UCAS predict an extra 400,000 students will need accommodation

UCAS predicts the UK student accommodation sector will have to house one million students by 2030.
The landscape of higher education is set to witness a substantial increase in applicants by the year 2030, with projections suggesting the possibility of up to one million applicants per year.
Research done by UCAS indicates that the UK could see a 30% increase in higher education applicants by 2030. Higher education institutes are already experiencing this increase of potential students with UCAS recently reporting that the number of undergraduate applicants for the January 2023 deadline is the second highest on record.
Projections made by Unite Students suggest a similar outcome, confirming that by 2030 there will be an additional 400,000 full-time students in need of some sort of student accommodation.
This surge can be attributed to several key factors that are driving the growing demand for higher education opportunities.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) forecasts a notable increase in the number of 18-year-olds in general by the year 2030. According to their projections, the 18-year-old cohort is expected to reach nearly 900,000 individuals, representing a substantial rise of 180,000 from the numbers recorded in 2020.
This demographic shift contributes to the projected increase in higher education applicants.
In addition to the domestic demographic changes, there is a continuous upward trend in the number of internationally mobile students seeking higher education.
Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reveals a significant increase in internationally mobile students, rising from 1.6 million in 2000 to 5.6 million in 2020. Predictions even suggest that this figure could reach as high as 9 million by 2030.
UCAS has conducted extensive research to estimate the potential growth in higher education applicants by 2030.
Their projections indicate that, relative to the applicant numbers in 2022, the most likely scenario anticipates a 30% increase in higher education applicants.
However, even the most pessimistic scenario predicts a growth rate of 19.5%, while the most optimistic scenario foresees an astonishing 41% increase in applicants.
How this increase in applicants will effect the student accommodation sector.
In response to the projections, UCAS, in partnership with Knight Frank and Unite Students, invited 50 key thinkers from across the UK as part of a national discussion on what the effects of this unprecedented increase might be on the accommodation market.
Sander Kristel, Chief Operating Officer at UCAS, said: “Accommodation plays a big part in student experience – and our surveys show its importance is increasing as a decision-making factor.
“The Journey to a Million applicants in 2030 presents a range of challenges and opportunities – with student accommodation one of the most high profile. Not only do we need to consider how we cater for the surge in demand from students, but also what happens when the 18-year-old population starts to decline after 2030."
Richard Smith, Chief Executive at Unite Students, said: “The UK has long been an attractive choice for domestic and international students. Now demand is set to rise even further adding to the UK’s shortfall of high-quality, affordable student accommodation. Purpose-built student accommodation providers, including Unite Students, have a valuable role to play alongside university partners to help meet this challenge, but action is required now to plan for this expected growth. PBSA is not just about providing a bed to sleep in. High-quality accommodation built specifically with students in mind has a range of positive impacts on those who live there, from improved mental health to greater success and, we believe, better degree outcomes.”
Neil Armstrong, Joint Head of Student Property at Knight Frank “As UCAS kicks off this important debate, we are proud to be invited to join the conversation in partnership with Unite. It is critical that, as we near the huge milestone of having one million student applicants by 2030, we plan ahead for the strain this will inevitably put on the need and demand for student housing. In many popular university towns and cities, the availability of student accommodation is far outweighed by the number of students searching for a place to live. The planning, development and delivery of purpose-built student accommodation takes time, which puts a greater urgency on the need to adequately plan for the expected future growth of the UK’s student population.”
You can list your current properties to students at accommodationforstudents.com.