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Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai have climbed in rankings, reflecting India’s improved academic visibility, affordability, and workforce relevance.
Seoul tops QS 2026 rankings, while Delhi shines as the world’s most affordable student city. (Representational Image/Getty)
In an exciting update for students around the world, the QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2026 has been announced, and it comes with major changes. Seoul has claimed the top spot as the best city in the world for students, replacing London, which has dropped to third place. Tokyo now holds the second position, making this a historic moment with both top cities coming from Asia.
These rankings are created by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a respected global higher education analyst. They evaluate cities using several important factors like affordability, student diversity, city desirability, the quality of universities, and the job opportunities available after graduation.
One of the biggest highlights of this year’s ranking is India’s impressive performance. All four Indian cities listed in the rankings have moved up in their positions, showing the country’s growing visibility in the academic world. The cities have shown improvement in terms of affordability, workforce relevance, and the overall student experience.
Among them, Delhi has achieved a remarkable milestone. It has been named the most affordable student city in the world, according to the QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2026. This means Delhi is now considered the cheapest place to study globally, which is a major achievement for India’s capital city. Delhi received a high score of 96.5 in the affordability category. This score reflects the city’s low tuition fees and cost of living, making it a highly attractive option for students looking for quality education at a lower cost.
Mumbai, another major Indian city, has made a strong comeback into the top 100 list, landing at 98th place globally. This is a big jump of 15 spots compared to last year. Delhi moved up seven places to the 104th rank, showing strong improvement. Meanwhile, Bengaluru, known as India’s tech and research hub, rose 22 places to reach 108th rank. Chennai, another important educational city in India, climbed 12 places to secure the 128th position.
These improvements are not only about affordability but also reflect the strong academic presence in these cities. For example, Mumbai is home to top institutions like the University of Mumbai and IIT Bombay. Delhi features top universities such as the University of Delhi and IIT Delhi. Bengaluru boasts the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), IIM Bengaluru, and other private institutions. In Chennai, students benefit from studying at places like Anna University and IIT Madras.
Apart from Delhi’s top score, Bengaluru also scored well in affordability with 84.3, and Chennai followed closely with 80.1. This shows that Indian cities remain among the most budget-friendly in the world for students.
The QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2026 also highlights the top 15 global student cities:
Seoul, South Korea
Tokyo, Japan
London, United Kingdom
Munich, Germany
Melbourne, Australia
Sydney, Australia
Berlin, Germany
Paris, France
Zurich, Switzerland
Vienna, Austria
Singapore
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Beijing, China (Mainland)
Taipei, Taiwan
Boston, United States
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