Over the past 18 months, The Class Foundation and its partners have been working to develop a National Action Framework, convening strategic discussions and establishing a unified student housing voice to inform and influence policy. Building on this momentum, the Spanish Forum will be held in the capital city of Madrid, bringing together public and private stakeholders to discuss the state of student living and align local and EU policy with institutional and investor priorities.

Join us for this exclusive forum, featuring curated site tours from the likes of Student Experience, investment and higher education data insights, interactive workshops, and an in-depth exploration of the newly established Spanish PBSA association, hosted by RESA and Yugo.

About the Event

Spain’s higher education sector is expanding and becoming increasingly international. In 2022/23, the country welcomed approximately 1.5 million students, including a rapidly growing international cohort. Yet this growth is outpacing housing supply. Spain faces a significant and widening shortage of high-quality, accessible student accommodation, with projections indicating that over 280,000 additional student beds may be required by 2030. This imbalance underscores the urgent need for coordinated action to protect student wellbeing, support academic success, and safeguard Spain’s competitiveness as a global study destination.

In line with this, the forum will be structured around The Class Foundation’s four strategic pillars for student living:

- Availability – expanding the supply of student housing

- Accessibility – improving affordability and inclusion

- Student Experience – enhancing wellbeing, services, and academic success

- Collaboration – strengthening coordination between public and private stakeholders

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The programme will feature four data-led insight sessions covering investment, legal and fiscal frameworks, higher education trends, and social impact, alongside an industry workshop and panel discussion where stakeholders will work together to identify shared challenges and co-create solutions. These sessions will be complemented by site tours of best-in-class student residences and curated networking opportunities.

Following the workshop, attendees will be presented with key findings from the 2023-25 European Student Living Monitor, with a dedicated focus on Spain. Drawing on insights from more than 2,700 student responses, the research highlights Spain as one of the top three countries in Europe for student happiness, while also identifying affordability pressures and uneven housing quality as critical risks; particularly in major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona.

Attendees will also gain a 360° perspective on the Spanish market, including:

- An overview of higher education and internationalisation trends

- An analysis of Spain's real estate and student housing landscape, highlighting supply gaps, rental pressures, and development constraints.

- Insight into the investment and policy conditions shaped by current legal and fiscal framework

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These four pillars will also inform the forum’s programme which includes thought-provoking discussions, interactive sessions, data insights and the sharing of best practices, on topics such as investment, legal and fiscal frameworks, higher education trends, social impact and challenges and solutions for the sector.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with sector leaders and help shape a shared agenda for the future of student living in Spain.

Smart Living Community Awards

This year, we are introducing the Smart Living Community Awards for the first time, recognising collaboration, leadership, and demonstrable ESG impact across the student living ecosystem.

The awards span four categories: Smart Cross-Sector Collaboration, Smart Sustainability Initiatives, Smart Social Impact Initiatives, and Smart Leader of the Year.

The programme will conclude with the Smart Living Celebration, featuring live presentations from shortlisted nominees and a real-time voting process with participation from investors and operators, who will select the initiatives that best demonstrate meaningful impact and sector leadership.

Interested in taking part and being recognised by industry leaders at the event? Apply via the link below.

Apply for the Awards