Australia continues to prove its status as a top-tier destination for international education, with Melbourne and Sydney once again securing spots in the top 10 of the QS Best Student Cities Rankings 2026. The 11th edition of the rankings, released by higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds, positions Melbourne at 5th and Sydney at 6th globally—a feat amid increased international competition.
This year’s rankings reveal significant shifts in global student city performance. Seoul has overtaken London for the first time to claim the top spot, with Tokyo holding steady at second. London, which led for six consecutive years, dropped to third place due largely to a sharp decline in affordability.
Despite affordability concerns worldwide, Australia remains a standout for student satisfaction, educational quality, and diversity—particularly in its two largest cities.
The QS 2026 top 10 global best student cities are:
| QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2026: Top 10 | |||
| 2026 Rank | 2025 Rank | ||
| 1 | 3 | Seoul | Republic of Korea |
| 2 | 2 | Tokyo | Japan |
| 3 | 1 | London | United Kingdom |
| 4 | 4 | Munich | Germany |
| 5 | 5 | Melbourne | Australia |
| 6 | 6 | Sydney | Australia |
| =7 | 9 | Berlin | Germany |
| =7 | 7 | Paris | France |
| 9 | 8 | Zurich | Switzerland |
| 10 | 14 | Vienna | Austria |
Australia Holds Its Ground: Analysis
Australia is one of only three countries with two cities in the global top 10. According to QS CEO Jessica Turner, this reflects the strength of Australia’s higher education system and its continued appeal to students worldwide.
“Australia continues to be a top destination for international students, with seven of its cities ranked among the world’s top 100 student cities,” Turner said. “While affordability remains a global challenge for ambitious learners, those who choose Australia can expect high-quality education, rich cultural experiences, and diverse opportunities for personal and professional growth.”
Indeed, Melbourne and Sydney rank first and second globally in the Student Mix indicator, a measure of international diversity, inclusion, and the proportion of students in the general population. Both cities also performed strongly in other core indicators such as Student Voice (4th and 7th respectively) and Desirability, which gauges lifestyle, safety, and public perception.
Australia had seven cities in the top 150 of the QS Best Student Cities Rankings 2026: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, and Gold Coast. This wide geographic spread provides international students with diverse options—from capital cities with global connections to regional centres known for community focus and lifestyle quality.
Among the highlights:
- Melbourne improved its ranking in Employer Activity from 16th to 11th, while Sydney rose from 18th to 14th. The University of Melbourne also rose to 35th in the world in the Employment Reputation indicator, bolstering its city’s career outcomes for graduates.
- In the QS World University Rankings, Melbourne placed 11th and Sydney 12th, up from 12th and 14th last year. Nine Australian universities now feature in the global top 100, including three in Sydney and two in Melbourne.
- In the Desirability indicator, Sydney ranked 5th and Melbourne 11th—still among the best globally despite dropping slightly from the previous year due to factors such as cost of living and congestion.
- Brisbane and Adelaide also performed well in the Student Mix indicator, ranking 8th and 9th globally, respectively. Adelaide retained its top 20 place in the Student Voice category, where it ranked 20th.
These rankings reflect consistent investment by Australian cities and institutions into international student experiences. For example, Melbourne has hosted the International Student Summit for the past five years—an event that provides career, visa, and community support. The city also partners with international education providers to support “The Couch,” a well-known community centre for international students.
Australian ranked cities are:
| Australian Ranked Cities | |||
| 2026 Rank | 2025 Rank | City | Number of institutions |
| 5 | 5 | Melbourne | 7 |
| 6 | 6 | Sydney | 6 |
| 26 | 25 | Brisbane | 3 |
| 31 | 28 | Adelaide | 2 |
| 37 | 35 | Perth | 4 |
| =38 | =29 | Canberra | 2 |
| 95 | 93 | Gold Coast | 3 |
Student Sentiment: What Matters Most
According to the QS International Student Survey 2025, prospective students thinking about studying in Australia are most concerned with:
- Welcoming environments (53% rated as most important when choosing a university)
- High-quality teaching (51%)
- Scholarship availability (50%)
When choosing a city, 79% of students prioritised safety and inclusivity, followed by 57% who cited lifestyle and leisure opportunities, and 56% who named cost of living as their top concern.
These preferences align closely with what Australian cities offer—especially Sydney and Melbourne, where student services, lifestyle appeal, and safety have consistently rated highly.
However, affordability continues to be a challenge. Despite modest improvements in this year’s Affordability indicator, most Australian cities still rank outside the global top 100 in this category. Melbourne placed 113th and Sydney 120th for affordability. For comparison, APAC cities like Delhi, Yogyakarta, and Dhaka dominate the top positions in affordability.
A 2024 report from Allianz Partners Australia found that 61% of international students found everyday life in Australia more expensive than expected. Further, the nonrefundable student visa application fee rose from AUD $710 in 2023 to AUD $2,000 in July 2025, placing additional financial pressure on students.
International Recognition for Australian Universities
The QS World University Rankings 2026 also saw positive news for Australian institutions:
- University of Melbourne climbed to 19th globally
- University of New South Wales rose to 20th
- University of Sydney came in at equal 25th
- Monash University (Melbourne), University of Queensland (Brisbane), and University of Technology Sydney all held strong positions
These rankings contribute to the broader reputation of the cities in which they are located. The high standing of local universities plays a major role in attracting international students to the surrounding cities and strengthens employability metrics through domestic and international employer recognition.
Looking Ahead
With global competition for international students intensifying, Australia’s top cities continue to hold strong. Melbourne and Sydney’s performance in the 2026 QS Best Student Cities Rankings confirms that they remain among the world’s most desirable places to study.
While affordability remains a critical issue, particularly with rising visa and living costs, the country’s mix of educational quality, cultural vibrancy, and career opportunities continues to resonate with students from around the world.
As new education markets emerge—highlighted by Seoul’s rise to the top of this year’s rankings—Australia’s challenge will be to maintain its appeal by balancing access, support, and cost. But for now, Melbourne and Sydney remain shining beacons in the international education landscape.
More information on the QS Best Student Cities Rankings 2026 is available here.
