PBSA revealed to be the best choice for students amid cost of living crisis: Knight Frank

August 16th 2022 - Posted by

As living costs for students in some areas of the UK balloon to £16,500 per year, the latest research released by Knight Frank reveals that this figure is set to increase in the coming months ahead of the sharp rises in rents, bills and utilities which are a result of the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The global property consultancy analysed the current difference in cost between an all-inclusive ensuite room within purpose-built student accommodation and a room in a shared house within the wider private rented sector marketed at students and found that PBSA could be the most cost-effective solution for students looking to avoid the ongoing cost of living crisis …

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Where London students will live in the next decade (and why the London Plan is failing them)

July 18th 2022 - Posted by

London is the epicentre of the United Kingdom’s, and arguably the world’s, higher education system generating £17 billion of goods and services in 2020 according to the CBI. With more than 50 universities, the capital is a popular destination for UK and international students, and home to four of the world’s top 50 universities.

In the 2020/21 academic year, there were an astonishing 370,000 full-time higher education students studying in London, which is around four times the 97,000 Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) beds available; a student-to-bed ratio that is almost tragically inadequate. Growth in full-time students from 2015/16 to 2020/21 was 80,000, equivalent to adding the University of Birmingham and Nottingham Trent University to the capital in just five years. HEPI’s 2020 report, Demand to 2035, foresees continuing significant student growth in London …

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The future of PBSA: its investment and growth opportunities

August 17th 2021 - Posted by

Today, in an ever more competitive market, the student experience provided by PBSA operators has never been more important. Modern students are increasingly mobile and concerned about quality in everything from safety and security to the environment. To meet these needs, new developments are being planned and constructed frequently across the world. The PBSA sector, therefore, provides fertile ground for a wide range of investors around the world. Here at Global Student Accommodation (GSA) we develop and manage student communities that every student feels part of. Our industry-leading nine pillar wellbeing strategy is central to this, supplementing our outstanding physical spaces with a supportive environment that allows students to thrive. We believe this is what sets us apart and is a large contributor to our commercial robustness …

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Students call for greater action on climate change

June 15th 2021 - Posted by

STUDENTS CALL FOR STRONGER ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE – INCLUDING CAMPUS BANS ON SINGLE-USE PLASTICS, FINES FOR PEERS AND ANNUAL LIMITS ON FLIGHTS

  • New research shows that students are more concerned about climate change than any other issue in 2021 – including COVID-19
  • Just 18% are happy with the UK government’s approach to the issue, despite pledge to set target to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035 into law earlier this year
  • Students are calling for strong action – a third would now like to see peers fined by universities for failing to live in an environmentally-friendly way on campus
  • Students also taking bold action in day-to-day life – 88% say they now limit air travel annually for environmental reasons
  • Concerns are also impacting career choices – a fifth would turn down a job with high salary if company’s climate change reputation was poor …

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The PBSA sector has proved resilient

December 10th 2020 - Posted by

The purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sector has faced a unique set of challenges over the last few months. Remaining fully operational through the pandemic and meeting the needs of students, while also dealing with intense public scrutiny, has been challenging.

The resilience shown by students and our employees has been impressive and according to recent Unite Students’ research, carried out in collaboration with Opinium, our efforts have paid off, with students still highly valuing university life …

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Agent perceptions of study abroad destinations changing as the pandemic continues

December 9th 2020 - Posted by
  • A recent survey shows that practical considerations have become more important to agents since the spring – specifically whether a country’s borders are open and whether a country has helpful visa policies enabling international students to study there
  • The UK improved the most in terms of how agents perceived it in September versus May
  • Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have lost some ground, while the US continues to be the least well perceived on a number of measures
  • ICEF research also suggests that a country’s border policies affecting international students will be a top determinant of agents’ recommendations to students in 2021 …

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