NEW DELHI: Mumbai and Delhi have posted impressive gains in QS Best Student Cities 2026 rankings , reinforcing India's growing profile in global higher education . Mumbai has re-entered the coveted global top 100, climbing 15 places to secure the 98th position, while Delhi advanced seven spots to 104th.
Delhi stood out in the affordability category, being ranked as most affordable student city in the world. Mumbai and Bengaluru also performed strongly on this parameter, being placed within the global top 15.
The QS ranking report noted that this is an indication of National Education Policy-2020's (NEP) focus on global engagement and student-centric learning. These gains reflect a strengthening momentum in India's education ecosystem, with its metropolises emerging as increasingly attractive destinations for both domestic and international students.
Four Indian metro cities - Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai - featured in the rankings and have improved their positions this year. Bengaluru saw the most dramatic leap, soaring 22 places to rank 108th, while Chennai moved up 12 spots to 128th.
In the employer activity indicator , Delhi and Mumbai broke into the world's top 50, underscoring the strong employment prospects for graduates from these cities. Bengaluru made a remarkable 41-place leap in this category to 59th, and Chennai advanced 29 spots, reflecting a growing global recognition of Indian graduates' skill set.
CEO of QS Jessica Turner said India's ascent in the rankings was "more than a statistical bump" and pointed to a deeper transformation. "As we approach the fifth anniversary of NEP-2020, its focus on global engagement, quality enhancement and student-centric learning is starting to bear fruit on the international stage," she said. "If this momentum continues, backed by reform and rising global visibility, we're likely to witness an even sharper upward trajectory before the decade is out," Turner said.
The QS Best Student Cities 2026 ranking assessed 150 cities worldwide. This year's edition highlights a notable shift in the global education landscape - Seoul displaced London to claim the top spot for the first time, while Tokyo held its second position. London, which had dominated the rankings for six consecutive years, slipped to third, largely due to a steep decline in affordability, where it dropped 11 places to rank 137th globally.
Where Indian cities scored low was in student mix indicator (number of international students, and how inclusive the city and country is), with Mumbai at the bottom (150), Bengaluru at 148, Chennai at 146 and Delhi at 147.
Asia's rise is equally striking in this edition. Alongside Seoul's triumph, Kuala Lumpur entered the global top 15 for the first time at 12th, while Beijing 13th and Taipei 14th achieved their highest-ever positions. Hong Kong also climbed five places to 17th.
Over the past decade, India has recorded a 390% increase in number of universities featured in QS World University Rankings. That upward trajectory is now mirrored at the city level, with Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai establishing themselves as globally connected and opportunity-rich destinations for students.
Delhi stood out in the affordability category, being ranked as most affordable student city in the world. Mumbai and Bengaluru also performed strongly on this parameter, being placed within the global top 15.
The QS ranking report noted that this is an indication of National Education Policy-2020's (NEP) focus on global engagement and student-centric learning. These gains reflect a strengthening momentum in India's education ecosystem, with its metropolises emerging as increasingly attractive destinations for both domestic and international students.
Four Indian metro cities - Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai - featured in the rankings and have improved their positions this year. Bengaluru saw the most dramatic leap, soaring 22 places to rank 108th, while Chennai moved up 12 spots to 128th.
In the employer activity indicator , Delhi and Mumbai broke into the world's top 50, underscoring the strong employment prospects for graduates from these cities. Bengaluru made a remarkable 41-place leap in this category to 59th, and Chennai advanced 29 spots, reflecting a growing global recognition of Indian graduates' skill set.
CEO of QS Jessica Turner said India's ascent in the rankings was "more than a statistical bump" and pointed to a deeper transformation. "As we approach the fifth anniversary of NEP-2020, its focus on global engagement, quality enhancement and student-centric learning is starting to bear fruit on the international stage," she said. "If this momentum continues, backed by reform and rising global visibility, we're likely to witness an even sharper upward trajectory before the decade is out," Turner said.
The QS Best Student Cities 2026 ranking assessed 150 cities worldwide. This year's edition highlights a notable shift in the global education landscape - Seoul displaced London to claim the top spot for the first time, while Tokyo held its second position. London, which had dominated the rankings for six consecutive years, slipped to third, largely due to a steep decline in affordability, where it dropped 11 places to rank 137th globally.
Where Indian cities scored low was in student mix indicator (number of international students, and how inclusive the city and country is), with Mumbai at the bottom (150), Bengaluru at 148, Chennai at 146 and Delhi at 147.
Asia's rise is equally striking in this edition. Alongside Seoul's triumph, Kuala Lumpur entered the global top 15 for the first time at 12th, while Beijing 13th and Taipei 14th achieved their highest-ever positions. Hong Kong also climbed five places to 17th.
Over the past decade, India has recorded a 390% increase in number of universities featured in QS World University Rankings. That upward trajectory is now mirrored at the city level, with Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai establishing themselves as globally connected and opportunity-rich destinations for students.
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