4 Indian Cities in QS Best Student Cities 2026; Only Mumbai Breaks into Top 100

July 17, 2025 – The QS Best Student Cities Rankings for 2026 have been released, with Seoul, South Korea claiming the top position as the most student-friendly city in the world. The rankings, which assess cities based on student feedback, diversity, employer activity, desirability, and affordability, saw only four Indian cities making it into the list of the top 150 – and just one, Mumbai, managed to break into the top 100.

Mumbai emerged as India’s best-performing city in the rankings, securing the 98th spot globally. It performed strongly in employer activity, scoring 77 out of 100, and even better in affordability, with a score of 86.3. The city also earned 48.5 in the student view category and 42.2 for desirability. However, Mumbai’s weakest performance was in the student mix category, which reflects international student representation and diversity.

Delhi followed at 104th place, performing best among the Indian cities in employer activity and affordability, scoring 78.4 and 96.5, respectively. However, it lagged significantly in other areas, with low scores of 17.8 in student view, 19.5 in student mix, and 34.5 in desirability. Despite its global reputation as a capital city with prestigious universities, Delhi’s student experience and international appeal appear limited.

Bengaluru, ranked 108th, earned a relatively high student view score of 56, suggesting it is positively perceived by students. It also received a decent 67.4 for employer activity and 84.3 for affordability. However, similar to Delhi, the city struggled with low diversity, scoring only 15.2 in student mix, and received a modest 38.6 for desirability.

Chennai came in at 128th, with a moderate performance across categories. It scored 18.5 in student view, 20.9 in student mix, and 64.1 in employer activity. Its desirability score stood at 38.8, while affordability was rated at 80.1. Like other Indian cities, Chennai’s strengths lie in affordability and employability, but it struggles to attract a diverse and globally visible student population.

Global Top 10 Best Student Cities for 2026

1. Seoul, South Korea
2. Tokyo, Japan
3. London, UK
4. Munich, Germany
5. Melbourne, Australia
6. Sydney, Australia
7. Berlin, Germany
8. Paris, France
9. Zurich, Switzerland
10. Vienna, Austria

These cities stood out for their balance of academic excellence, cultural richness, student satisfaction, and strong ties with employers.

The QS rankings are widely followed by students and institutions worldwide as they provide insight into which cities offer the best overall environment for higher education. While Indian cities continue to be competitive in terms of cost and employability, the low scores in international diversity and student perception highlight areas that need attention to enhance India's global standing as an education destination.