Azerbaijan's capital Baku has secured a place among the world's 100 best student cities, climbing 22 positions in the latest QS Best Student Cities 2026 ranking and emerging as the top destination for higher education in the South Caucasus.

Baku ranked 95th out of 150 cities, a significant improvement from last year, The Caspian Post reports via the Azerbaijani State Agency for Science and Higher Education.

The Azerbaijani capital shares the 95th position with Aberdeen (United Kingdom), Guangzhou (China), and Johannesburg (South Africa).

The ranking also places Baku ahead of several major cities in Central Asia. Astana ranked 119th, Bishkek 137th, and Tashkent 146th, making Baku the highest-ranked student city in the wider region.

The QS Best Student Cities ranking evaluates cities based on their attractiveness for higher education and student life. Key indicators include the global standing of local universities in the QS World University Rankings, graduate employability, safety, quality of life, affordability, cost of living, the number of international students, and feedback from students studying in each city.