Vancouver

Vancouver

QS Staff Writer

Updated July 15, 2025 Updated July 15

QS Best Student Cities ranking

Up by one place on last year, and continuing to claim a position in the top 20 of the QS Best Student Cities ranking, Vancouver is home to two universities which feature in the QS World University Rankings®, of which the highest-ranked is the University of British Columbia. Vancouver’s other ranked institution, Simon Fraser University, offers a particularly unique study setting, thanks to the location of its main campus in the middle of the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, just outside the city.

Whether you’re based in the city center or not, Vancouver has much to offer, claiming a very high position for the desirability indicator. The nearby Grouse, Seymour and Cypress mountains provide more than just a beautiful backdrop to the city – they’re also an incredibly popular destination for snowsports, offering some of the world’s best ski resorts.

Even in the center of Vancouver the great outdoors is never far away – beaches, forest and stunning mountains are all within easy reach. For those who prefer cultural pursuits, Vancouver also offers an array of brilliant nightlife, theatres and music – everything you’d expect from one of Canada’s most loved cities.

Would you choose Vancouver? Tell us why.

Internationally ranked universities in Vancouver

University of British ColumbiaSimon Fraser University

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

This article was originally published in November 2014 . It was last updated in July 2025

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