**This article is for the 2017 results. How did the results change in the 2019 index? Click here to find out.

This year’s QS Best Student Cities index includes a brand new Student View category, based on ratings from students and recent graduates. The results are in some ways surprising, suggesting that the most iconic and in-demand cities (think London, Paris, NYC…) do not necessarily live up to expectations, while lesser-known cities often make for happier students.

Between December 2016 and January 2017, more than 18,000 students and graduates rated their cities in eight categories: arts and culture, affordability, nightlife, employment opportunities, diversity, tolerance and inclusion, ease of getting around, and friendliness. They were also asked whether they would stay, or had stayed, in the city after graduating.

So, which are the top 10 student cities overall, as rated by students themselves?

1. Ottawa

When the survey ratings are combined, the highest overall score goes to Canadian capital Ottawa, which – with a population of around 1.2 million in its wider metropolitan area – is among the smallest cities featured in the index. Proving that the best things often come in small packages, Ottawa gets particularly strong ratings for friendliness and tolerance, as well as (less predictably) nightlife. Survey respondents commend its student-centered culture, multicultural and bilingual environment, and opportunities to gain experience in government as well as other sectors.

2. Prague

Next up, the capital of the Czech Republic, known for its attractive and historic architecture, thriving nightlife and low costs. Prague gets especially high ratings for arts and culture, ease of getting around, affordability and diversity. Students praise the city’s beauty, location in the heart of Europe, low living costs and wide range of things to do, see, eat and drink.

3. Shanghai

Firmly at the “big city” end of the spectrum, Shanghai is the second-largest city featured in the index (after Tokyo). Yet, while you might expect navigating this megalopolis to be the stuff of nightmares, Shanghai actually gets its strongest rating in the “ease of getting around” category, while also scoring well for nightlife, friendliness, and arts and culture. Respondents also praise the city’s cuisine, opportunities to meet people from many backgrounds, and the buzz of studying in a city with international opportunities and influence.

=4. Brno

Back to the Czech Republic, Brno is considerably less well-known than Prague, but it’s almost on a par with the capital in delivering a great student experience. The city gets extremely strong ratings for tolerance and inclusivity, and ease of getting around, while also scoring very well for both affordability and nightlife. Respondents praised the attractiveness of the city, as well as the large and friendly student community.

=4. Montréal

Also fourth in the student vote, Montréal is actually #1 overall in the QS Best Student Cities this year – taking the lead once the Student View category is combined with five others. As Canada’s “cultural capital”, it unsurprisingly gets one of the highest ratings for arts and culture, while also scoring well for friendliness, affordability and diversity. Survey respondents praise the wide range of activities in the city, multicultural and welcoming environment, and thriving student scene – with the popular fast food dish poutine also getting a mention!

=4. Nottingham

The UK’s strongest all-round performer in the student survey is Nottingham. Gaining a particularly high score for tolerance and inclusion, Nottingham also ranks well for ease of getting around, arts and culture and friendliness. Survey respondents praise its student-focused “college-town feel”, green spaces, nightlife, and comparative affordability in the UK context.

7. Boston

Leading the US both in the overall QS Best Student Cities index and in the Student View category, Boston is a medium-sized city (population around 4.6 million) combining the best aspects of big city life with a small-town feel. Its top score is for friendliness, followed by strong ratings for ease of getting around and arts and culture. Respondents highlight its relaxed and welcoming feel, attractive surroundings, and leading academic environment.

=8. Seoul

The South Korean capital has this year climbed six places in the QS Best Student Cities index, placing fourth overall. Known as a 24/7 kind of city, it perhaps unsurprisingly gets its strongest rating for nightlife, while also scoring well for ease of getting round and arts and culture. Respondents praise the city for its diversity of activities and opportunities, while also emphasizing safety and convenience. Seoul also claims the strongest overall score in the “staying after graduation” category, with a high percentage of respondents saying they planned to stay on after their studies, or had already done so.

=8. Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe (Keihanshin)

Though Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe are separate cities in their own right, their combined metropolitan area – equivalent to the world’s 16^th largest economy – is known under the collective term Keihanshin. With a combined population of more than 19 million, these sister cities get their strongest rating for arts and culture, followed by ease of getting around and tolerance. Students praise the balance of urban life and beautiful natural surrounds, relishing opportunities to explore the area’s rich history and traditions while enjoying a modern student lifestyle.

10. Taipei

Taiwan’s capital gets its strongest score for friendliness, with an almost equally high rating for affordability. In fact, it claims the strongest student rating in the index for affordability – a category in which students are, unsurprisingly, particularly reluctant to award high scores! Students are also full of praise for its convenient transport system, cheap and delicious food, and friendly locals.

A special mention also goes to:

• Riyadh – highest-rated for employment opportunities;
• Vienna – top for arts and culture;
• Canberra – the friendliest city according to students;
• Brisbane – the number one student city for diversity;
• Nanjing – highest-rated for tolerance and inclusion;
• Oslo – number one for ease of getting around.

Want to rate your own student city? Complete our short survey, and help create next year’s edition of the QS Best Student Cities index.

每年出版的QS最佳留学生城市排名基于分为五个关键类别的不同指标指示了留学生的最佳城市目的地。截至2016年，这些类别包括：大学排名、学生组合、合意性、雇主活动和负担能力。
自2017年以来，根据对全球学生和应届毕业生的调查，QS最佳留学生城市还包括一个名为“学生观点”的类别。

要纳入考虑范围，每个城市的人口必须超过25万，并且至少有两所大学进入了最新的QS世界大学排名中。对于人口指标，尽可能使用大都市区。目前的计算表明，有125个城市符合考虑条件。

用于评估每一类别的指标概述如下。除非另有说明，此类指标在每一类别内的权重相等。在计算指数的总体顺序时，这六个类别的权重也相等。

编制

通过对结果进行排序并从最大值中减去每个结果的秩，将每个指标转换成序数。在某些情况下，稍微重新设置基础数据，以确保权重的可比应用（即学费价值组成范围）。所得到的分数与上文所示的权重（它们是类别内的相对权重）组合，并拓展到本类别中的表现最佳城市，以给出每个类别最多100的得分，然后将其相加产生最终得分（理论最高分为600）。
最后的表格根据总分（最高分：100）列出，指示排名、分数、国家和城市名称，以及六个类别中每一个类别的得分（最高分：100）。

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酒店管理是目前最热门的行业之一!

从零废物酒店到物联网，这个行业正在从头开始现代化，因此，如果你想在这个竞争激烈和不断变化的行业中取得成功，你需要跟上所有最新的趋势，以保持相关性

请继续阅读我们列出的在2017年掀起行业风暴的七个趋势!

1.  精通技术的千禧年客户

根据埃森哲的预测，到2020年，千禧一代每年将享有4.1万亿美元的可支配收入......为了迎合千禧一代不断变化的需求和对技术的品味，酒店管理的领导者一直在重新构思他们的业务方式并投资于新技术......。

2.  共同生活

成人宿舍或城市居民的集体农庄，共同生活已被吹捧为千禧年租房者应对城市孤独的补救措施。随着公众对所有权观点的转变，越来越多的人愿意与其他数字游牧民族分享空间，如果这意味着他们可以在自己喜欢的地方远程生活和工作。

共同生活在所有预算中都是可扩展的--从为希望每晚支付50美元的千禧一代提供的PodShare等服务，到针对不太节俭的租房者的Roam等更大规模的共同生活空间......

3.  DIY旅行

根据eMarketer的数据，2014年有1.483亿次的在线预订，而65%的当日酒店预订是通过智能手机预订的!

与他们的父母不同，大多数千禧一代会发现委托当地旅行社来规划他们的旅行的想法是可笑的。更不用说，这完全是在浪费钱。千禧一代是自己动手的旅行者，渴望避免计划的压力和旅行社的骗局--像Hopper、Airbnb或Hostelworld这样的网站让他们在网上预订一切，甚至不需要打一个电话。

4.  IoT（物联网）

物联网，即IoT，涉及到将任何可以开关的设备（如水壶或火灾警报器）连接到互联网。为了削减成本，满足行业和旅客的期望，越来越多的酒店正在使用物联网来优化客人的体验，并避免潜在的安全隐患或能源浪费......相当酷，是吧？

5.  养生酒店

从森林深处的瑜伽疗程到专门提供素食菜肴，健康酒店，或感觉良好的酒店，正在全球范围内兴起。它们的诱惑力是什么？这是个机会，让你在一两个星期内脱去最基本的东西，学习心态和禅意，享受真正的放松休息。

6.  数据科学

大数据正在改变酒店管理的面貌。这个数据已经很丰富的行业每年都会捕获大量的数据。热衷于个性化的营销和服务，无论是在他们的宣传材料、在线报价还是与客人的互动中，酒店管理专业人员正越来越多地学习从他们巨大的数据集中汲取营养，以提高利润和客人的满意度!

7.  零浪费

由于有成千上万的被丢弃的单份果酱罐和微型沐浴露，酒店业每年产生数百万吨的废物。为了解决这个问题，新一轮的可持续 "零废物 "酒店正在世界各地建立。其中，迪拜的第一家零废物酒店 "可持续城市 "将于2017年开业，它将循环利用水资源，采用太阳能供电，甚至还设有一个有机农场。

你现在知道了酒店业需要注意的最新趋势，但你想知道如何在这个蓬勃发展的行业真正开始你的职业生涯？许多研究生课程可以帮助你在这一行业启动你的职业生涯......而里昂商学院和保罗-博古斯学院的国际酒店管理硕士双学位课程可能是最适合你的。

通过调整教学方法、实践商业项目、公司访问、在法国和中国开设的课程以及四到六个月的实习期，该课程旨在帮助你在雅高酒店、文华东方、丽思卡尔顿、HI Partners酒店投资、JVE咨询工程师、巴黎阿兰杜卡斯巧克力等公司提升你的职业生涯。

想知道今年的国际酒店管理硕士课程发生了什么？请查看该课程的Facebook页面，了解最新情况。学生们目前正在伦敦进行第二次实地考察，他们将在那里与行业的顶级代表会面，并参观关键的酒店管理环境。

在今天发布的第五版QS最佳留学城市指数中，蒙特利尔被评为世界上最适合国际学生的城市，结束了巴黎连续四年的榜首地位。

蒙特利尔是一个多元文化、双语城市，经常出现在世界上最宜居城市的名单中，最近还被评为年度智慧社区，加拿大的“文化之都”在最佳留学城市指数评估的全部六个类别中表现良好——包括新的学生观点部分。

这个新类别基于对学生和近期毕业生的调查，该调查在2016年12月和2017年1月收集了超过18,000份回应。蒙特利尔在学生观点指标中排名第五，特别在艺术和文化、友好度、多样性和可负担性方面获得高评价。

调查受访者赞扬该城市的多元文化、包容性、创意和以学生为中心的环境，同时也表扬其相对较低的生活成本。一位受访者评论道：“这座城市与学生共同生活/为学生而生”，其他人则强调了其“多样的机会”、“宽容的文化”和“北美与欧洲价值观的生动冲击”。

英国城市在脱欧担忧中显现希望之光

蒙特利尔的崛起呈现出加拿大整体趋势，今年有四个加拿大城市中的五个提升了排名。温哥华排名第10位，多伦多第11位，渥太华第26位，魁北克第72位。

同样地，德国城市也呈上升趋势 - 柏林升至第六位，慕尼黑升至第九位 - 得益于该国为所有本科生提供免费教育的政策。

尽管对脱欧影响的持续关注，该指数对英国也带来了好消息。部分原因归功于英镑价值下降，这意味着英国城市对国际学生来说更加实惠。伦敦上升两位，排名第三，而爱丁堡现在位于第18位，曼彻斯特并列第23位。

英国其他五个特色城市也都有所上升，而其他领先的欧洲目的地包括巴黎（现在第二位），苏黎世（第15位），维也纳（第16位）和巴塞罗那（第23位）。

亚洲最高排名的入围者首尔上升六位，排名第四位，其次是东京（第7位），香港（第11位）和新加坡（第14位）。

波士顿逆美国趋势，澳大利亚城市失去昔日优势

尽管许多美国城市今年因可负担性得分下降而失去地位，波士顿却逆趋势上升，排名上升五位，位于第八位。

这座城市的韧性部分归因于麻省理工学院 和哈佛大学位于邻近的剑桥，这些学校提升了其在大学排名类别中的高表现。但波士顿还在新的学生观点类别中获得了很高的评价，反映了学生对友好、艺术气息浓厚和轻松的小城镇生活方式的欣赏，这些超越了其大名鼎鼎的声誉。

美国的下一个代表城市纽约市上升一位，排名第19位，但其余10个美国城市今年都有所下降。

可负担性得分同样抑制了澳大利亚城市的表现，这些城市过去常常主导该指数。然而，尽管澳大利亚的所有七个参评城市今年都有所下降，墨尔本仍然稳居第五位，悉尼、布里斯班和堪培拉仍然位于前25名内。

融入学生的真实生活体验

作为一个针对国际学生的世界最佳城市目的地指数，QS最佳留学城市综合了20多个来源的信息，评估城市在六个类别：大学排名、学生组成、雇主活动、可取性、可负担性以及——2017年的新内容——学生观点。

新的学生观点类别基于在每个城市学习的学生和毕业生的评价。今年版的主要分析师Dasha Karzunina表示，这是完善指数的最后一块拼图：“学生的意见不仅增加了对每个城市学习生活的真实视角，验证了我们拥有的其他一些数据驱动的指标，而且还允许我们评估城市更多的定性方面 - 如其友好程度、包容性以及是否拥有良好的夜生活。”

该调查还要求受访者确定他们的“梦想留学城市”，这个问题的结果与一系列生活质量指标一起用来编制可取性类别。将最受欢迎的城市与学生对实际体验的评价相比较，显示出一些有趣的对比——看来世界上最具标志性和需求的目的地可能并不总能满足期望，而不太知名的城市通常能让学生最为满意。

更详细地探索学生调查结果这里。

今年，该指数扩展到包括总共100个留学城市（之前为75个）。那么，你还在等什么？快来看看你的城市是否上榜吧！

Originally from Nigeria, Bosede Oyegbami completed her medical degree at Russia’s RUDN University, and is now a practicing GP in the UK. While noting that much has changed since she arrived in Moscow in the late 1990s, Bosede nonetheless has lots of useful advice for others considering studying medicine in Russia…

1. Be ready to work hard!

First things first. If you plan to study medicine in Russia, Bosede says, you need to be prepared to put in a lot of hard work. Medical degrees are extremely demanding the world over, and Bosede emphasizes that this is definitely the case in Russia. Ultimately, she says, a strong work ethic is the main attribute you’ll need to succeed – regardless of your background or experiences to date, this will get you through: “You just have to be willing to do the work.”

2. Make use of your university’s support services

While the work itself is challenging, other aspects of studying medicine in Russia don’t have to be. Make use of your university’s support services, and the process of enrolling and settling in should be fairly smooth. Having decided on RUDN University as one of the best in Russia for medicine, Bosede says everything “fell into place” very quickly, and recalls that the application process was very easy.

She also says many Russian universities will have alumni networks you can connect with in your home country, to get some personal advice before you travel. She recalls that her university provided plenty of information beforehand, so she knew what to expect: “Even before you got there, you had phone calls about who would meet you at the airport, that kind of thing.”

3. Take the initiative for your own learning

Studying medicine in Russia is not just about working hard, Bosede says. It’s also about taking responsibility for your own learning. “You have to know what you want,” she advises. “You have to study before the class. Nobody is going to spoon-feed it to you.”

You may even have to decide when to take your exams, she says. In her program, students had the responsibility of asking their professors to test them on a particular topic when they felt ready – and all exams were verbal, not written. While this could initially be a daunting experience, Bosede says this student-driven approach ultimately meant each individual had the opportunity to excel: “You really got a chance to prove yourself.”

4. Immerse yourself in the language

While Russian universities now offer a growing number of programs taught entirely in English, when Bosede enrolled she faced the challenge of studying in Russian. During her first year at RUDN University, around half of her classes were dedicated to the Russian language, with the remainder focused on getting students up to speed in a range of basic science topics.

This foundation year helped her master both colloquial Russian and the specialized terminology needed in the medical field. Even for those studying a program taught in English, Bosede recommends making a real effort to learn Russian – which means taking a leap and getting outside of your comfort zone. “If you’re willing to immerse yourself in the culture and the language and practice – go out and learn it – you’ll be fine,” she says. “If you just stay in and expect your Russian to get better, well it’s not going to is it?”

5. Get the balance right

Based in Moscow, a city she says “never sleeps, it’s fantastic”, Bosede soon learned the importance of getting a good balance between studies and socializing. “There’s parties everywhere!” – which can mean it’s all too easy to get distracted from academic commitments. In fact, she recalls many occasions when she had to say no to social events, even though her friends from other courses were all going.

In the end, she believes, it’s possible to make the most of the city and student life, without compromising on your studies. “If you get the balance right with enjoying your party scene and your university scene, then you’ll be fine.” In short, learn to say “no” when you know you need to!

6. Pack the right clothes!

The conditions will vary depending on where you study in Russia, but in general you’ll need to be prepared for exceedingly low winter temperatures. While venturing outdoors in -30°C might sound pretty terrifying, Bosede says you’ll adapt sooner than you think. “You get used to it. After about minus 10, it doesn’t really matter how much colder it goes. I don’t think your body can tell.”

She adds that the university buildings, student accommodation and other parts of the city are very well heated, so as long as you invest in some sturdy outdoor clothing, you’ll be fine. “And then come summer, it’s boiling hot! Get ready for the extremes.”

7. Expect to get out what you put in

In summary, Bosede says, if you study medicine in Russia you should expect to get out as much as you put in. The more you take responsibility for your own learning and experience, the more you’ll develop and take away. “Expect not to be spoon-fed, expect to do the work, and you will grow!” She notes that the challenges encountered are all excellent preparation for future life and medical practice, helping students become more independent, self-motivated, organized and resilient.

In Bosede’s own case, she returned to work in Nigeria for several years, before moving to the UK to complete a master’s degree in public health at Cardiff University. She completed her training as a general practitioner (GP) last year, and is now working at a practice close to her home in Cardiff, a city she’s fallen in love with.

As you would expect, the path has not always been easy, but the strong work ethic Bosede embraced during her medical studies in Russia continues to serve her well. “You can’t moan about it,” she says, “You just have to buckle down and do the work.”

And, proving that she’s soaked up the musical rhythms of speech that characterize her new Welsh home, she concludes, “Good luck to everyone, isn’t it?”

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QS Best Student Cities ranking: 105^th

The capital of China’s Hubei province, Wuhan was formed in 1927 from the unification of three cities, Wuchang, Hankou, and Hanyang. It is now the most populous city in central China, home to over 19 million people in its total metropolitan area.  

One of China’s fastest-growing cities, Wuhan is a major industrial and commercial center, with significant industries in modern manufacturing, high-tech engineering, pharmacy and environmental protection. It’s also an important transport hub, with high-speed trains to other major Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Beijing.

In terms of sightseeing, many students will be keen to visit the traditional Yellow Crane Tower, which offers fantastic views of the cityscape from the top. Another must-see is the extensive Hubei Provincial Museum, home to over 200,000 historic and cultural artifacts dating back thousands of years. In terms of food, Wuhan is known for its seafood and xiaochi breakfast snacks, including hot dry noodles, savory donuts, and steamed dumplings, all easily found at street vendors.

Wuhan is something of a center of education and scientific research, with four scientific and technological development parks, as well as a range of enterprise incubators and research institutes. It also has one of China’s largest student populations. There are also some English-taught programs available, mainly at master’s level.

Are you one of the many students currently calling Wuhan home? Rate your experience.

Internationally ranked universities in Wuhan

More about Wuhan

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

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 98^th

The capital and largest city of Peru and home to around a third of the country’s population, Lima was founded in 1535 by Spanish colonialists and is now one of South America’s largest and most desirable cities.

Located in an idyllic setting on the west coast overlooking the southern Pacific Ocean, Lima boasts stunning white sand beaches, found at the northern and southern ends of the city and ideal for relaxing when taking a break from your studies.

Lima is a melting pot of cultures, languages and people, strongly influenced by other cultures as well as its interesting colonial and indigenous history. The city is full of fascinating contrasts between the traditional and modern, with the Historic Centre of Lima listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is where you’ll find a mix of colonial architecture, such as the Monastery of San Francisco.

In terms of culture, Lima has a vibrant and dynamic theater scene, from experimental theater to more traditional, classical shows. Also home to a range of sports venues, Lima will host the 2019 Pan American Games, a major international sporting event. And if you’re a foodie, Lima should be top on your list – it’s an ideal place to try out the best Peruvian food on offer, with the city known as ‘Gastronomical Capital of the Americas’.

Universities in Lima include the oldest continually operating institution in the Americas, the National University of San Marcos, founded in 1551 during the Spanish colonial rule.

The city received praise for its diversity, affordability and culture in our student survey, with one respondent saying: “Studying in Lima is an awesome experience because of the mixture of cultures and different points of view.”

Would Lima get your vote? Tell us why.

Internationally ranked universities in Lima

More about Lima

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

QS Best Student Cities ranking: Joint 97^th 

Located in northern France near the border with Belgium, Lille was formerly one of the main industrial centers in the country, but experienced difficulties following the decline of the coal, mining and textile industries. However, Lille has now reinvented itself as a picturesque cultural and commercial hub, and is arguably one of France’s most underrated cities.

A European Capital of Culture in 2004, Lille has a thriving modern art scene and is renowned for its food, with the thriving Marché de Wazemmes food market, delicious waffles and the popular moules-frites (mussels and fries) dish. As the latter may suggest, Lille has some Belgian influences, including Flemish-style architecture that is most clearly seen at the medieval Old Town, as well as Belgian beer and chocolate shops.

For those with the travel bug, Lille offers ample opportunities to travel to other major European cities such as London, Paris and Brussels, with the city acting as a crossroads in the European high-speed rail network.

Lille is a true student city with a large population of students, who gave it a positive review in our student survey. One respondent listed the many benefits of studying in Lille: “We can discover and benefit from its culture, enjoy terraces of restaurants of coffeehouse during summer, cultural animations, concerts, the old town.”

The city also offers lower living costs than Paris, particularly in terms of rent (which is 47% lower in Lille according to Numbeo), and if your French skills aren’t yet up to scratch, there are programs taught partially or fully in English (at master’s level), which you can find via Campus France’s search tool.

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Internationally ranked universities in Lille

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QS Best Student Cities ranking: 118^th

Kiev (or Kyiv) is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, and an important industrial, scientific, educational, and cultural center of Eastern Europe.

Kiev is known for its beautiful religious architecture, reflecting its heritage as a holy center for Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The Saint Sophia Cathedral and Kiev Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves), together listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, each feature gold-domed churches and are significant religious and historical sites. Kiev’s history goes back at least 1,400 years and it is now a city where old and new coexist, with a large range of museums (including a History of Toilets museum).

The city has changed significantly since Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, with new Western-style residential complexes, classy restaurants and modern nightclubs opening in the city center. As well as its noted architectural and historical landmarks, Kiev is considered one of the greenest cities in Europe, with two botanical gardens and various large and small parks.

Kiev also has a diverse cultural scene and nightlife, with an impressive range of theaters to suit all tastes, plus cinemas and exhibition centers. As one student, commenting in our student survey, told us: “It's a big city and you can find a lot of things to do here. As it's the capital of Ukraine, it's the center of cultural, sport and art events.”

Kiev is home to a large number of higher education institutions, including the second-highest ranked in Ukraine, Taras Schevchenko National University of Kyiv.

The city is ranked 20^th in the affordability category of the Best Student Cities index, with much lower living costs than many other European cities. English-taught courses are available, but you’ll still need to practice your Ukrainian in order to navigate daily life in the city!

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Internationally ranked universities in Kiev

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

QS Best Student Cities ranking: Joint 95^th

The capital and largest city of Lithuania, Vilnius is a charming and relatively small student city. It’s famed for its baroque and gothic architecture, which is especially noticeable in the medieval Old Town, one of the largest of its kind Europe (as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site), which is ideal for exploring during your spare time and taking in some of the history.

One of the Old Town’s main streets, Pilies Street, is among the most active and picturesque streets in the city, full of little shops, cafés, restaurants and interesting architecture, including the historically significant House of the Signatories, where the Act of Independence of Lithuania was signed in 1918.

Vilnius was the European Capital of Culture in 2009 alongside the Austrian city of Linz, and hosts a number of popular cultural events throughout the year, such as the Vilnius International Film Festival, Capital Days (performing arts festival) and the Vilnius Jazz Festival. Also, Vilnius University’s Faculty of Physics hosts the unique FiDi Physicist’s Day, actually one of the most outlandish days in the calendar, which features a giant mechanical dinosaur in its procession.

Vilnius has many universities, including Vilnius University, the country’s largest and the oldest in the Baltic states (founded in 1579). A popular student city, when asked (via our student survey) what the best thing was about Vilnius, one student cited “cheap food and the city is growing really fast so there are a lot of opportunities” while another praised it for being “cheap to live, with a beautiful old town and a traditional university”.

Vilnius does indeed have fairly low costs of living, especially compared to other European capitals and tuition fees are fairly reasonable, helping to give it its best score in the affordability category. There are also opportunities to study in English.

Internationally ranked universities in Vilnius

More about Vilnius

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