Montreal has been named Canada’s best student city in rankings released this week by QS Quacquarelli Symonds. In what may come as something of a surprise, it was the only Canadian city to crack the world’s top 10, placing ninth in a tie with Boston and Paris. London held the #1 spot globally for the second year in a row.
To be considered, cities must have a population of over 250,000 people and be home to at least two universities featured in the QS world university rankings of which Montreal has three: McGill University, Université de Montréal, and Concordia University.
In this year’s list, a total of 115 university cities are included.
The rankings are based on the following six metric categories:
1. Rankings: The number and quality of the city’s universities.
2. Desirability: The measure of the quality of life in a city, and the extent to which prospective students wish to study in that particular location.
3. Affordability: The affordability indicators cover several cost-of-living metrics, including average tuition and fees.
4. Employer Activity: This indicator group captures the extent to which a city’s university graduates are sought after by employers. It relies on over 75,000 responses to the QS Employer Survey, while also factoring in the levels of youth employment in a city.
5. Student Mix: The diversity and tolerance of the city including the presence of a large student population.
6. Student Voice: Recommendations by students who’ve studied in the city; based on the views of 95,747 survey respondents.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante made the announcement on social media, praising the city. “Students choose Montreal for its quality of life and its institutions, culture and affordability,” Plante wrote.
—Valérie Plante
QS Top Student Cities In U.S.
1. London
2. Munich
3. Seoul and Tokyo (tied)
5. Berlin
6. Melbourne
7. Zurich
8. Sydney
9. Paris, Montreal, and Boston (tied)
