Student Accommodation

Global Student Accommodation Market to Reach ## by 2030

The global market for Student Accommodation estimated at ## in the year 2024, is expected to reach ## by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 0.0% over the analysis period 2024-2030.

Global Student Accommodation Market – Key Trends & Drivers Summarized

How Is the Internationalization of Education Reshaping Student Housing Demand?

The global student accommodation market is undergoing a seismic transformation, driven by the rapid internationalization of higher education. As more students travel across borders for tertiary studies, particularly to countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and increasingly parts of Europe and Asia-Pacific, demand for specialized, safe, and well-equipped student living spaces has skyrocketed. According to UNESCO, international student mobility is expected to cross 8 million by 2030, up from just 5.3 million in 2020, and this surge is fueling an equally robust demand for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). This accommodation trend is not just about a roof over the head—it encapsulates fully integrated living and learning environments with access to Wi-Fi, study lounges, security services, and communal engagement, mirroring university values. Institutional investors are increasingly drawn to this asset class due to its resilience and counter-cyclical nature, especially when compared to commercial or retail real estate. Public-private partnerships are also fostering the development of state-of-the-art student facilities, reducing the burden on universities and governments while ensuring quality infrastructure.

Can Sustainability and Smart Tech Really Influence Where Students Live?

Environmental sustainability and technology integration have emerged as two compelling differentiators in modern student accommodation choices. Today’s Gen Z and Gen Alpha cohorts are highly environmentally conscious, favoring accommodations with green certifications, energy-efficient systems, and reduced carbon footprints. Developers are responding with eco-friendly construction materials, solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and even zero-waste operational models. Moreover, smart technology is revolutionizing how student accommodations function—features like digital key access, smart thermostats, app-controlled laundry, and AI-powered maintenance requests are quickly becoming industry norms rather than luxury add-ons. These technological enhancements not only improve operational efficiency but also appeal strongly to students seeking comfort, connectivity, and control over their living environment. As cybersecurity concerns rise, robust digital safety infrastructures are being incorporated to protect personal data, adding yet another layer of trust and appeal to technologically forward student residences.

What Role Do Urban Migration Patterns and City Planning Play?

Urbanization trends and evolving city planning policies are significantly influencing the student accommodation landscape. As major cities grapple with housing shortages and escalating rent prices, dedicated student housing emerges as a vital strategy to relieve pressure on urban residential markets. In cities like London, Berlin, Melbourne, and Toronto, local governments are actively integrating student housing provisions into zoning regulations and development frameworks to ensure that the surge in student populations doesn’t destabilize general housing affordability. Transit-oriented development (TOD) models, which prioritize building accommodation near public transportation hubs and universities, are increasingly common, aligning housing with student commuting needs. Additionally, micro-living spaces are gaining popularity in urban centers where land scarcity drives creative and compact design solutions without compromising on quality. These evolving spatial dynamics are not only helping students access affordable housing closer to educational institutions but are also ensuring that cities remain inclusive and functional amidst demographic shifts.

Why Is This Market Surging? What’s Really Driving the Boom?

The growth in the student accommodation market is driven by several factors tied to evolving educational, technological, and demographic dynamics. Firstly, the consistent rise in tertiary enrollment rates globally, particularly in emerging economies like India, China, and Nigeria, is creating demand for more organized and scalable student living arrangements. Secondly, changing consumer behavior is notable—students and parents alike are increasingly prioritizing quality of life, community engagement, and academic support when selecting accommodations, pushing providers to innovate beyond basic lodging. Third, the rise of hybrid learning models and extended academic calendars is influencing demand for year-round housing options rather than just term-based rentals. Technological adoption is another powerful enabler, allowing developers and managers to personalize student experiences, reduce operational costs, and gain competitive differentiation. Investment capital is flowing steadily into the sector, particularly from pension funds and real estate investment trusts (REITs), encouraged by stable rental yields and low vacancy rates. Lastly, socio-political factors, such as visa policy liberalization and expanded international recruitment strategies by universities, are increasing the diversity and volume of student inflow, further energizing demand for structured accommodation solutions across both developed and emerging markets.

SCOPE OF STUDY:

The report analyzes the Student Accommodation market in terms of units by the following Segments, and Geographic Regions/Countries:

Segments:
Accommodation Type (Purpose-Built Student Accommodation, University-Managed Accommodation, Private Rental Accommodation, Others); Education Grade (Undergraduate Students, Postgraduate Students, Professional & Continuing Education Students)

Geographic Regions/Countries:
World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Select Competitors (Total 34 Featured) -

• Amber Student
• American Campus Communities (ACC)
• Aparto
• Asset Living
• BaseCamp Student
• Campus Living Villages
• CLV USA
• Collegiate AC
• CRM Students
• Downing Students
• Fresh Student Living
• Global Student Accommodation Group (GSA)
• Greystar
• Harrison Street
• Homes for Students
• Homversity
• Housr
• Nexo Residencias
• Scape
• Stanza Living
• Student Roost
• Student.com
• The Scion Group
• The Social Hub
• UniAcco
• Unite Students
• University Living
• Urbanest
• Vita Student
• Yugo

TARIFF IMPACT FACTOR

Our new release incorporates impact of tariffs on geographical markets as we predict a shift in competitiveness of companies based on HQ country, manufacturing base, exports and imports (finished goods and OEM). This intricate and multifaceted market reality will impact competitors by artificially increasing the COGS, reducing profitability, reconfiguring supply chains, amongst other micro and macro market dynamics.

We are diligently following expert opinions of leading Chief Economists (14,949), Think Tanks (62), Trade & Industry bodies (171) worldwide, as they assess impact and address new market realities for their ecosystems. Experts and economists from every major country are tracked for their opinions on tariffs and how they will impact their countries.

We expect this chaos to play out over the next 2-3 months and a new world order is established with more clarity. We are tracking these developments on a real time basis.

As we release this report, U.S. Trade Representatives are pushing their counterparts in 183 countries for an early closure to bilateral tariff negotiations. Most of the major trading partners also have initiated trade agreements with other key trading nations, outside of those in the works with the United States. We are tracking such secondary fallouts as supply chains shift.

To our valued clients, we say, we have your back. We will present a simplified market reassessment by incorporating these changes!

APRIL 2025: NEGOTIATION PHASE

Our April release addresses the impact of tariffs on the overall global market and presents market adjustments by geography. Our trajectories are based on historic data and evolving market impacting factors.

JULY 2025 FINAL TARIFF RESET

Complimentary Update: Our clients will also receive a complimentary update in July after a final reset is announced between nations. The final updated version incorporates clearly defined Tariff Impact Analyses.

Reciprocal and Bilateral Trade & Tariff Impact Analyses:

USA
CHINA
MEXICO
CANADA
EU
JAPAN
INDIA
176 OTHER COUNTRIES.

Leading Economists - Our knowledge base tracks 14,949 economists including a select group of most influential Chief Economists of nations, think tanks, trade and industry bodies, big enterprises, and domain experts who are sharing views on the fallout of this unprecedented paradigm shift in the global econometric landscape. Most of our 16,491+ reports have incorporated this two-stage release schedule based on milestones.

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