Brisbane

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 22nd

With three major universities in a city of just over two million, this Australian metropolis has dropped one place in the QS Best Student Cities ranking this year, but still places well within the top 25 cities worldwide. The city boasts three leading universities featured in the QS World University Rankings® 2020, with the University of Queensland coming out on top, at 47th worldwide.

An up-and-coming city that has seen rapid growth in recent years following the Australian ‘resources boom’, Brisbane is the third-largest city in Australia and the largest economy between Sydney and Singapore. It’s also a popular tourist destination, due in part to its location by the Gold Coast, which features some of the world’s most famous beaches.

Like many Australian cities, Brisbane is a great setting for students seeking a balance between urban and outdoor lifestyles. Stunning beaches, a sunny climate and a sporting culture coexist with a cosmopolitan down-town area offering a trendy nightlife and arts scene.

This appealing environment is reflected in very high scores for both student mix and desirability, with its highest score being the desirability indicator, where it climbed by seven places to reach 25th worldwide.  On the other hand, as is the case for other Australian cities, high international tuition fees mean Brisbane has a relatively low score for affordability.

In the survey used to compile this year’s results, students praised Brisbane for its laid-back feel, friendly people and convenient public transport system – with the weather conditions also attracting favorable reviews!

Would Brisbane get your vote? Tell us why.

Internationally ranked universities in Brisbane

More about Brisbane

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