Johannesburg – the best African city for students

This year’s Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Best Student Cities survey saw Johannesburg ranked 84th of 100 top cities to study in.

QS’s Student View indicator is based on the survey responses of 18 000 students worldwide.

Students were asked to name the city in which they would most like to study, their experience studying in a particular city and their intention to remain post-graduation. Johannesburg hasn’t previously appeared in the top 100.

10 reasons why Joburg is the best place to study:

• Affordability and quality of life – Johannesburg is one of the world’s cheapest cities for students in the QS survey, reflecting its status as one of Africa’s most affordable major cities. It ranks 11th globally for affordability.
• Vibrant social scene – No one can deny Johannesburg has an amazing social environment with everything from sophisticated bars, shebeens, shisanyamas and clubs, to laidback trendy markets and outdoor spots.
• Multitude of cultures – Johannesburg is home to a large number of residents from all over the world, with a cultural mix, including a China Town and an Indian market known as the Oriental Plaza. There are numerous cultural hubs to explore.
• Amazing parks and recreation – Johannesburg is surrounded by nature in every direction, from Hartbeespoort Dam and the Magaliesberg mountain range, to nature reserves like the Lion Park and the Cradle of Humankind.
• Strong support culture for foreign students and expats – Johannesburg has a strong expat network with foreign student support at many campuses. Monash South Africa, for example, has over 60 nationalities on campus and a strong student advisory centre offering internationally relevant degrees with support and assistance for students, new to South Africa.
• Strong urban regeneration – The CBD of our town has seen a surge in regeneration bringing with it strong African pride, interesting gathering spots merged with history and idiosyncratic elements, great for exploring with friends.
• Business opportunities and great networking – Johannesburg is at the heart of African business and studying in this hub will provide great networking, job training and internship opportunities.
• Friendly people – Johannesburg has some of the friendliest people, from your metered taxi driver to supermarket tellers, to lecturers and fellow students,
• Shopping and brands – Johannesburg hosts some of the largest and most highly regarded malls in Africa, from Clearwater Mall to Sandton City, Rosebank and The Mall of Africa.
• Good transport network – Although Johannesburg has limited public transport, the network is growing daily. The Gautrain connects many hubs and with Gautrain buses, ReaVaya, cycle paths and metro buses providing more links than ever.

Become a member of our WhatsApp community by sending your name & surname to 079 439 5345.