How accommodation underpins a high-quality student experience
As the education market further globalises, student accommodation will play a vital role in attracting both domestic and international students.
2 minutes to read
Where do international students come from?
China and India are forecast to account for 60% of global growth in outbound students between now and 2027, and they will also see the highest growth in domestic enrolments
As the quality of education improves around the world, the focus will be on, not just attracting this talent from around the world, but capturing and retaining domestic demand
Universities must continue to work to build the highest quality student experience. Student accommodation will play an increasingly important role
Higher education has become globalised. According to the OECD, the number of students studying outside of their home country has risen by 23% over the last five years, with the US, UK and Western Europe among the most popular destinations. The presence of top-ranked universities acts as a draw to this increasingly mobile student body.
At the same time, the landscape is shifting. Over the past three years the number of Asian institutions in the top 200 universities has increased by 47%, according to Times Higher Education data. For now, the US and UK still dominate the top spots, but Asian institutions have been climbing the rankings at a steady pace.
The questions for the future are: How much further does the trend have to go? What impact will it have on student flows around the world? And, what does it mean for investors and operators in the purpose-built student accommodation market?
Our Global Student Property Report 2019 looks to answer these questions by examining the key global trends driving growth in what is now a globally-recognised asset class – drawing on Knight Frank's global network of specialist student property and research teams.
International student flows
Students from China represent the single largest mobile student population globally, according to data from UNESCO. More than 800,000 Chinese students currently study outside of their home country, followed by India with 255,000 students.
The outflow of students from China and India has increased more than 20% in the last five years, contributing to a 31% overall increase in globally mobile students from Asia.
The US is the single largest destination for international students, attracting over 900,000 students from 76 countries. The UK is the second most popular destination, while countries within continental Europe as a whole (excluding the UK) host more than 30% of globally mobile students.