2022 Student Accommodation

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CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD

International STUDENT DEMAND

Verifying through Visas The best indicator of where international students were studying in 2020/21 is the student visa sponsor system. The number of sponsored visas issued in 2020 was down 21.8% on the figures seen in 2019 and is indicative of the significantly reduced number of international students entering the UK for 2020/21. The key Q3 period was particularly affected, with issuances down 35%.

International demand bouncing back Since this date numbers have recovered and grown significantly, with visa issuances in 2021 80.7% higher than 2020. The key Q3 period saw a 103.8% increase in issuances on 2020, with a number of providers insisting on international students returning to campus. Some of this increase was due to the post-Brexit immigration status of EU students, although this cohort only accounts for just over 5% of all issued sponsored visas. Despite the large overall increase, there are significant variances by country, indicative of ongoing COVID-19 concerns in some nations and the impacts of UK Government policy, particularly the graduate route post-study work visa. More focus on India Policy impacts and university international offices’ drives to diversify the international student population also have important impacts on demand for accommodation. Whilst Indian student visas in 2021 were 164.0% higher than in 2019, Chinese visas have only grown by 0.4% over the same period.

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