New Study Reveals What International Students Want in Housing

What amenities do international students really desire when it comes to housing? Are they willing to sacrifice privacy for affordability? Do they favour stylish studio apartments or functional multi-bedroom shares?
New market research study is challenging some long-held assumptions in the student accommodation sector.
The research, conducted by The Property Marketing Strategists (TPMS), surveyed international students from around the world to better understand their living priorities and preferences.
The findings upend certain industry myths and conventional wisdom.
One striking data point: While the purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) market in the UK has seen an explosion of fancy studio flats, just 12% of international students surveyed said they actually want to live alone.
The vast majority prefer sharing multi-bedroom housing in order to create community bonds and share amenities.
“We need to banish the studio demand myth; international students largely do not want to live alone,” said Sarah Canning, co-founder of TPMS. “In fact our research shows just 12% reported wanting a studio.”
Instead, over 50% of students said they want to live with three to four other people in multi-bedroom apartments or flats, even if it means sharing a kitchen and common areas.
However, there are limits to the sharing economy - 79% are reluctant to have a shared bathroom, a particular sticking point for African students.
The findings indicate that PBSA developers may need to rethink the emphasis on pricey studio units in favour of more affordable multi-bedroom configurations that allow for social connections while still providing personal space.
"PBSA is a numbers game. The sector has been booming, but because demand outstrips supply, developers are over-indexing on the type of product available," Canning said.
"As competition intensifies, diversity of offer is required – a range of different options including studios but also four-to-five bedroom apartments."
Affordability is also a critical factor.
A full 75% of international students surveyed said student housing is currently too expensive. And while 61% rely on family funds to pay for accommodations, a substantial number use loans or personal income, compounding cost pressures.
To ease the burden, 77% said they prefer housing with utilities included in the rent. Just over half want access to an in-unit washing machine. Small amenities, but ones that can make a big difference for students on tight budgets.
On contract length, 22% of international students favoured an annual 12-month lease, with even more – 32% of Asian students – preferring multi-year agreements to cover their entire degree program.
This appetite for stability stands in contrast to domestic assumptions around student mobility.
Canning argues the data highlights a need to re-evaluate biases and incorrect stereotypes about what international students truly want in their living situation.
"What has really surprised me is the fact that a third are willing to share a bedroom...which could be negated if only sharing with three other people," she said.
"What this tells me is that we really need to dismantle what we think we know about international students' needs and listen to them directly."
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