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PHOTOS: Top 15 student friendly cities in the world
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a leading networking organisation in higher education recently released its list of the most student friendly cities in the world.
Interestingly, the top 50 rankings of cities released by QS were dominated by European cities like Vienna, Zurich, Berlin and Dublin and did not feature a single city from India.
As per the criteria mentioned for survey, participating cities should have a population of more than 2, 50,000 and must feature at least two or more top ranked universities.
Among the 98 cities that qualified for the list, 50 were shortlisted.
These cities were further analysed by researchers who rated the cities based on the quality of living, affordability and reputation of the university among other indicators.
Click NEXT to know the top 15 student friendly cities of the world.
15. Chicago, US
For those of you who are looking for a fast paced lifestyle, Chicago turns out to be just the right place to study.
The city has two prestigious universities -- the University of Chicago and the Northwestern University.
While affordability can be a major concern, given the higher tuition fees, students look forward to studying in Chicago for the exceptional facilities it has to offer -- a bustling metropolis, active social life and better employment opportunities, to name a few.
14. Lyon, France
With four major universities, Lyon scored high on student mix and quality of living indicator in this survey.
The average tuition fee in Lyon is less than US$1,000 per year.
Add to this low living costs, which naturally attract international students.
13. Munich, Germany
Munich is the third largest city in Germany, and is popular for its affluent and vibrant culture.
Two of its universities -- Technische Universitat Munchen and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen -- feature in the QS global top 100 list.
Tuition fees are extremely low for both domestic and international students in Germany. However, when compared to cities like Berlin, Munich has slightly higher living costs.
12. Singapore, Singapore
Despite being an expensive city to live in, Singapore is flourishing as a centre for educational excellence.
The National University of Singapore was ranked the third in Asia and 28th in the world.
The healthy blend of Chinese, Malay and Indian influences in its culture attracts most international students to study there.
Singapore graduates are much sought-after by international employers, especially throughout Asia. But before that, one has to find a way to meet the high standard of living and the scorching weather throughout the year.
11. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is home to Spain's two most prestigious universities, Universitat de Barcelona and Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona --- both rank in the global top 200.
Despite being a prosperous European city, its living costs remain reasonable if compared to London and Paris. Meanwhile tuition costs when compared to France, makes Barcelona a fairly affordable city to study in.
The survey also showed a positive indication of employment prospects for international students who choose to study there.
10. Montreal, Canada
The cultural capital of the country Montreal is also home to the nation's top institution, McGill University (ranked 17th in the world).
Montreal scored high on quality of living and favourable student mix.
Average tuition fees for international students are costly compared to the cheapest destinations such as continental Europe, but are relatively cheaper compared to many top universities in the UK, US and Australia.
9. Dublin, Ireland
If you are looking for quality education, historic surroundings and a cracking social scene, look no further than Dublin.
Two of its oldest universities -- Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin feature in the world's top 200 list.
Tuition fees in Dublin are expensive. Average fee for international students works up to US $26,000 per year (tuition fee at TCD).
8. Berlin, Germany
Over the years Berlin has attracted tourists all over the world, making its presence felt as a major centre of design, fashion, music and arts.
The average tuition fee for international students in Berlin works up to US$1000-2000.
Add to this cheap rent and living costs, which attract students.
7. Zurich, Switzerland
One of the wealthiest cities in Europe, Zurich is also known for its orderliness and low taxes.
Average tuition fees for international students may cost about US$1,000-2,000.
However, students may have to struggle with the high accommodation and socialising costs.
6. Sydney, Australia
As aesthetically pleasing city, Sydney easily finds its place among major study destinations.
Sydney has a warm climate and scores high on quality of living.
Five of its universities are ranked among the QS global top 500, of which University of Sydney and University of New South Wales are in the top 100.
5. Vienna, Austria
Vienna has comparatively lower tuition fees for international students and houses Austria's two top ranked universities-- Universitat Wien and Technische Universitat Wien.
What worked for the city is its favourable student mix and its status as the top-scoring city for quality of living.
4. Melbourne, Australia
Australia is known for its world-class universities, favourable employment prospects, and high quality of life.
The city of Melbourne has a growing reputation for the quality of its universities, and here, it is ranked as Australia's leading city for international students.
3. Boston, US
Boston offers a healthy mix of being a major metropolis and a happening arts, culture and politics, which makes it a good city for students.
Despite the high education costs ( approx US$50,000 per year), most universities also offer financial aid packages which help students reduce their cost of education by a significant amount.
2. London, UK
World-class facilities, one of the world's great centres of culture and creativity, famed nightlife, diversity, global financial centre are some of the attributes that ranks London as the second best university for students, according to this QS Survey.
1. Paris, France
Paris is frequently rated as one of the most liveable cities in Europe, and according to this survey, it scores highly for its quality of life.
Interestingly, 16 of its institutes featured in the QS World Rankings, which makes it a promising destination for international students.
Given the high quality of life factor, socialising in Paris can be a costly affair for students.