2022 Student Accommodation

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CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD

UK postgraduate numbers increased, in response to economic downturn. There has been a large increase in postgraduate student numbers, accounting for 40% of all growth over the last year (despite only accounting for 22% of student numbers). However, this growth is also a continuation of trends evident since the introduction of the postgraduate loan system in 2016/17, and the ongoing efforts from universities of all types to grow postgraduate numbers and research capabilities.

But there were uncertainties for the future scale of international postgraduate study. In particular, a 5.1% decrease in new international undergraduates is indicative of the difficulties and reluctance of some to study overseas; whilst a 6.6% increase in new international postgraduates is indicative of some taking advantage of the online learning and the visa waivers in place over this period to study in country.

Importantly, changes to reporting rules has masked the impact on the student accommodation sector. The latest data for 2020/21 is yet to fully reveal the impacts of COVID-19, particularly in relation to international student numbers. Due to uncertainties and delays in international arrivals that year, guidance was issued to providers which enabled them to report as normal where students were studying and living, due to the huge logistical challenges in reporting at the time. It is likely that large numbers of international students were studying online in their home country for 2020/21 and this has masked the number of arrivals in the UK, particularly affecting postgraduate students on one-year courses. Blended/ distance learning reporting also remained unaffected due to Government guidance which means that the official data does not fully record the impacts on students’ locations during the pandemic, and therefore the effect on the take up of student accommodation.

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