When we choose our dream university, cost, ranking, and how close or far from home the school is, are common factors to consider. However, for an LGBT student, the level of acceptance in the workplace is just as important. So we asked ourselves, what are the best cities for gay students?
Here's the list of cities that made our top 5. We chose cities that combine amazing nightlife and LGBT+ culture with the best universities, according to the QS World Universities Ranking.
In addition to being the city that gave us the word "gay" in its accepted meaning, the Big Apple plays an important role in the gay rights movement in the United States. Remember Stonewall? Now New York City combines the cosmopolitan vibe of a truly global city with the best of gay life.
With three universities in the top 50 - Cornell University, Columbia University, and New York University - there is no shortage of places to study. Studying at these universities is not easy so you can ask for essay assistance if you don't want to mess up your grades.
When it comes to equality and protection of the law, Taipei can vie with Bangkok for the title of the gay capital of Asia. Taiwan as a whole is years ahead of other countries in the region and may well become the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.
What's more, Taiwan's National University ranks an impressive 23rd in engineering majors and 68th overall. Studying abroad costs less than $7,000 a year, and English courses are no problem.
Buenos Aires can safely be called the gay capital of Latin America. As the 10th country in the world and the first in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage, Argentina has one of the highest support ratings for the LGBT community at 74%+. Combined with a relaxed attitude toward sexuality and a lack of serious security issues affecting its neighbors, this country may well be the place to go.
The University of Buenos Aires also ranks 11th in the region and 32nd in the world for modern languages. So get your dictionary ready... And don't forget your beachwear.
The Danish capital doesn't lose out on nightlife compared to the other cities on this list. To make up for it, there are plenty of cultures, avant-garde design, and hygge. Its LGBT+ reputation is also impressive - not only were the Danes the first in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 1989, but Copenhagen is also home to Europe's oldest gay bar, Centralhjørnet.
Did we mention that Denmark is the fashion capital of the world? Not surprisingly, it is home to some of the best educational institutions in the field. The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts was even ranked in the top 100 in these fields.
Berlin's history as the center of European gay culture dates back to the 1920s. It is now undeniably the gay capital of Europe. From the iconic Christopher Street Day to dark underground clubs like the legendary Berghain, there's something for everyone.
But don't worry, even with all these parties, you can still get a top-notch education. The German capital boasts a wide range of respected universities. Berlin's Humboldt University was even ranked among the top 50 places to study the humanities in the world. What's more, you don't even have to pay tuition fees.
In this century, being an LGBT student is no longer as scary and difficult as it was a few years ago. Renowned universities are ready to help such students and provide all kinds of support. By choosing one of the colleges above, you can have a great time as a student, become a member of the LGBT+ community at your institution, and advocate for human rights.