Prague named one of the world’s top 10 student cities

What makes a great university city? Every student’s experience is different, but most would agree that the friendliness of the local community, opportunities for entertainment and other activities, and affordability all play a big role.

A new global study by student portal The Campus Advisor assessed these elements and more, and found Prague to be one of the world’s top ten cities for students. The Czech capital ranked seventh overall, and third-highest in the European Union.

Prague had a final score of 4.40 out of 5, based on scores from 0 to 5 awarded across six assessment areas.

The Czech capital scored 4.70 for student friendliness, 4.61 for nightlife, 4.53 for public transport, 4.43 for safety, 4.22 for amenities, and 3.90 for cost of living.

“A super-safe, beautiful city, with great bars and cafes, many cultural options including museums and operas,” said one survey respondent. “Prague always has something fun to do and it is such a welcoming city! Also, the international community here is big! There are many people from all over the world. There’s also a great LGBTQ community!”

The highest-ranked EU cities were Vienna (fourth overall) and Berlin (sixth). According to The Campus Advisor, the top three cities in the world to study in are Melbourne, Australia; Newcastle, England; and Seoul, South Korea.

The study was created through a vote in which students from across the world rated their city across the six assessment areas. 12,164 students took part in the survey worldwide.

Some of the high scores attained by Prague will come as no surprise. The city is known as one of Central Europe’s nightlife hotspots, while good public transport connections and a high level of safety are often cited as some of the best things about living in the Czech capital.

Two of the results, though, might raise eyebrows. Prague’s relatively low score for cost of living is a little surprising, although inflation is driving up prices throughout the Czech economy and rental costs in the city are increasing. And the city’s very high score for friendliness contrasts with other studies among expats, which often cite unfriendliness from locals as one of the main negatives experienced by foreign students and residents in Prague.

Indeed, almost 50 percent of respondents to a recent Expats.cz survey on the good, the bad and the ugly of living in Prague described locals as either “quite unfriendly” or “very unfriendly.”

Yet for Czechs and foreigners alike, the student experience provides a specific snapshot of Prague life. There’s no doubt that with its history, culture, and livability, The Campus Advisor are right in naming Prague one of the world’s best cities for going to university.