Cairo Ranks First in Africa in QS Best Student Cities 2027

Cairo has ranked first in Africa and second in the Arab region in the QS Best Student Cities 2027 ranking, placing 75th globally with a composite score of 66.8.

The ranking evaluates higher-education destinations based on university quality, affordability, employer activity, student mix, desirability and student feedback. Cairo placed ahead of cities including Riyadh, Mexico City, Almaty, Dubai and Sharjah, while Cape Town ranked 87th and Mumbai 91st.

Within the Arab region, Amman ranked highest at 69th globally, ahead of Cairo. The Egyptian capital also trailed cities including Hsinchu, Philadelphia, Abu Dhabi and Lyon.

QS describes Cairo as one of the Middle East’s major higher-education hubs, home to institutions including Ain Shams University, Al-Azhar University and the American University in Cairo. The ranking also takes into account the city’s relative affordability compared with major university destinations in the United States and Britain, alongside its cultural and urban appeal.

Seoul topped the 2027 ranking, followed by Tokyo, London, Melbourne and Munich.