Amber's UK Student Housing Annual Report (2024-25)

The UK is one of the top destinations for international students pursuing both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, largely due to its prestigious universities, post-work visa policies, and quality of life. Additionally, international students contribute over £40 billion annually to the UK economy through tuition fees, living expenses, and other expenditures.

However, the country introduced a significant shift in its visa policies for international migration, particularly with the introduction of a cap on dependents starting 1st January 2024. This change led to a 30.44% drop in student visa applications, bringing the total to 430,500, including both main applicants and dependents.

Amber's UK Student Housing Annual Report (2024-25) offers a detailed analysis of policy changes, market trends, and emerging opportunities. It highlights dynamics related to international students from key source countries, top states, and universities, as well as the effects of recent visa policy changes.

The Top 200 University Rankings for 2024 & 2025 by QS reveal notable shifts in global higher education. London, Bristol, and Southampton have risen in rankings, boosting their appeal to both domestic and international students. Meanwhile, some of the Cambridge, Durham, and Newcastle, popular universities in 2024, have seen a significant decline in rankings in 2025.

‍

Key Highlights from Amber's UK Student Housing Annual Report (2024-25):

• Student Housing Bed Share: Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) makes up 25.2% of the bed share, while Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) account for 28.4%. Private Accommodations and Own Residences each represent 23%.
• Student Housing Development Pipeline: As of 2024, the UK has a pipeline of approximately 160,000 student beds, with 22% under construction. Despite this growth, the demand for student housing remains high, with a need for about 600,000 beds.
• International Student Enrolment: In 2023, the UK hosted 758,855 international students, with 12.6% from the EU and 87.4% from non-EU nations. Notably, Indian student enrolment surpassed that of Chinese students, reaching 173,190.
• Impact of Visa Policy Changes on Source Countries: The UK's recent dependent visa policy is expected to significantly reduce Nigerian student enrollments, due to a high dependent ratio. Indian enrolments have already seen a notable decline of 23%, while Chinese enrollments are likely to remain largely unaffected due to a low dependent ratio.
• UCAS Applications: UCAS data for the 2024 undergraduate application cycle provides a robust measure of demand for undergraduate courses. Domestic applicants in the 30+ category saw a decline of 6.36%, while international students dropped sharply by 58.7% in comparison to 2023.
• Launch Price Comparison: UK student housing launch prices rose due to stronger market demand and an earlier booking cycle, with cities like London and Manchester seeing notable increases. Overall, launch prices grew by 6-10%, while Leeds saw a decline in studio prices, reflecting shifts in student preferences.
• Student Budget: Rental trends show Indian and Nigerian students shifting towards lower rental brackets, in contrast to Chinese students, highlighting a clear preference gap.
• City-Wise Rental Trends: UK cities are seeing a mix of growth and stabilization, with London and Manchester experiencing significant price hikes followed by corrections, while others like Nottingham and Sheffield show slower growth due to increased supply and competition. The report covers these trends in detail.

About amber

Amber is a technology and data-driven company providing student housing solutions since 2016, to 500+ property management groups and operators across the UK, Australia, the US, Canada, Europe, and other major education destinations. We specialize in the international student market with a reach spanning over 160 origin countries, catering to a network of 80 million students globally. Amber strategically collaborates with partners to future-proof their businesses within an ever-evolving market landscape.

‍