Searching for Study Abroad Options during Lockdown? Now check these top 10 Cities in the World for International Students
Anyone doing a little research into studying abroad would have come across the analytics company QS – famed for their reliable and regularly updated ranking lists with reference to the education sector around the world. One of their most useful ranking lists is the Top 10 Cities in the World for higher education. If you’re debating which city you might spend the next year or two of your student-life in, this list can give you an indication of what you’d be in for – and if QS says its good, you can bet it is!
The factors that determine the ranking include – student mix, desirability, employer activity, affordability, university performance, and student view. Specifically in terms of student view, based on a survey of about 87000 students and recent graduates, what students look for in a city include – how safe and welcoming it is for international students, the overall cost of living, universities with high-quality teaching, as well as the possibility of finding work alongside their course.
The Hurray Overseas Education Counselling team has dug a little deeper, into Study Abroad options to find out the USP’s of each of the cities in this list – especially those that would be of interest to Indian students aspiring to study abroad.
10. Seoul
South Korea has several academically-rigorous universities offering top-notch teaching and research facilities – several of which are concentrated in the national capital city of Seoul. South Korea is particularly famed for its courses in Engineering, Natural Sciences, and the Humanities, and as an added plus-point, an increasing number of universities are offering courses taught entirely in English. Seoul boasts one of the highest standards of living in Asia, along with a relatively low cost of living, especially in comparison with most of the other cities in this list, making it an attractive option for international students. Several international students describe the people of Seoul as warm and welcoming. Furthermore, one of its biggest draws is the food – Korean food is famed worldwide for being cheap, wholesome and delicious!
9. Sydney
Sydney, Australia is home to some of Australia’s top universities, also ranked among the best in the world – including the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales, ranked 42nd and 43rd. This city is the cultural hub of the country, with a vibrant scene in entertainment and the arts. It is also touted as one of the most culturally diverse in Australia, owing to a huge influx of people from around the world – making international students feel at home, as well as like global citizens! Sydney is blessed with temperate weather all year round with pleasant summers and winters. In particular, Sydney is a traveller’s delight – home to some of Australia’s most iconic landmarks including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Bondi Beach, it is also the perfect base to explore much of the country.
8. Zurich
The city of Zurich, in scenic Switzerland, benefits international students in numerous ways. The reason that tops the chart, are the excellent scholarship opportunities available to students from around the world with generous awards toward tuition fees – the Erasmus Mundus programme, for instance, represents Switzerland’s commitment to third world countries, offering scholarships to students at Master’s and Doctorate level. Shifting attention to the city itself, not only is it located in the lap of some of Europe’s most incredible Alpine landscapes, and thus an excellent base for all lovers of nature and adventure, but it is also one of the most efficient cities in the world – with a public transport system synced to the very second. And if the gourmand in you is looking for something more – you can’t do better than Swiss cheese and chocolate!
7. Paris
Paris, the famed European capital, is home to some of the world’s top universities, including the Paris Science et Lettres University, ranked 53rd, Ecole Polytechnique, ranked 60th and the famous Sorbonne, that has produced some of Europe’s greatest minds and talents, ranked 77th. Paris has historically been a thriving intellectual and artistic centre, the spirit if which persists till today – making it the perfect environment for a student exploring new possibilities. Some of Europe’s most important monuments are centred in Paris, including the Louvre museum that houses one of the world’s greatest art collections. Finally, Paris is a primarily French-speaking city, enabling international students to hone their language skills – and with French considered one of the major global languages, giving one an added career advantage as well.
6. Montreal
A number of Canada’s best institutions are located in Montreal, the capital of the French-speaking Canadian county of Quebec. For instance, Canada’s 2nd highest ranked university, McGill University, has its campus in this city, and the city is considered the country’s most research-intensive location. Besides academic excellence, the cost of living in Montreal is far from prohibitive, with housing rents considered among the lowest in the whole of North America, as well as Europe – a fact that benefits international students most. Furthermore, Montreal is home to a culturally and linguistically-diverse population – a bonus for international students seeking a truly global experience.
5. Berlin
According to recent reports, Germany is the 2nd most affordable country in Europe for international students, owing to factors such as no tuition fee for programmes offered by public universities and very generous scholarship programmes. In Berlin, free public transport and heavily discounted student access to public facilities, from museums to libraries, adds to the overall financial benefits for international students studying in the German capital. Though a German-speaking nation, several universities offer programmes taught entirely in English – which is indicative of the country’s, particularly Berlin’s, status as an educational hub, welcoming a diverse and vibrant student population. The influence of Berlin’s rich and tumultuous history, would also be a matter of great cultural interest to anybody inclined toward history.
4. Munich
Munich shares with Berlin, all the benefits of being a major city in the educational hub that is Germany – with a few more advantages thrown in. For instance, Munich is the business-capital of the country, with several of the world’s biggest companies in automobile engineering, information technology, and other such lucrative careers, headquartered here – including BMW, Siemens and Allianz. And because of Germany’s post-study work opportunities, Munich might just be the best city to launch a career. Furthermore, Munich is located in the heart of Germany’s Bavarian region – home to some of the country’s most important natural landscapes, including the Northern Alps and the Black Forest, as well as its most famous cultural landmarks, such as the globally-renowned Neuschwanstein Castle. Coupled with the best of German cuisine – including German beer! – Munich becomes a traveller’s paradise for any international student.
3. Melbourne
For 7 years running, Melbourne has been voted ‘The World’s Most Liveable City’ (only recently displaced to 2nd place by Vienna, Austria) – meaning that it is one of the safest cities in the world to live in, with residents enjoying the best infrastructure in terms of healthcare, culture and environment, and of course, education! Several of the universities in Melbourne have been given top-ranks for quality education on a global scale, with the University of Melbourne considered the 2nd best in the country. Melbourne is considered especially prominent in the QS ranking factor of employer activity – with several major multinational corporations setting up shop in the city, the career-launching opportunities of part-time and/or post-study work are immense, making Melbourne extremely popular amongst international students. Add a vibrant scene in entertainment and culture, and you have the recipe for an attractive student city.
2. Tokyo
Tokyo, arguably Japan’s most famous metropolitan city, is an exciting and eclectic mix of opposites. It is home to excellent universities, including the University of Tokyo, consistently ranked as one of the best in all of Asia – as well as to some of the world’s biggest pop culture fandoms, from gamers to manga and anime-lovers. It is a traditional city, with customs dating back centuries, reflected today in its beautiful and tranquil parks and rustic old-world city streets – while also being one of the world’s most high-tech cities, famous for its incredibly efficient public transport system. The Japanese people are known for their hospitality and discipline – two characteristics that make theirs a unique and interesting culture to be immersed in. This is particularly of value to international students, for whom cultural immersion is one of the major draws of a Study Abroad experience. To top it off, Tokyo is also one of the world’s most influential and financially-strong centres, making it an excellent location for a student looking to launch a career.
1. London
And finally, the world’s best city for international students for the year 2020, hardly needs an introduction – the British capital is home to several of the top-ranked universities of the world, let alone the UK – including University College London, ranked 8th and Imperial College, ranked 9th, London’s oldest university King’s College, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the Royal Holloway College, and so on. Welcoming over one lakh international students each year, representing over 200 countries, you would be joining one of the world’s most diverse and vibrant student communities. London is famous for its museums, from the V&A to the National Gallery, for those inclined towards history and culture – and for its West End theatre and music scene and world-famous nightlife, for those seeking entertainment and excitement. As the country’s capital, it is also an excellent base from which to explore the UK. And it is set to become even more attractive a destination, come 2021, when the UK sets in place the 2-year stay back option for international students – allowing new graduates opportunities to seek employment with some of the world’s biggest companies, in one of the world’s most exciting places to live.
You can choose from a range of subjects and work towards your goal starting now. Why wait till all of this is over. You can begin by taking up the IELTS Online Training and PTE training online. If you are a student who prefers a one-one session then you can definitely opt for personalized coaching. However, if you are comfortable with group coaching you can choose that too. In fact, if you are short on time and need a quick brush-up of your skills you can opt for the crash courses.
If on reading this post, you identify your dream student city – rest assured that the Hurray Overseas Education consultant team can help you find the university and/or programme that will best suit your goals. To book your one-on-one appointment, reach out to us via email: overseaseducation@hurrayedutech.com, or phone: 8971357928.
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