This UK city has been named the best in the world for students (again)

From sprawling green spaces to rooftop bars, there are many reasons why London might appeal to young people.

And it appears that these benefits haven’t gone unnoticed, as the Big Smoke has been named the best city for university students for the sixth year in a row.

London topped the rankings yet again, beating international rivals such as Berlin, Tokyo and Boston to the throne – with a perfect score of 100.

In second place was Tokyo with a close 98, followed by Seoul with 97.6. There was also representation from Down Under, as Melbourne came in fourth and Sydney seventh, with respectable scores of 97.3 and 96.2 respectively.

But what makes London so appealing for students specifically?

The data, compiled by QS Top Universities, ranked cities based on individual universities, student mix, desirability, employer activity, affordability and student voice.

Considering a pint can set you back anywhere between £5 and an eye-watering £7, the affordability factor for London might raise a few eyebrows.

However, the study used a range of barometers to assess London’s financial appeal, including the price of tuition fees, the cost of a McDonald’s Big Mac (known to economists as the Big Mac Index), and the Mercer Cost of Living Rankings.

London actually ranks in the top 10 most expensive places to live in Europe at number 8, but in terms of the Big Mac Index, it doesn’t score as badly.

Coming in at £4.49 across the UK, this age-old McDonald’s fave is just 0.4% overvalued when compared with the cost in the US, which is currently $5.69.

The UK capital scored highly in other areas. Notably, the city’s openness to international students and strong graduate career opportunities helped cement its place in the top spot for another year, while current students studying in London rated the city highly for its outstanding cultural, economic and educational opportunities.

What’s more, there were plenty of London-based universities that made the institution-specific rankings, including Imperial College London, which came in at number 2, and UCL in ninth place.

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