As The Class Foundation has continued to work with student housing providers across Europe for over a decade, we found the urgent need for data-driven insights to create a fair and transparent case for the right kind of housing for students. The European Student Living Monitor (SLM) research was launched across Europe in 2023 with the objective to understand exactly what kind of spaces and amenities really impact students, so that the sector can optimise their portfolios to enhance student experience and success.

The third edition of SLM analyses 20,000 responses from 2023-25, across key markets.

71% of respondents live in Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) and 16% in halls owned and run by universities. Thus, with over 17,000 responses (87%) from those living in student specific accommodations, this research provides data-informed evidence on how housing curated for students can play a critical role in shaping their living experience.

One of the key findings regarding student happiness is that it is strongly associated with a combination of well-designed and maintained spaces, an engaging community programme, and a location that well connected to the university campus and host city. The aspect of having choice also plays a key role in shaping student experience.  

The 2023-25 SLM data demonstrates that the student housing sector have taken on a significant societal role by creating vibrant communities and spaces that enhance the student experience.

Though PBSA has come a long way in giving students a home away from home, our data shows that special attention is needed for certain ‘non-traditional’ students. Vulnerable groups reporting comparatively poorer living experience are those who identify with having a disability, gender non-conforming, students unable to find the right kind of accommodation suited for their needs, and students with financial worries. These groups struggle more with loneliness and finding a sense of belonging. As a sector, our next step is to empower such students by providing them with the agency of choice, and the resources to find the right support. In this report, you will find through our 4 focus areas, Availability and Choice, Services and Facilities (Engagement for Wellbeing), Living and community, and Targeted Support, the following key aspects covered:

Identifying the services and facilities that have the greatest impact on student well-being

Strategies for providing better support to non-traditional students

Insight into the happiness index of students across different housing typologies

Policy recommendations for operators, investors, city leaders

Ultimately, the European Student Living Monitor is a powerful tool demonstrating social impact; the report is for investors and developers to justify certain builds and services provided. Further, SLM stands as an (evolving) blueprint of what constitutes as best practices for the next generation of living.