The British firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has published its annual ranking of the best cities for students, placing Buenos Aires at the top of Latin America within a list of 150 global destinations.
To create this ranking, QS evaluated indicators such as student perception, the quality of educational institutions, affordability, livability, job opportunities, and diversity, among other factors.
Eight Latin American cities are featured in the ranking, with Buenos Aires standing out as the best in the region. London ranks first globally for the sixth consecutive time, followed by Tokyo and Seoul. Munich and Melbourne complete the top five positions.
Buenos Aires: The Best City in Latin America to Study
Buenos Aires is ranked 42nd globally, eight places below last year, making it the first Latin American city on the list. Santiago de Chile follows in 47th place, while Mexico City (69), Bogotá (90), São Paulo (97), Monterrey (96), and Lima (112) are also on the list. Rio de Janeiro rounds out the regional presence in 138th place.
In response to these results, Jessica Turner, CEO of QS, expressed: “We are delighted to celebrate the continued success of Buenos Aires as Latin America’s best student city, a well-deserved recognition for its role as an epicenter of education, innovation, and culture.”
“As partners of universities, policymakers, and students, we provide evidence-based data on the benefits of international education for both students and countries,” Turner added.
Buenos Aires leads the student mix indicator, defined as a “diverse and eclectic student body.” The city ranks 52nd globally in this category, being the only Latin American city among the top 100. It also excels in the desirability indicator, standing out as a popular destination for study and living.
This indicator considered responses from student surveys and other data such as pollution levels, safety, TripAdvisor reviews, and corruption levels.
UBA: The Best University in Ibero-America
According to Quacquarelli Symonds, the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) ranked 71st in the QS World University Rankings, consolidating its position as the best in Argentina and Ibero-America, advancing 24 places compared to last year.
“The QS World University Ranking 2025 places UBA as the best university in Latin America, surpassing the Universidade de São Paulo and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM),” detailed the report by the British consultancy.
