So, you’ve gone against your parents’ suggestion of studying engineering and opted for an arts degree… Fortunately, there are numerous scholarships for art students available around the world, including funding to study art, fine art, design, fashion design and graphic design.

The first challenge in gaining a scholarship is finding all the relevant opportunities, so we’ve bought together a selection of art scholarships worldwide, to make finding funding that little bit easier. If none of the art scholarships listed below is suitable for you, another great starting point is to consult the scholarships listed on the websites of the universities or institutions you wish to study at.

You can also find creative writing scholarships here, and see the rankings for the top art and design universities in 2019 here.

Art scholarships

To study in Australia:

• Art and design Scholarships @ UNSW – Various art scholarships for students of all levels enrolled at the University of New South Wales, Australia, in the department of art and design. International students are eligible.
• Art, fashion and textiles scholarships @ RMIT University – A range of scholarships for students (including international students) currently enrolled in an art, fashion or textiles degree at RMIT University.

To study in Europe:

• Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship – Art scholarships for Australian citizens to further their arts education in Europe with a three-month residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris and AU$40,000 to attend art school at an accredited institution in Europe.
• Brucebo and W.B. Bruce Fine Arts Scholarships for Canadian Artists – Fine arts scholarships reserved for young Canadian art professionals wanting to take up an art residency or to conduct arts research in Gotland, Sweden.
• Chase AHRC Studentship – Arts scholarships to study at selected liberal arts schools and universities in the UK, funded by the AHRC and open to UK and EU students pursuing study in the visual arts, media, film and other arts and humanities subjects.
• Courtauld Postgraduate Scholarships – Graduate art school scholarships to study at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, UK, on the MA, PhD or Conservation programs. Scholarships are open to UK and EU students studying a variety of programs (see eligibility section.)
• DAAD Fine Art, Design/ Visual Communication and Film Scholarships – Fine art and design scholarships funded by the DAAD and open to international students who have gained a first degree in a related field. Scholarship winners will gain funding for study in Germany on a master’s degree or postgraduate program.
• ECA Taught Masters Scholarships @ University of Edinburgh – Graduate scholarships for art students offered by the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, UK, for master’s level study in the schools of architecture, art, design, history of art or music.
• Middlesex University London Arts and Creative Industries Scholarship – Four scholarships are available to study a master’s degree at Middlesex University, covering up to half of the tuition fees. Open to UK/EU students (and international students who are an alumnus of the university).
• Norwich University of the Arts – A range of art and design scholarships to study at the university.
• Royal College of Art Awards – Various fine art scholarships on offer from the RCA and partner funding organizations. Scholarships are awarded to enrolled students.
• Slade School of Fine Arts James Lewis Foundation Scholarship @ UCL – Open to a UK student studying a BA or BFA in Fine Art at the UCL (University College London) Slade School of Fine Arts. More scholarships to study at UCL can be found using its search tool.
• Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists - Postgraduate scholarships for art students, professionals and researchers to study at doctoral/postdoctoral level in Switzerland at a recognized institution.
• University of Westminster Design, Creative and Digital Industries Scholarship – One scholarship is available for an international student from a developing country who holds an offer to study a full-time master’s degree within the School of Media, Arts and Design at the University of Westminster. Provides a full tuition fee award, accommodation, living expenses and flights to and from London.

To study in North America:

• ARC Scholarship Competition – An art scholarship competition for students at ARC-approved art schools in North America to gain $30,000 a year funding for their art education. You will be required to submit an example of your artwork – a classical-style life painting or sculpture – as your competition entry.
• Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program – US art school scholarships for students from South Carolina to gain funding to study creative writing, dance, music, theatre, or visual arts at an accredited university in the state.
• Arts for Life! Awards – Annual awards of US$1,000 are available to graduating high school seniors in Florida who demonstrate excellence in creative writing, dance, drama, music or visual art.
• Berlin Arts Scholarships – Scholarships for art students with affiliations to the region of Northeast Pennsylvania in the US. Open to serious art students interested in painting, sculpture or photography.
• Krylon Clear Choice Art Scholarship – US$1,000 art scholarships from Krylon awarded to citizens of North America studying an accredited visual arts program in North America.
• Lamar Dodd School of Art scholarships @ University of Georgia – Various art school scholarships to study art at the University of Georgia in the US. Open to US and international students.
• Naomi Winston Scholarship in Visual (2D) Art – Art scholarships from the National Society of Arts and Letters (NSAL) in the US, open to US citizens aged 16-22 wanting to further their 2D visual arts education outside of university.
• College of Design @ The University of Oregon – A range of art scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students to study art, painting, sculpture and other related programs at the University of Oregon.
• Wendy Jackson Hall Memorial Scholarship – Arts scholarships for US students graduating from high school in Washington state and wishing to continue their arts education in the US. Successful applicants will receive a two-year, $15,000 scholarship to study visual art.
• Worldstudio AIGA Scholarships – Scholarships for art students from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds to study at an accredited institution in the US in the field of fine art, illustration, graphic design and motion graphics.
• Cynthia and Alan Baran Fine Arts and Musical Scholarship Fund – This scholarship is open to undergraduate or graduate students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher enrolled in a Bachelors of Fine Art (BFA), a BA in Studio Art, or a Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) course majoring in Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Ceramics, Photography or Printmaking, as well as students enrolled in a BA or MA Music degree.
• The Frederic Whitaker & Eileen Monaghan Whitaker Foundation Scholarship Fund – This scholarship is open to American citizens who are working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art, History or Museum Studies and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. The scholarship supports students with an emphasis on watercolor and museum studies, and successful applicants will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

Fashion & design scholarships

(Graphic design, fashion etc.)

To study in North America:

• FIDM National Scholarship Competition – US design scholarships from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM). Open to US citizens enrolling in fashion design, interior design, graphic design, visual design or digital media at the FIDM in Los Angeles.
• Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation – Graphic communication and graphic design scholarships for students enrolling on a two- or four-year program at an accredited US institution.
• The Liz Claiborne Design Scholarship Award – Fashion design scholarships based solely on merit offered by the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America). Open to students enrolled at design schools and accredited universities across the US.
• TwoTen Footwear Design Scholarships – Fashion design scholarships for students pursuing a career in footwear design in the US. Awards of US$3,000 are available annually for up to four years of undergraduate study.
• VCU Graphic Design Scholarships – Various graphic design scholarships offered to enrolled students at Virginia Commonwealth University, School of the Arts, in the US.
• National Costumers Association Creative Event Scholarship – Open to all U.S high school seniors, as well as currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. Applicants must have a GPA of 2.75 or higher, and in order to ender must present an original costume design. The winner will receive a US$1500 scholarship, and student memberships to the National Costumers Association will be given to all finalists.
• Vectorblocks Design Scholarships – Open to US and international undergraduate and graduate students currently pursuing a design based degree, with a deadline of 31^st August. Successful individuals can win an amount between $3000 and $10,000. Individuals must submit an original design as part of their entry.

To study in Europe:

• ECA Taught Masters Scholarships @ University of Edinburgh – Graduate scholarships offered by the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, UK, for master’s students enrolling in the schools of architecture, art, design, history of art or music.
• Istituto Marangoni Scholarships – Fashion and design scholarships offered by Istituto Marangoni, an Italian fashion school with campuses across Europe.
• NABA, International Academy of Arts and Design in Milan – Scholarships to study Master of Arts programs in design in English or Italian at NABA (covering up to 60 percent of tuition fees) starting in February 2020.
• The Alexander McQueen Scholarship @ UAL – Graduate fashion design scholarships for EU students enrolling on the MA in Fashion Design at the University of the Arts, London. 
• UAL Postgraduate Scholarships – Various graduate scholarships offered by the University of the Arts, London for students pursuing art and design programs at one of its six colleges.

This article was originally published in March 2015. It was most recently updated in August 2019.

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Sponsored by EDHEC Business School

The concept of “big data” may have been around for a while, but the last few years have seen a sizeable swell in interest and media attention. Extremely recently, firms such as Cambridge Analytica and the way in which social media companies use the data collected about their users have hit the headlines and raised awareness even further of the enormous impact big data has on our lives every day. We looked into what it’s actually like to work in big data and why students should specialize in the field.

Big data is here to stay, which means career longevity is highly likely

As an industry, big data is growing at a dizzying speed, with nearly 2.3 trillion gigabytes of data produced every day, and the data galaxy doubling every couple of years. So, the ability to make sense of all this data and use it to change the way we live and interact with one another  is set to inevitably become a vital part of business.

With a predicted growth of US$7.3 billion this year, the market size for big data is expected to soar past the US$40 billIon mark over the next few months, which is why a new generation of trained data experts and analysts are needed to lead the way and establish better data governance to win over consumers. You could be one of them.   

You’ll use data in all sorts of amazing ways to change the world

Several business sectors have already demonstrated the potential of what can be achieved through data analytics. Some NGOs, for example, have been using artificial intelligence to fundraise by collecting data on their supporters and using this to predict and target actions and messaging which are most likely to resonate with different types of donors.

In sport, analysts have been a regular feature for several years now, using statistics in their operations both on and off the pitch in order to make better scouting decisions and monitor their players’ health, fitness and nutrition.

Some teams, like FC Bayern Munich, have even been using data to inform their game plan. In 2014, the German national team gained a competitive advantage over other teams by using sports analytics software to research opponents’ performance, including average ball possession, number of ball touches, distance travelled, positioning and speed of passing. Information on the upcoming opposition and bespoke feedback on their own performance was then sent to each player via an app on their smartphone.

In the healthcare sector, hospitals have been collecting reams of health data to improve patient care. In fact, 47 percent of hospitals in the US are already using predictive analytics to cut costs and predict operating room and staffing demands. Some experts even believe that big data will enable hospitals not just to cure disease, but also to prevent it in the future.

Among them, Lloyd Minor, dean of the Stanford School of Medicine, said: “By leveraging big data and scientific advancements while maintaining the important doctor-patient bond, we believe we can create a health system that will go beyond curing disease after the fact to preventing disease before it strikes by focusing on health and wellness”.

There’s a growing skills gap for trained big data experts

If these types of job roles sound intriguing, we’ve got good news. Big data jobs will grow by 4.4 million by 2024, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, and there’s a widening skills gap in the sector. According to a 2014 survey, 41 percent of businesses cited a lack of skilled candidates as a major challenge to integrating big data into their operations.  

Job prospects are good in the sector, with data analysts earning on average €41,329 (US$51,320) in Germany, £25,511 (US$32,930) in the UK, and CHF88,049 (US$92,838) in Switzerland, according to PayScale.

The range of jobs available with a degree in data analytics is huge

If you pursue a career as a data analyst, the first thing to get straight is that your role isn’t the same as a data engineer or data scientist. These roles work on the technical side of data mining and data storage, whereas data analysts pull relevant bits of information from enormous databases in order to inform decisions in a number of business areas like HR, marketing, customer service and operations.

A degree in data analytics would impart you with important transferable skills, such as project management, critical-thinking and problem-solving, and open up opportunities across industries as data managers, data consultants, consumer and market knowledge managers, chief data officers, big data architects and business and marketing analysts.

Some universities offer outstanding postgraduate courses in big data

The French business school EDHEC for example offers a master’s degree in data analytics and digital business.

The course promises to teach you how to reap the benefits of big data for business and give you a global understanding of the opportunities the technology presents.

Based on EDHEC’s Lille campus, you learn how to manage big data projects and analyse economic and consumer trends through data collection and analysis.

The master’s degree features a mandatory three to six month internship with the company of your choice to help you build a network of contacts and put your new skills into practice.

Find out about careers in data analytics and digital for business here.

流行天后碧昂丝近日的一项举动让我们对她的评价达到新高。她宣布了一个新的奖学金计划，通过她的BeyGOOD计划，旨在资助那些就读历史悠久的黑人学院和大学（HBCUs）的学生。

这些奖学金被称为“Homecoming Scholars奖学金”，每个奖学金价值25000美元，分别颁发给四所符合条件的HBCUs的一名学生：Xavier大学，Wilberforce大学，Tuskegee大学和 Bethune-Cookman大学。

这是她上周末在Coachella音乐节上的一场成功演出之后宣布的，她创造了历史，成为该音乐节19年历史中首位黑人女性主持人，她的充满活力的表演向历史悠久的黑人学院和大学致敬。她的丈夫Jay-Z，Destiny's Child的队友以及她的妹妹Solange也加入了她，让粉丝们非常兴奋，以至于有人呼吁将音乐节改名为Beychella。一天的工作不错！

这不是碧昂丝第一次提供大学奖学金，她的慈善BeyGOOD计划还于2017年4月推出了Formation Scholars奖学金计划，这是一个基于优秀程度的计划，为四名女性学生提供25000美元的奖学金，他们主修创意艺术、音乐、文学或非洲裔美国研究，旨在鼓励和支持“勇敢、富有创意、有意识、自信且敢于打破传统的年轻女性”。

何谓历史悠久的黑人学院？

历史悠久的黑人学院和大学（HBCUs）是美国的高等教育机构，它们是在1964年《民权法案》颁布之前成立的，因此主要为非洲裔美国社区提供教育。这是因为种族隔离意味着许多黑人学生被排除在主要由白人组成的学院之外。

美国有100多所黑人学院和大学，它们致力于教育所有学生，不论种族，通常比其他学院更经济实惠。其中许多学院也以提供文理学科教育而闻名。

在碧昂丝的官网上发布的一份声明中，Parkwood Entertainment的慈善与企业关系主任Ivy McGregor表示：“我们向历史悠久的黑人学院和大学的丰富传统致敬，尊重所有高等教育机构，因为它们保持了文化并创造了优秀的学习环境，扩展了学生的梦想和可能性的海洋。”

如何获得Homecoming Scholars奖学金？

Homecoming Scholars奖学金对所有学生开放，不分性别，可以用于2018/19年在符合条件的大学学习以下学科：文学、创意艺术、非洲裔美国研究、科学、教育、商业、传媒、社会科学、计算机科学和工程学。你需要保持3.5或以上的GPA。

申请应通过所选大学的官方网站进行，所有决赛选手和获奖者将由他们选出（而不是碧昂丝本人，这减轻了一些压力...）。获奖者将于今年夏天公布。

祝愿所有申请的人好运！

Sponsored by London Business School

It’s no wonder London consistently tops surveys of the best student cities to live in. Last year, the UK capital went up two places to rank third in the QS Best Student Cities ranking, and will be expected to perform well again when this year’s ranking is released in May.

Home to several elite universities, a unique blend of foreign influences and a desirable mix of Fortune 500 companies, London is an epicenter of culture, finance and business that is unlike any other study abroad destination.

Here are some of the perks which make London such a unique and memorable destination.

London’s rich legacy of multiculturalism

For decades, communities from around the world have made the journey to London and made it their home, and London continues to be a melting pot of cultures and influences. Every year,  London hosts many festivals celebrating cultures around the world, ranging from the Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown to Notting Hill Carnival, which draws millions of people to the streets of Notting Hill to pay tribute to West Indian culture.

Most Fortune 500 companies have an office in London

While most universities will help students find and apply to graduate jobs, living in London gives you a further advantage as you have access to a much broader range of opportunities. Right in the heart of everything, London is home to the world’s biggest tech, media and financial firms and 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies have offices in London.

It’s a lot easier to network with recruiters and alumni or apply for summer internships when you live locally and can attend career events aimed at students. Accelerator and Google Campus, for example, are business incubators based in London which run events and provide office space for students and young entrepreneurs.

London graduates enjoy some of the highest-starting salaries in the country, with average payslips starting at £26,500 (US$37,900), according to the Association of Graduate Recruiters. According to the survey, graduates in investment banking and fund management were paid the highest: in average £38,250 (US$54,700) in their first job.

The high caliber of London's universities

Pictured above: London Business School

With 17 universities from London included in the QS World University Rankings 2018®, there’s no doubting the city is home to some of the best universities in the world. Among them, London Business School is ranked first in the world for its master’s degree in finance, second for its master’s degree in management and third overall for business and management studies.

A short walk from Regent’s Park, London Business School is only a few stops on the underground from the City, the capital’s financial district. They offer course modules in accounting, economics, finance, management science and operations, marketing, organizational behavior, strategy and entrepreneurship.

London’s pub scene

Image by Simon James on July 2009

From rowdy pub-quizzes to craft brews and slick decors, there’s a London pub to suit every taste. If you fancy a quiet pint, a roaring coal fire and stained glass windows, London is awash with great historical pubs, some dating back to the Middle Ages - all with a unique story to tell.

If you’re in the mood to explore every nook and cranny of a venerable London institution, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street is a great place to start. Initially built in 1538 only to be rebuilt after the great fire of London in 1667, it has vaulted cellars, interior wood paneling and a labyrinth of dimly-lit rooms.

Nearly half of London is made up of luscious green spaces  

Pictured above: view of the Shard from Regent’s Park

You’d be forgiven for assuming that big city-dwellers aren’t used to spending time in nature, but Londoners are proud of their parks. The amount of green space in London is mind-boggling (just under 50 percent of the city is green), and wherever you are in the capital, you’ll find at least one major park within walking distance

Among them, Regent’s Park is one of the loveliest picnic spots in London. This 395-acre slab of green has a lake with a choice of pedalos and row boats, an open-air theatre which operates in the summer months, a tennis and netball court, as well as football, rugby and lacrosse pitches.   

The British Library’s dizzying book tower

Pictured above: the British Library’s book tower  

London is home to a number of spectacular libraries with impressive book collections and stunning architecture, such as the Senate House, the National Art Library and the British Library, a gorgeous building which boasts the largest collection of books and recordings in the world.

The British Library has five floors available to the public, 11 reading rooms and rare items, such as Leonardo Da Vinci’s notebook, an original handwritten copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and the Magna Carta.

Borough Market’s street food

Pictured above: food stall in Borough Market

London has one of the best food scenes in the world - from Michelin restaurants and food institutions like The Ivy to Instagram-friendly street vendors, there is something to suit every taste and budget.

Situated next to London Bridge station, Borough Market has been around for a thousand years. It’s one of the oldest and most renowned food markets in Britain and sells fresh breads, cheeses, fruits, vegetables and meats, as well as street food inspired by recipes from around the world.

If you’re in the mood for world street food, head to the food stalls in Borough Market to feast for less than a tenner (US$14).

Sitting at the front of the top deck of a red bus

Pictured above: a double-decker bus in Knightsbridge

Which are the best seats on a double-decker? All Londoners tend to have an opinion of their own on this contentious subject, as you will no doubt discover, but the front seat on the top deck will give you a panoramic view of London and the thrill of being king/queen of the bus.

If you’re in the mood to get comfortable and watch London roll by, route 15 will take you to Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, St Paul’s, Waterloo Bridge and Trafalgar Square, all for the reasonable price of £1.50 (US$2).

One of the best live-music scenes in the world

Pictured above: Beyonce performing Crazy in Love in London at the O2 Arena in London

The capital’s music venues have played a part in launching some the most celebrated bands in history, from the Rolling Stones appearing at the Marquee Jazz Club in 1962 to Kate Bush appearing at the Half Moon in Putney.

Today, London caters to virtually every genre under the sun and hosts the hottest gigs and music festivals in the world. The world’s most famous bands continue to grace London stages, from Tame Impala who will be headlining Citadel Festival this year, to Beyoncé, who will be playing London this June.

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 94^th

You’ve probably seen Miami plenty of times in popular films, television shows and games, and maybe even been lucky enough to go on holiday here – but living and studying in Florida’s most populous and well-known city offers an experience you won’t be able to predict before you arrive here.

One of the most striking things about Miami is that it’s one of the most diverse cities in the US, with Cuban-Americans making up more than half of the population. The city’s large proportion of Spanish speakers has led to it being jokingly referred to as the capital of Latin America. It’s also been ranked among the cleanest and richest US cities, and gained another nickname, ‘Magic City’, due to its rapid growth over the last century.

With its year-round sunshine and attractive, skyscraper-rich cityscape, it’s no surprise that Miami scored highly for desirability in the Best Student Cities ranking this year (it’s ranked 44^th in the world). Beyond hanging out at its glorious sandy beaches, there’s a lot more you could do in your spare time here, such as seeing a show at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, checking out the Miami Seaquarium, or viewing the world’s largest collection of Art Deco architecture by taking a stroll down Ocean Drive in the Miami Beach area.

Miami also has a very active music scene, and attracts a large number of musicians, singers, actors, dancers, and orchestral players. The city is considered a hot spot for dance music, Miami bass (hip-hop) and freestyle. It also has one of the best nightlife scenes in the country, with nightclubs to suit almost anyone’s taste.

Miami climbed six places in this year’s Best Student Cities index, thanks to an improved score in the Student View indicator (up 21 places), with students consistently referring to the great culture, nightlife and weather in their comments in our student survey.

Are you studying in Miami? Share your thoughts in our survey.

Internationally ranked universities in Miami

More about Miami

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 83^rd

Known for its glorious weather (by UK standards), liberal, relaxed attitude, and unofficial title as LGBTQ capital of the UK, Brighton is a popular seaside resort which climbed nine places this year to rank 83^rd in the Best Student Cities index, earning its highest score for the Student Mix indicator at 26^th, with a large and diverse student population. Both of Brighton’s internationally ranked universities have a high proportion of international students, with 27 percent of the student population coming from outside the UK.

Brighton is located on the south coast of England, only an hour away from London by train (and half an hour away from Gatwick Airport), making it ideal for visits to the capital and beyond. It’s also one of the country’s most popular cities with tourists – especially when the weather’s good – attracting more than 11 million visitors in 2016.

Brighton is far more than a seaside resort, however, and hosts a vibrant and active cultural, music and arts scene, and a number of high-profile events every year, such as the Brighton Fringe Festival, the Brighton Festival (the largest arts festival in England) and Brighton Pride. For nature lovers, the South Downs national park is right on your doorstep too.

Whether you’re simply enjoying fish and chips on the seafront, shopping at The Lanes or partying in one of Brighton’s many nightclubs, you’re sure to enjoy yourself while studying in Brighton. The city climbed an impressive 22 spots in the Student View indicator this year, and was highly praised in our student survey, with one student pointing out its ‘vibrancy, independent shops and cafes, and homely feel’ as the best things about studying there.

Are you currently living and studying in sunny Brighton? Tell us what you think.

Internationally ranked universities in Brighton

More about Brighton

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

QS Best Student Cities ranking: Joint 95^th

Nagoya is the fourth-largest city in Japan and comes in at joint 95^th this year alongside Vilnius. Of the three Japanese cities to be featured, Nagoya scored the highest for affordability, ranking 26^th in the world for this indicator.

Located in the center of Japan on Honshu island, on the Pacific coast, Nagoya is one of the country’s major ports and economic centers, with a primary focus on the automobile industry (Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi are all based here). Other important industries in Nagoya include aviation, ceramics, retail and technology, and with recent growth in areas like materials engineering, it’s no surprise that more and more international students are choosing to stay and find work.

There are plenty of beautiful and historically significant attractions to explore in your spare time in Nagoya, including the 17^th century Nagoya Castle, the Atsuta Shrine (the second-most venerable shrine in the country), the Tokugawa Garden, the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and the Higashiyama Sky Tower. Nagoya also offers something for everyone in terms of nightlife, with British-style pubs, stylish cocktail bars, sports clubs and vibrant nightclubs to suit different tastes.

Nagoya is a reputable center for education and is home to two internationally ranked universities, including Nagoya University, which offers an increasing selection of English-taught courses. There are also specialized schools for medicine, music, art and technology.

Nagoya’s high score in the affordability category of the Best Student Cities ranking reflects the fact that living costs are considerably lower here than in Tokyo, with rent alone about 38 percent lower on average, according to Numbeo.

Are you currently studying in Nagoya? Tell us what you think.

Internationally ranked universities in Nagoya

More about Nagoya

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 79^th

Austria’s second-largest city and the capital of the state of Styria, Graz is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Central Europe, boasting an Old Town which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 due to its harmonious blend of old and new architectural styles from different historical periods.

Breath-taking views of the city can be had from the tree-clad Schlossberg (Castle Hill), which dominates the city center and has fortifications going back to at least the 10^th century. The city rises six places this year to rank 79^th in the world.

Graz has a strong tradition as an education center, with its population of 26,000 students making up around nine percent of the city’s overall population, giving it a relaxed student city feel.

Graz has warm, pleasant summers but particularly comes alive at Christmas, with a festive glow of lights and a myriad of Christmas markets alongside a life-size nativity scene made of ice and a nativity trail through the main landmarks and Advent locations in the city.

Graz is also well known for its excellent food, and it even earned the title ‘City of Culinary Delights’ in 2008. Slightly to the south, you’ll also find the noted wine-making region of Steirische Weinstraße, where you can stop at one of the many rustic restaurants to enjoy authentic local specialties such as the Brettljause, an assortment of cured meats, spreads, cheeses and pickles.

Graz scores fairly well for affordability, ranking 62^nd in the world. This is most likely because of the low cost of tuition (which costs an average of US$1500). However, Graz also has fairly high living costs, with students needing around $919 per month (according to Numbeo) – although you may need to factor in the cost of eating out often at its excellent restaurants.

The city earned high praise from its current students, who, commenting in our student survey, praised its “atmosphere, how pretty everything is and how the city is just the right size (not too small, so there's tons of things you can do; not too big, so you can easily get around)”.

Internationally ranked universities in Graz

More about Graz

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 80^th

The legislative capital and second-largest city in South Africa, Cape Town falls nine places this year to rank 80^th -- mainly due to the student view indicator, where Cape Town has dropped ten places since last year.

Study in Cape Town and you’ll be calling one of Africa’s most beautiful, historical and multicultural places home, enjoying a unique and dynamic study abroad experience in the process.

You’ll probably never get tired of seeing the majestic Table Mountain, Cape Town’s most famous landmark, dominating the horizon at 1,085m above sea level.

If you’ve got a taste for adventure, Cape Town is the student city for you: you can trek the heights of Table Mountain, explore wildlife reserves, hit the waves and go surfing, or (if you’re brave enough) even go cage-diving with great white sharks.

A variety of sports are also popular, such as cricket, association football, swimming, and rugby. Cape Town hosted matches during the FIFA World Cup in 2010, enhancing its profile as a major city for sporting events.

The city’s well known for its architectural heritage, with the highest density of ‘Cape Dutch’ style buildings in the world, as well as many striking modern buildings, such as the Cape Town International Convention Centre, earning it the title of World Design Capital in 2014.

Cape Town has a Mediterranean-style climate with wet winters (from June to August) and dry, warm summers, and the city boasts excellent beaches to enjoy during your spare time (with Clifton Beach highly regarded as one of the best in the world).

Along with all this, the city is home to a well-developed selection of public universities, so it’s unsurprising that so many international students choose to study in Cape Town, with one student telling our student survey that the best thing about studying here was “the wide variety of people that study here and of course being close to the beach” while another said “coming from a country that does not accept the LGBT community, it was great being in Cape Town as I was accepted by many and could be myself”.

Are you lucky enough to study in Cape Town? Tell us what you think.

Internationally ranked universities in Cape Town

More about Cape Town

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

QS Best Student Cities ranking: =60th

Part of the largest and most populous metropolitan area in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), located on the eastern coast of the Arabian peninsula, Dubai is well-known for its skyscraper-laden skylines (with the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, standing in Dubai at a whopping 828m).

However, this city also possesses a rich cultural heritage and diversity, two things which help it to score impressively for student mix in this year’s ranking (51^st).

There are more expats than Emirati nationals living in the UAE, and the area is no exception, with a hugely multicultural society made up of expats from a total of 200 nationalities around the world. A whopping 90 percent of the population is from outside the UAE, and although Arabic is the country’s official language, most people in Dubai speak English.

Dubai is well-known for its glorious weather and sandy beaches, luxury hotels and shopping malls, and is consistently rated highly for its quality of life (though unfortunately this does come with high costs of living).

This is a modern, safe metropolitan area with welcoming people who place importance on courtesy and hospitality. If you study in Dubai, it’s important to remember the UAE is a Muslim country and you should show respect for its culture and religion at all times, with different laws and customs to what you might be used to in your home country.

As well as the metro area's own universities, you can also study at a branch campus of international universities like the UK’s University of Birmingham, the US’ Rochester Institute of Technology and Canada’s University of Waterloo, which are based just outside the city at the Dubai International Academic City.

Dubai has also proved a hit with its students praising it in our student survey with comments such as “There’s a sense of belonging, this place is ready to welcome anyone” and “You get the best opportunity for higher education and to learn about multiple cultures”.  

Internationally ranked universities in Dubai

More about Dubai

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.