Mumbai: In the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Rankings for Best Student Cities 2024, Mumbai has emerged as the highest-ranked Indian city, securing the 118th position. Although this achievement marks a commendable milestone for Mumbai, it is worth noting that the city has experienced a drop of 15 spots compared to its ranking in the previous year. 

London has once again demonstrated its global prominence as the best city for students, achieving this remarkable feat for the fifth time in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Rankings for Best Student Cities. The UK capital's dominance in the rankings can be attributed to various compelling factors, foremost being its prestigious academic institutions, such as King's College London, renowned for attracting students from all corners of the world. The impressive performance of Asian cities is also evident in the rankings, with Tokyo and Seoul securing the second and third spots, respectively, showcasing the region's growing significance in delivering an outstanding student experience.

Over the span of a year, Mumbai has shown notable improvements in its QS Best Student Cities ranking. In 2023, the city achieved an overall score of 48.5, while in 2024, it made impressive progress with an overall score of 54.7. This indicates that the city has been actively working on enhancing its appeal to students and employers alike.

One area that witnessed significant growth was "Student Mix," with an increase from 10.6 in 2023 to 16.3 in 2024. This suggests that Mumbai has successfully attracted a more diverse and inclusive student community. While there has been progress in this area, it may be an aspect that requires further attention from the city's authorities.

Employer Activity also played a crucial role in boosting Mumbai's ranking. The city's score rose from 59.8 in 2023 to an impressive 63.3 in 2024, signifying that employers hold a positive perception of graduates produced by universities in Mumbai. This likely contributed to increased job opportunities and career prospects for young professionals in the city.

Moreover, the city's efforts in fostering a supportive and welcoming environment for students have been recognized, as evidenced by its "Desirability" score, which improved from 36.2 to 29.9. the city's "Student View" score showed a modest increase, rising from 39.8 in 2023 to 50.4 in 2024.

Furthermore, Mumbai has managed to maintain a strong position in terms of "Affordability," with a consistent score of 70.4 in 2024 and 61.2 in 2023. This indicates that while the cost of living might be manageable for students, it has remained relatively stable over the years.

In comparison to the other cities in India recognised by the ranking, Mumbai did better in the categories of affordability and desirability while it was outperformed by Delhi in the student mix, employer activity, and ranking categories. However, Mumbai managed to maintain the highest Indian QS best student city ranking. Mumbai's outperformance compared to other Indian cities can be attributed to its strong affordability, securing an impressive global ranking of 21 on this indicator.

QS stated that Indian cities exhibit promise across different indicators, but there is a shared responsibility to address the Desirability factor and concentrate on targeted improvements. By enhancing education quality, affordability, employment prospects, and overall city appeal, Indian cities can draw more international students and enhance their global reputation.

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