Bangalore

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 81st

The highest-ranked new entry in the Best Student Cities ranking this year, Bangalore (officially known as Bengaluru) is the capital of the state of Karnataka in southern India, and is one of the most modern and progressive cities in the country.

Bangalore is the third-largest city in India, home to more than 10 million people, and is known as the country’s tech hub, giving it the nickname ‘The Silicon Valley of India’. It’s a leading technology exporter, is a hotspot for start-ups, and is home to a number of highly reputed research institutions and universities, including the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Indian Institute of Management (Bangalore) (IIMB).

If you’re interested in studying in Bangalore, you’ll be pleased to learn that it’s one of the most affordable locations in the Best Student Cities index, coming seventh for the affordability indicator thanks to its low cost of living and tuition fees. According to Numbeo, a meal can cost as little as 150 rupees (~US$2.17), and a one-way ticket on public transport only costs 30 rupees (about 43 US cents).

In terms of unwinding after lectures, there’s plenty to sight-see in your spare time, including the beautiful Lalbagh Botanical Garden (which dates back to 1760), the majestic Bangalore Palace and the Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum, amongst many other museums, parks, temples and gardens.

Although there’s a local curfew on bars and nightclubs, Bangalore nonetheless has an exciting nightlife, with a highly concentration of pubs in the commercial business district and a thriving rock and roll music scene.

Would Bangalore get your vote? Tell us why.

Internationally ranked universities in Bangalore

More about Bangalore

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