Amber Beat Global Student Accommodation Market News - January 2026, Week 04

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Amber Beat is a weekly snapshot of the key developments in top student accommodation markets.  This newsletter provides you with all the information you need to know, from new upcoming projects to current trends, news affecting students to government policies, we’ve got you covered!

Amber Beat | News from January 22-January 28, 2026

United Kingdom

• UK universities see 10% drop in postgraduate enrolments as Indian student numbers fall 12%, while overall overseas students fall 6% and domestic numbers rise 1% (Source)
• UK’s refreshed international education strategy keeps focus on growing education exports to £40 billion by 2030 without setting new international student number targets, while calling for clearer policy direction for student‑focused recruitment (Source)
• UK’s top universities saw 42.5% of international students from China in 2024‑25, highlighting growing reliance amid broader recruitment challenges and market shifts (Source)
• UK universities report a 6 % drop in international student enrolments in 2024/25, with first‑year new non‑EU students down 5.5 % to 377,345 (Source)
• UK university international enrolments fell with Chinese down 5 %, Indian students down 12 %, and Nigerian students down 33 % in 2024‑25, while Pakistan and Nepal intakes grew (Source)
• UK’s proposed £925 international student levy could charge universities even for fee‑neutral exchange students, risking reduced exchange, outward mobility and language study opportunities (Source)
• EU migration to the UK shows net outflow; 28,000 EU‑domiciled students enrolled in 2024/25, 58% lower than pre‑free movement, now 8% of international students (Source)
• University of Birmingham offers up to £12,500 “Future Skills Scholarship” for Indian students starting full‑time master’s in September 2026; applications open until April 30, 2026 (Source)
• University of Oxford named world’s top university for computer science study in 2026, with Cambridge second in Times Higher Education global subject rankings (Source)
• UK student‑visa grants rose 4.5% to 426,300 in 2025, but purpose‑built student housing demand fell as late 2025 applications dropped 16.8% year‑on‑year (Source)
• Unite Group, UK’s largest student accommodation REIT, sees strong student housing demand but stock down ~11% over year amid tight rental market and high supply pressure (Source)
• UK PBSA value shifts to refurbishing existing stock, with 65% pre‑2012 buildings and £1.6 bn invested in H1 2025 meeting strong student accommodation demand (Source)
• Unite Group completes acquisition of Empiric Student Property, adding ~7,700 beds to a combined student housing portfolio of about 72,000 beds across 29 UK cities (Source)

United States of America

• Yale joins 47 US universities supporting Harvard’s federal appeal to protect international student visas and access to study in the United States (Source)
• Climate of fear and reputational concerns over U.S. political signals, beyond specific visa policy changes, is reshaping international students’ perception of studying in America (Source)
• Federal judge blocks Trump administration from retaliating against certain international students and academics over free-speech activism, offering legal protections for affiliated visa holders (Source)
• Harvard’s international student share hits 28% with 6,749 enrolled in 2025; China up 4.5%, South Korea up ~9%, India down over 30% amid visa clampdown (Source)
• US pause on immigrant visas for 75 countries could free up about 50,000 employment-based green cards in fiscal 2027, though it doesn’t affect student visas (Source)
• US foreign student enrolment falls 1.4% in Fall 2025, first drop in three years, driven by a ~6% graduate decline and ~5,000 fewer students (Source)
• Top 20 US universities offer international students average financial aid of about US $84,400 in 2024-25, over three times the US average of ~$25,100 (Source)
• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott orders freeze on new H-1B visa petitions at state agencies and public universities until May 31, 2027, requiring reporting on sponsored foreign workers (Source)
• Florida plans to freeze new H-1B hiring at public universities for about one year, barring fresh foreign worker recruitment until early 2027 while existing visa holders remain unaffected (Source)
• US universities report financial strain one year into Trump’s second term, facing funding cuts, visa uncertainty and operating deficits despite some policies being scaled back (Source)
• US Education Department forms AIM negotiated rulemaking committee to reform college accreditation system, simplify accreditor recognition and reduce costs while safeguarding student outcomes (Source)

Australia

• Australian international education looks set for more stability in 2026; Studymove predicts continuation of last year’s steady trends that produced 1% increase in commencements from international students (Source)
• Stakeholders of the opinion that change of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh as highest-risk student visa markets is largely procedural and will not affect student outcomes (Source)
• Australia’s rising living and tuition costs are straining international students, with about 30.7% skipping meals, nearly one in four unable to afford fresh produce, and some degrees costing over A$250K to A$850K+ (Source)
• Australia’s student visa refusals have surged, leaving many applicants in limbo and reluctant to return home, with tens of thousands refused and some holding bridging visas while they await appeal or alternative pathways (Source)
• Australia’s AFR Best Universities Ranking places the University of Melbourne #1, with top institutions ranked across teaching, research, equity, and career impact for student outcomes (Source)
• VCAT approves Panorama Investment’s revised Carlton student accommodation, cutting height from 29 to 17 storeys and beds from 510 to 324, overcoming council refusal (Source)
• Perth CBD plans a $170 million, 33-storey student apartment tower with 854 beds and virtually no parking, offering studios and communal facilities near ECU City campus (Source)

Canada

• Canada’s new student arrivals plunged 97% in late 2025 vs December 2023, as IRCC data shows just 2,485 permits issued vs 95,320, reflecting tighter policy impact (Source)
• Canada’s immigration shows strong 2025 momentum with IRCC finalising hundreds of thousands of permanent, study and work permits by November, reflecting ongoing active pathways for newcomers (Source)
• Education loan demand for the US and Canada has declined, as high costs and visa uncertainty prompt Indian students to defer or shift to alternative destinations in 2025 (Source)
• Canada remains a top 2026 study destination with 427K Indian students enrolled in 2024, flexible admissions, PGWP work options up to 3 years, and strong university reputation major drivers (Source)
• BPP unveils Lyceum Education Group, a new global parent brand uniting 11 specialist education businesses across the UK, Canada, Europe and Australia for 132,000 learners (Source)
• Canada boosts research and academic ties with Indian institutions to attract scholars and students amid growing US visa and higher-education challenges (Source)
• Heitman raises $2bn value-add fund targeting apartments and student housing, surpassing its $1.75bn goal and boosting capital deployment in residential real estate (Source)
• Nova Scotia universities risk funding after failing to meet 95% residence occupancy targets, as low student uptake leaves residences underfilled (Source)
• Toronto student housing boom, with 1K+ new residential units near major campuses, reshapes local hospitality demand and retail dynamics for student residents (Source)

Europe

• Ireland to offer 60 postgraduate scholarships with €10,000 stipend and full tuition waiver; applications open Jan 29-Mar 12 2026 for international students (Source)
• QS Europe Rankings 2026: University of Oxford rises to #1, ETH Zurich #2, Imperial/London College London tied #3 in Europe’s top university list (Source)
• Italy’s study appeal grows with ~110,000 foreign students in 2024 and rising English-taught programs, but low graduate retention and bureaucratic job/visa hurdles persist (Source)
• India-EU mobility pact to ease study/stay across 27 EU states for ~120,000 Indian students, with uncapped student movement and new legal support hub launched (Source)
• Germany’s job-linked study appeal grows with 420+ English Masters, affordable living (~€700–€900/mo), 18-month post-study work period and strong industry demand (Source)
• Greece sees record international student interest after legal change allowing foreign university branches; four approvals and five more under review to boost enrolments (Source)
• Spain housing crisis, 76% living-cost rise (2018-2023) and limited accommodation deter international students despite 161,384 enrolments and €6.3bn annual spend (Source)
• Ardian-Rockfield student housing venture adds ~1,500 beds via three France, Spain and Italy acquisitions, growing pan-European portfolio to ~6,000 beds (Source)
• Dublin approves Blackpitts student housing with 189 beds after cutting 28 from original 217-bed plan over visual/amenity concerns (Source)