Published annually, the QS Best Student Cities 2026 ranking showcases the best urban destinations for international students, based on a diverse range of indicators grouped into a selection of categories. Montréal has been ranked as the top student city in Canada! We came in second in the whole of North America, and no. 18 globally. With HelpfulProfessor.com voting us the best student city in the WORLD, it’s official: Montréal is a wonderful place to learn.
Let’s break it down
Using their fine-tuned methodology to determine what elements of city living are most important for students, QS looks at key factors like affordability, desirability, employer activity, and, above all else, the true student view of the city in which they study. We take our role as an international city of knowledge seriously, with four major universities — McGill (ranked as the 27th best university in the world), UQAM, Concordia, and Université de Montréal — and a vibrant, exciting student culture that plays an important part in the city’s social fabric. The city’s campuses are part of our bustling centre, and not off in another district and the rates of student satisfaction and desire to remain in Montréal after graduation are two of the highest in the world.
High praise for Montréal
Among the main factors behind Montréal’s high score, according to QS, Montréal receives high praise from students who have studied there, which places it 18th in the world overall and at the top spot in Canada. Montréal scores high for the quality of its universities, based on the most recent edition of the QS World University Rankings. Montréal is home to three universities in the University Rankings — including McGill, which cinched the top spot in Canada in the 2026 QS World University Rankings.
As the QS report states, Montréal “is celebrated by students for its arts and culture, as well as for its friendliness and diversity, which is likely not to come as a surprise. As a French-speaking city in a largely English-speaking nation that has experienced mass immigration from across the world, Montréal is known for its multicultural makeup and inclusive ethos. It’s also renowned for its laidback yet lively lifestyle, attractive boulevards, thriving creative industries, café culture, and eclectic range of arts venues, live performances and nightlife."
Top of the class
Montréal’s unbeatable je ne sais quoi, diversity, culture and quality of life all contribute to making sure every student’s experience in the city is unforgettable. Here are a few other areas in which Montréal stays at the top of the class:
- Montréal is a world leading hub a variety of industries, including life sciences and health technology, artificial intelligence and sustainable transport.
- Tuition fees in Montréal are the lowest in North America.
- Montréal places at the top of all sorts of international rankings, including classing among the world’s top 10 best cities according to Condé Nast Traveler.
- Full of innovators and world changers, Montréal is a hotspot of startups and creativity marking the city as the place to be both before and after graduation.
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