Seoul ranks 23rd out of 50 (almost midway) in the QS Best Student Cities ranking by Quacquarelli Symond.

The ranking is based on a complex set of measures taken from public information, surveys and data submitted as part of the QS World University Rankings, the results provide a new way of comparing the best cities around the world in which to be a student.

As per the website, Seoul is a a dizzying metropolis whose population exceeds those of London, Paris and New York. It is also an ancient historic capital in which gleaming skyscrapers and bustling shopping malls jostle for space with four UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the world’s oldest Confucian shrine. Seoul is also renowned for its nightlife, much of which is driven by its substantial student population. The Hongdae district around Hongik University is South Korea’s party central, with literally hundreds of bars, restaurants, boutiques and nightclubs.

Seoul is also one of Asia’s major centres of higher education excellence. Seoul National University is Korea’s top-ranked university and one of the global top 50, while ten of the city’s universities make the global top 300. Seoul therefore has one of the top scores in the rankings indicator, alongside a strong score for the reputation of its universities among employers, both domestically and throughout Asia – Seoul received a high 82 points out of 100 in the category of employer activity because many big conglomerates have their headquarters in Seoul.

Due in part to its intense population density Seoul scores lower than many other major capitals for quality of living, though its fast pace will appeal to some. It scores poorly with 50 points as Hongkong, Beijing and Taipei in terms of quality of living and affordability – high rent results in a low score for cost of living, but in terms of retail and consumer costs Seoul is actually very cheap.

A total of 10 universities are listed in the QS World University Rankings 2012 -

• Seoul National University (SNU)
• Korea University
• Yonsei University
• Kyung Hee University
• Sungkyunkwan University
• Hanyang University
• Ewha Womans University
• Sogang University
• Inha University
• Chung-Ang University