street food, historical sites and diverse nightlife, they also warn that “students who choose to study here should be aware of the city’s reputation for pollution and crime and be prepared for these aspects.
Other Latin American cities that appear are Sao Paulo (Brazil) in position 86, Monterrey Mexico) in 96; with position 99 appears the capital of Colombia, Bogota and in 112 is Lima Peru).
There are three cities that qualified for the first time. They are Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in position 121, Quito (Ecuador) in position 130 and Montevideo (Uruguay) in position 135.
