UK Student Housing 2025: Market Trends, Budget Insights & Stay Patterns

For students moving to the UK, finding affordable housing is now as competitive as getting into top universities, yet demand keeps rising. As the country continues to be a top choice for higher education, the need for high-quality accommodation is growing. As per Mordor Intelligence, the sector is expected to expand from £7.35 billion in 2025 to £9.59 billion by 2030, reflecting steady investment and confidence in UK student housing 2025-26.

While the supply has been rapidly increasing, with 17,500 beds projected for 2024-25, demand remains strong in key cities. However, as per the latest HESA data high-demand student cities like Glasgow, London, Bristol, etc. face a crunch of housing, with multiple students competing for each available bed.

With growing interest from investors and developers, student accommodation in the UK is in a booming phase. This blog talks about growth opportunities, untapped markets along with internal insights covered in amber’s UK Student Housing 2025 Annual Report.

UCAS 2024 Year-End Analysis: Emerging Markets in 2025

The latest UCAS 2024 year-end data highlights a surge in applications from several non-EU and EU markets, signaling strong international demand for UK universities. While traditional source countries like China, India, and the USA remain dominant, new regions are emerging as key prospects for UK student housing 2025.

Among non-EU markets, countries such as Kuwait, Turkey, Nepal, Indonesia, and Canada have shown significant growth in student applications. Kuwait leads with a 30.49% increase, followed closely by Turkey at 28.48%, indicating rising interest in UK undergrad education. Nepal, Indonesia, and Canada also recorded notable growth, suggesting increasing outbound student mobility from these regions.

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Similarly, within the EU market, Romania, Spain, and Ireland have emerged as growing source countries, with Romania seeing the highest increase at 3.42%. While overall EU application volumes remain lower compared to non-EU countries, these trends indicate pockets of opportunity for student recruitment.

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Long-Term Application Trends in Top Source Countries

Beyond these emerging markets, UCAS data also reveals shifts in long-term application trends. Over the past four years, India has seen a 64.65% increase in applications, making it a key market for future recruitment strategies. The US has also shown impressive growth at 38.24%, reflecting increasing transatlantic student mobility.

However, the decline in applications from Hong Kong (-18.55%) suggests potential challenges in retention and interest from this potentially strong source country. Meanwhile, Malaysia, with a 13.09% increase, remains a steady growth market.

What This Means for UK Student Housing 2025?

The 2024 UCAS undergraduate year-end data reveals critical geographic trends that demand attention. These insights are essential for shaping operational strategies for 2025, ensuring property management groups can leverage these global student mobility patterns in their favour.

• South Asia & the Middle East: India, Kuwait, and Nepal continue to drive strong demand, making them key markets.
• North America & Southeast Asia: Canada, Indonesia, and Malaysia show steady growth, signaling opportunities.
• European Trends: While Brexit led to a decline in EU applications, countries like Romania and Spain are showing renewed interest.
• Shifting Market Dynamics: The dip in Hong Kong applications could suggest a major change coming in.

How Student Budgets Affect Housing Choices

In the UK student housing 2025 trends, budget will play a key role in decision-making, and preferences vary widely based on nationality and financial priorities. Amber’s internal booking data highlights a clear divide between students seeking affordable housing and those opting for premium accommodations.

Who’s Looking For Budget-Friendly Housing? (£150 to £250)

For many students, affordability is the top priority. A large majority of domestic UK students (76%) choose accommodations in the £150 - £250 range, closely followed by Indian (71%) and Nigerian (86%) students. This trend reflects a strong demand for cost-effective housing options, particularly among students from regions where financial constraints play a significant role. The availability of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in key student cities also makes this price bracket more accessible.

Who’s Looking For High-End Stays? (£250 to £350+)

At the other end of the spectrum, students from China (56.8%) and Europe (68%) show a higher preference for accommodations in the £250 - £350+ range. For these students, decisions are often guided by university reputation, location, and perceived housing quality rather than just affordability. By comparison, fewer UK (23%), Indian (28%), and Nigerian (13%) students opt for this higher rent bracket, indicating higher accommodation budgets.

These insights showcase how student housing preferences are shaped not just by budget but also by lifestyle choices, cultural attitudes toward spending, and the availability of affordable options in different study destinations. As the demand for student accommodation continues to evolve, understanding these patterns helps providers offer a better mix of housing options to suit every budget.

Duration of Stay by Nationality

Beyond budget considerations, the duration of stay is another key factor shaping UK student accommodation 2025 preferences. Amber’s latest UK Student Housing Annual Report (2024-25) reveals that tenancy lengths vary significantly by nationality, influenced by academic schedules, visa policies, and financial planning.

Short-Term Stays (<30 Weeks):

Short-term stays are relatively uncommon but are preferred by some nationalities. Students from Pakistan (12.61%) and the United States (28.57%) show a higher tendency to book accommodations for less than 30 weeks. This could be due to:

• Short-term study programs such as exchange semesters.
• Internship or research-based courses that do not require a full-year stay.
• Flexibility in housing arrangements, as students may explore alternative options like co-living spaces.

Mid-Term Stays (30-50 Weeks):

Most students fall into the mid-term stay category (30-50 weeks), with 40-50 week contracts being the preferred option. Around 16% of bookings fall into the 30-40 week range, but the 40-50 week bracket dominates. Key nationalities that favor this range include:

• Indonesia (35.29%)
• Philippines (50%)
• UK (46.87%)

Long-Term Stays (50-60 Weeks):

Long-term stays, particularly within the 40–60 week range, have emerged as the preferred choice among students, indicating a growing trend toward securing flexible, extended accommodation durations, often combined with a good discount offer. Key nationalities that favor this range include:

• China (70.95%)
• India (70.22%)
• Thailand (83.02%)

Understanding Cancellation Risks in UK Student Housing 2025

Student accommodation providers often face challenges with last-minute cancellations. This may vary based on nationality, booking behaviors, and external factors like university policies and visa approvals. Data from amber’s platform covered in the UK Student Housing Annual Report (2024-25) highlights key trends in cancellation risks, offering insights that can help students and providers make informed decisions.

Early Bookers

Students from China, Ghana, Ireland, and Nigeria tend to book their accommodation well in advance. They often secure a place before their university admissions or visa approvals are confirmed. While early bookings help secure preferred locations, they also come with a higher risk of cancellation if plans change due to university rejections, visa delays, or policy shifts.

Late Bookers

In contrast, students from India and Pakistan typically wait until closer to their move-in dates before booking accommodation. This approach reduces the risk of cancellation, as they only commit once their university admission and visa status are confirmed. While this strategy offers more certainty, it can also limit housing options, as availability tends to decrease closer to the academic year.

External Factors Affecting Cancellations

Recent trends show that international student enrollments in the UK have declined significantly in 2024, with university deposits and acceptances dropping by 41%. Additionally, CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) fell by nearly one-third, affecting student mobility and accommodation decisions. Postgraduate students were impacted the most, with a 37% decline in CAS approvals, leading to higher uncertainty in housing demand.

Ever-Evolving UK Student Housing Industry

The UK student housing market is no longer just about supply meeting demand; it’s about understanding the students behind the numbers. With affordability becoming a key differentiator, emerging global markets reshaping occupancy trends, and cancellation risks challenging pre-leasing strategies, operators must rethink their approach to ensure sustained growth.

amber’s UK Student Housing Annual Report 2024-25 covers these shifts with in-depth data, exclusive market intelligence, and expert insights. These trends are more than just numbers, they are the medium to help walk the UK student housing 2025 with confidence.