QS Best Student Cities ranking

Lausanne is the fourth-largest city in Switzerland by population, and is in one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. Located on the shores of the beautiful Lake Geneva and with the Jura Mountains to the north-west, Lausanne is certainly a scenic place to be a student.

Lausanne is a hub of international sport, home to the International Olympic Committee, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and around 55 other international sporting associations. Sporty students can enjoy watersports on nearby Lake Geneva, mountaineering and winter sports in the neighbouring mountains, as well as cycling, with popular routes taking you through local vineyards.

The city is also a cultural hotspot, with 46 buildings or sites listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance, including Lausanne Cathedral, the Casino de Montbenon, Olympic Museum and Fondation de l'Hermitage. There are also numerous museums with subjects ranging from art to zoology -- suffice to say, it'll be hard to get bored as a student in Lausanne!

Internationally ranked universities in Lausanne

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

Guangzhou is a brand-new addition to the QS Best Student Cities 2022 at joint 110^th.

The Chinese metropolis in the south of the country is an important industrial and trade location with the nickname ‘Factory of the World’.

Three universities in Guangzhou feature in the QS World University Rankings® 2022, the most notable of which is Sun Yat-sen University, which stands at 260^th in the world.

The size of a city can make a big difference on your study experience. Some students prefer the feel and pace of larger busy cities, while some may prefer a smaller and calmer feel. Guangzhou averages a population of about 13,302,000 residents and covers some 3843km2.

Are you studying in Guangzhou? Rate your experience.

Best universities in Guangzhou: QS Best Student Cities ranking: =110^th

More about Guangzhou

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

Leeds for students

Leeds is the largest city in the county of West Yorkshire, and is home to two top-ranking universities: University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University.

This year, Leeds earns its highest score in the student view indicator. This indicator is based on a student survey which collects responses from 85,000 students around the world. This high reflects a positive student experience, with students being likely to stay in the city after graduation.

Best universities in Leeds - QS Best Student Cities ranking

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

Seattle for students 

Located between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains, Seattle is a new entry in this year's QS Best Student Cities ranking, joining in joint 89th place. 

If you're a fan of coffee - it's where Starbucks originated, and Seattle's Best - then you'll definitely enjoy Seattle's mix of big brand cafés and independent coffee houses. 

Although Seattle has a reputation for its rainy climate, it's also where many of the great '90s films and TV shows were set, including Sleepless in Seattle, Singles, and Frasier.

Seattle has two ranked universities featuring in the QS World University Rankings 2022: University of Washington  and Seattle University.

Best universities in Seattle: QS Best Student Cities ranking: Joint 89th

More about Seattle

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

Kazan for students

A new entry in the QS Best Student Cities ranking, Kazan comes in at joint 102nd this year.

Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia. It has a population of approximately 1.2 million, of which nearly three percent are students.

The city has two universities featuring in the QS World University Rankings 2022: Kazan (Volga region) Federal University and Kazan National Research Technological University. 

Best universities in Kazan - QS Best Student Cities ranking: =102nd

More about Kazan

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

Durham is a brand-new addition to the QS Best Student Cities 2022.

Situated in gorgeous Northeast England, Durham is a region long-renowned for its natural beauty and rich heritage. The Northeast also has a lower cost of living and a fraction of the population of the Southeast. It’s no wonder why the north-east region is now one of the most popular study destinations in the UK.

Three universities in Durham feature in the QS World University Rankings® 2022, the most notable of which is Durham University, which stands at joint 82^nd in the world.

Are you studying in Durham? Rate your experience.

Best universities in Durham: QS Best Student Cities ranking: =80^th

More about Manchester

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

Leuven for students

Located in Belgium, in the heart of Western Europe, Leuven is one of Europe's oldest university towns. 

The city's beautiful old buildings such as the Gothic Town Hall and St Peter's Church, are situated alongside vast gardens and parks, such as the Kruidtuin Botanical Gardens. The Great Market Square (Grote Markt) in the city's centre is packed full of shops, cafés, museums and restaurants to enjoy.

Leuven is also home to Belgium's oldest school, KU Leuven. Leuven claims two universities in total in the world rankings, with Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) placing just behind KU Leuven.

Best universities in Leuven - QS Best Student Cities ranking

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

Released today, the QS Global EMBA Rankings 2021 reveal the top executive MBA programmes both globally and regionally, helping you find the perfect EMBA programme for you, wherever in the world you might like to study.

Let’s take a look at this year’s top 10 executive MBA programmes in North America and see how the best business schools in the region perform in this year’s EMBA rankings 2021.

What the schools say

As the top school in the US for its EMBA programme, there are a number of reasons as to why students choose the prestigious school. But what makes the programme appealing?

According to Wharton’s EMBA team, there are a number of things that make the programme unique – but there are four main takeaways:

1. Campuses in both Philadelphia and San Francisco, and second-year students can take classes on either or both coasts
2. Wharton embraces lifelong learning; EMBA students can return at any point in their career to audit most elective choices at no charge
3. The experience level of Wharton’s cohorts. EMBA students learn from highly experienced peers as well as from the faculty and coursework
4. The residential component and the diversity of Wharton’s cohorts provides a unique and supportive learning environment. Students from a wide range of backgrounds, industries, life experiences, and geographic areas immerse themselves in the programme together every other weekend, sharing different perspectives and creating tight-knit bonds that last for the rest of their lives.  

When asked what sets Wharton’s programme apart from the rest, Wharton’s EMBA team said: “Wharton EMBA students earn the full Wharton MBA. The programme mirrors Wharton’s full-time programme in terms of the number of credits, classroom hours, and faculty.

“In no way is it MBA light. The Wharton EMBA is one of the most robust and academically rigorous programmes with the largest selection of elective choices. Students have opportunities for hands-on experiential learning through week-long courses around the globe, leadership development, independent study projects, and individual career and executive coaching -- everything you would expect to find in a full-time MBA programme and more.” 

MIT Executive MBA Faculty Director, Georgia Perakis says the MIT Executive MBA not only connects a distinctive cohort of students with each other but also with distinguished, world-renowned faculty.

She said: “The programme is inherently mid-career focused, with a curriculum designed to highlight the science of management.

“Each of our courses features elements of applied learning, are data-driven, and connected to research all due to the programme being a part of the MIT ecosystem. The learnings will help students develop an edge in their management capabilities and build a network that lasts a lifetime.”

Why are EMBA programmes important today?

Taking that leap in executive education is one way to see participants progress up the career ladder to c-level positions should they wish. But why are EMBA programmes important today?

Perakis said: “In today’s fast changing organisations (for and non-profit) in the world, executives need to be flexible and be able to evolve.

“EMBA programmes offer the environment and education to help executives accomplish this. It provides the right tools to evolve and innovate either within or outside their own organisation.”

Wharton’s EMBA team echoed this sentiment, adding: “EMBA programmes are more important than ever. Employers are able to retain their employees while they gain new skills and knowledge. EMBA programmes enable employees to earn an MBA without disrupting their career progression or giving up their salary.

“This past year has taught us that we can’t control the world, but we can control how we deal with it. Preparing yourself to be ready to deal with uncertainty and change is a critical skill for leaders who want to make a bigger impact.”

Qualities business schools look out for

Each business school has its own set of prerequisites as to what they look for in its executive MBA students, and so it’s worth finding out just what the top schools are looking for.

Perakis said: “Aside from the qualifications listed on our website, the MIT Executive MBA looks for candidates who know how they’re going to have more of an impact in the programme and how they’ll use their learnings to make an impact after the programme. The candidates should want to challenge convention and challenge themselves.

“We look for candidates who are leading across multiple parts of their organisation with a history of work success. Candidates should be “do-ers” who are collaborative, data-driven, and embrace analytical thinking. Most importantly, we look for candidates who connect with our mission and ask themselves not why MIT is great, but why MIT is a fit for their career goals.”

Networking opportunities

The ability to network and meet new people to benefit your career are some of the most important elements associated with executive MBA programmes – with many students on the lookout for the programmes offering these opportunities.

Perakis says students in the MIT Executive MBA are firmly a part of the MIT and MIT Sloan community, with an endless number of opportunities at their fingertips.

She said: “Students are able to network with other Sloan students and faculty, access the renowned Martin Trust Centre for Entrepreneurship, and take advantage of executive coaching sessions. They can join clubs, be a part of the MIT Sloan Senate, and tap into a worldwide network of MIT Sloan alumni.

“Students are more limited by their time at MIT Sloan than by the opportunities available; that said, they are always a part of MIT and can continue building those networks as alumni when they don't have homework that competes.”

Wharton’s executive MBA team say remaining fully employed is a requirement of the programme, so internships are not available. They said: “As for networking, students have access to their classmates, their classmates’ networks, and the broader Wharton 100,000+ alumni community.

“There are continual opportunities to interact with those groups during class weekends and at alumni and networking events (i.e., speaker series, reunions, startup events, etc.).”