Melbourne has cemented its position as Australia’s best student city after the release of global rankings on Tuesday.
The results, released on June 18 by global higher education specialist Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), ranked Melbourne as the world’s fifth-best student city and solidifies the city as Australia’s top destination for international students.
QS’s Best Student Cities index is based on affordability, quality of life, standard of universities and diversity. The index saw Victoria’s capital rise from third to first in the Student Mix indicator which assesses on-campus diversity, reflected in the state’s 287,000 international enrolments coming from around 175 countries to study in Victoria.
Melbourne also ranks second for Student View, an indicator based on student experience across eight categories: tolerance and inclusion, diversity, friendliness, transport, affordability, nightlife, employment opportunities, arts and culture, and sustainability.
Melbourne leads the nation in QS’ measure of employment and work experience opportunities, highlighting the city as a hub for jobs and industry, as well as the importance of international students to meet the state’s workforce demands.
QS chief executive Jessica Turner welcomed the results.
“We are delighted to celebrate Melbourne as one of the world’s top five best student cities—an achievement that underscores the strength of Australia’s international education and the importance of maintaining and advancing this success,” she said.
Minister for Economic Growth Tim Pallas said the government was not going to rest on its laurels.
“We will continue to invest in the international education sector, recognising its pivotal role in fostering economic growth through the diverse perspectives and innovative ideas brought by international students,” he said.
International education is Victoria’s biggest services export, generating $14.8 billion in revenue in 2023 and supporting 63,000 jobs.
