KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 -- Kuala Lumpur is now the 12th best city for students worldwide, according to the 2026 QS Best Student Cities Rankings released yesterday.

This is the city's highest-ever ranking since the index was introduced in 2014, and marks the first time KL has broken into the top 20 cities.

With an overall score of 90.3, KL is the second-highest Southeast Asian city on the list, just one spot below Singapore, which is ranked 11th.

In Asia, KL emerged in fourth place, overtaking major cities such as Beijing (13th), Taipei (14th) and Hong Kong (17th).

"This continuous ascent, having improved almost each year since 2016, underscores the city's dedicated efforts to establish itself as a premier global study destination," QS c...