Introduction

Over the past decade, global higher education has experienced rapid internationalization, resulting in a significant rise in student mobility and a growing demand for affordable housing. The global student housing market is projected to expand from USD 12.72 billion in 2024 to USD 19.65 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.95 % [1]. This growth reflects the close interdependence between higher education expansion and urban housing dynamics, as increasing student numbers intensify competition for accommodation near universities, leading to higher rents and changing urban demographics.

Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) has emerged as a key segment within the global real estate industry, accounting for up to 45 % of student housing in countries like the UK, the US, and Australia [1]. These facilities provide secure, furnished, and well-located living environments, attracting substantial investments from institutional players such as Harrison Street and Greystar. Despite this progress, housing affordability continues to be one of the most critical challenges for students worldwide [2].

In the United Kingdom, the student housing market is strongly shaped by academic prestige. The QS World University Rankings 2025 have intensified competition for housing in top-tier academic cities such as London and Manchester. In 2023 alone, rents for ensuite student rooms in Manchester increased by 41 %, while London recorded a 25 % rise [3]. The growing interplay between university reputation and rental demand has made housing affordability a central issue in higher education policy discussions.

Similar dynamics are now emerging in developing countries, including Kazakhstan, where urbanization and student migration are accelerating. Major academic centers such as Almaty and Astana experience sharp seasonal rent surges each August–September as thousands of students move for the academic year. According to Kaztag (2023), housing prices increased by 20 % within a year, while rental costs rose by up to 30 % in urban areas [4]. The limited capacity of university dormitories forces most students to rent privately, which intensifies market pressure and further inflates rents [5.].

However, empirical research on the student-driven housing market in Kazakhstan remains scarce. Most studies focus on general urbanization trends rather than student-related impacts [6]. Survey data collected among students in Almaty and Astana reveal that 88.9 % prioritize proximity to their universities, 83.3 % notice annual rent increases tied to the academic calendar, and 83.3 % believe that poor housing conditions negatively affect their academic outcomes. These findings indicate that housing affordability is not merely an economic problem but also a social and educational concern.

Therefore, this research aims to analyze the impact of university students on housing affordability and rental price dynamics by combining global and local perspectives. The comparative analysis between the UK and Kazakhstan reveals both shared patterns and contextual differences, emphasizing how student mobility acts as a key driver of housing market fluctuations. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated urban planning, rent regulation during peak academic seasons, and the expansion of affordable PBSA infrastructure.

By integrating insights from developed and emerging contexts, this study contributes to the broader understanding of how higher education, real estate, and urban governance interact. The findings highlight the importance of collaborative strategies between universities, policymakers, and private investors to ensure sustainable, inclusive, and student-oriented housing systems that support both academic success and market stability.

Materials and Methods

This research employs a mixed-methods comparative approach that integrates both quantitative and qualitative data to examine how the presence of university students affects the housing market in major cities, particularly focusing on Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom.

The study aims to identify similarities and differences in how student housing demand influences rental prices, supply limitations, and affordability challenges across different socio-economic contexts. The quantitative component relies on primary survey data collected from students in Almaty and Astana, while the qualitative and secondary components draw on global sources such as AmberStudent (2025), Business Research Insights (2025), and Bouchrika (2025) [1–3].

A total of 40 university students from Almaty and Astana participated in the survey, with 5 additional semi-structured interviews conducted to provide qualitative depth. Participants were aged between 18–25 and represented multiple universities and academic fields.

All participation was voluntary and anonymous, adhering to ethical standards of social research (Creswell, 2012) [7].

Data Collection Methods:

(a) Quantitative Component

A structured online survey was distributed among students during the 2024–2025 academic year. The survey captured data on:

– Monthly rent expenditures;

– Preferred housing type (dormitory, shared apartment, private flat);

– Perception of rent fluctuations during academic months;

– The relationship between housing and academic performance.

Table 1 summarizes the demographic and financial background of the respondents.

Table 1

General Characteristics of Survey Participants (Kazakhstan Sample, n=40)

(Source: Author’s field survey, 2025)

(b) Qualitative Component. The semi-structured interviews provided insight into the subjective experiences of students facing rental challenges. Respondents described their motivations, difficulties, and perceptions of market fairness. For example, one respondent noted:

«Prices always rise in September; landlords know students have no choice. Finding something affordable near the university is nearly impossible».

Such testimonies helped identify psychological and socio-economic stress factors not captured by quantitative data.

(c) Secondary Data Sources. To broaden the comparative dimension, international data on student housing trends were reviewed. Reports such as AmberStudent (2025) and Business Research Insights (2025) revealed that the UK market experiences similar cyclical patterns, with rent increases of 10–15 % annually in cities like London, Manchester, and Glasgow due to student demand [1,2]. Table 2 provides a comparative summary of global and local patterns.

Table 2

Comparison of Student Housing Dynamics in the UK and Kazakhstan

(Sources: AmberStudent, 2025; Business Research Insights, 2025; Kaztag, 2023; Author’s survey)

Analytical Framework. Data analysis was conducted in three stages:

1. Descriptive analysis of survey results — identifying quantitative trends in student rent spending and housing choice.
2. Thematic coding of interview transcripts — revealing qualitative factors such as financial stress and location preferences.
3. Comparative analysis — aligning Kazakhstan’s findings with global data to evaluate structural and policy differences.

This three-level framework enables both contextual insight (Kazakhstan’s specific situation) and cross-national perspective (comparison with the UK and global standards).

Limitations. Despite the robustness of the mixed-methods design, some limitations exist. The Kazakhstan dataset covers only two major cities; smaller regional centers were excluded. Official open-access housing data remain limited, constraining quantitative comparison with foreign markets. Respondent self-reporting may introduce subjective bias, especially in perceived rent levels Nevertheless, combining multiple data sources provides a balanced and credible foundation for subsequent analysis.

Results and Discussion

Overview of Global Student Housing Market. Globally, the student housing market is shaped by the interaction of demand and supply, with university enrollment rates increasing sharply in leading academic destinations such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, France, and Australia [2]. Despite massive construction projects, demand consistently outpaces supply — a pattern evident across both developed and emerging economies.

In 2018 alone, global investment in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) reached $16 billion, with the US (57 %) and UK (27 %) leading the market [2]. The dominance of private capital buyers (66 %) and cross-border investors (40 %) indicates that student housing has become a lucrative but highly competitive asset class. Yet, this investment growth has not fully solved the affordability gap. For instance, only 24 % of students in the UK, 16 % in the Netherlands, and 11 % in Germany have access to PBSA, leaving the majority to depend on the volatile private rental market [1]. Regional Disparities and Student-to-Bed Ratios. One of the key indicators of housing affordability is the student-per-bed ratio — the number of students competing for a single bed in purpose-built or rental housing.

Table 3

Regional Disparities and Student-to-Bed Ratios [2, 8]

This comparison clearly positions Kazakhstan among the countries with the largest mismatch between student population and available housing.

Despite global efforts to build new student housing, demand remains higher. Between 2013–2018, annual global PBSA supply ranged between 40,000–60,000 new beds, while university enrollment increased by over 2 million students per year [1]. In the United States, investment in student housing rose by 77 % over five years, reaching $10.9 billion in 2018, primarily driven by private equity funds. In Canada, transaction volumes increased from $180 million (2018) to $270 million (2019) [1].

However, affordability remains an issue:

– Only 29 % of investors are willing to invest in student housing, while most prefer more profitable sectors such as data centers (67 %) and healthcare (55 %).

In Spain, only 22 % of total demand is met, creating a severe housing shortage [1].

– These findings align with the Kazakhstan case, where dormitory shortages and inflation have similarly led to 20–30 % annual rent growth [4,9].

Table 4

Comparative table: global vs. Kazakhstan market dynamics

Compiled from AmberStudent, 2025; Kaztag, 2023; Author’s field data, 2025)

This table demonstrates that Kazakhstan’s student housing market mirrors global trends but faces greater volatility and lower institutional support. Survey results show that 83.3 % of Kazakh students experience a direct link between housing stress and academic performance. Overcrowded dormitories and inflated rents cause fatigue, poor concentration, and mental distress. Globally, similar patterns were reported by students in Australia and the Netherlands, where housing insecurity is linked to lower academic retention and satisfaction levels [3, 7].

Table 5

Cross-country impacts of housing costs on student life

(Sources: [2]; Author’s survey 2025; [8])

This evidence supports the argument that housing affordability is a crucial determinant of educational equality, and its absence exacerbates socio-economic divides.

In summary, the combined analysis of international and Kazakh data reveals that:

– Student housing demand is a global force driving rental inflation, particularly in university cities;

– Kazakhstan exhibits more severe seasonal fluctuations due to dormitory shortages and unregulated private rental markets;

– Investment levels in student housing are increasing globally but remain limited locally;

– Academic outcomes are directly affected by the affordability and stability of housing.

Thus, the Kazakh case exemplifies how global housing pressures manifest differently in emerging economies, where state intervention is weaker and private sector dynamics dominate.

Conclusion

The conducted research demonstrates that university student demand plays a crucial role in shaping housing affordability in both global and national contexts. In major international academic destinations such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, and Australia, the housing market has long experienced a mismatch between supply and demand. Although purpose-built student accommodations (PBSA) have grown significantly, their share still remains low, ranging from only 6 % to 24 % of total student housing [1]. Consequently, the rising number of students entering these cities every academic year triggers a temporary yet significant rental price surge, particularly in neighborhoods close to universities.

The same trend is observed in Kazakhstan’s largest cities—Almaty and Astana—where seasonal student inflows cause noticeable fluctuations in the rental market. Based on the survey and interviews conducted within this study, 83.3 % of students reported that landlords raise rents at the start of the academic year, while 88.9 % considered proximity to their university more important than affordability. This finding reveals that convenience and accessibility often outweigh financial constraints, leading to increased competition for housing near university campuses. As a result, students face rising rents, overcrowding, and emotional stress caused by limited housing choices.

The comparison between global and local patterns indicates that Kazakhstan’s housing market, though smaller in scale, reflects the same structural problems as in more developed economies: insufficient dormitory capacity, unregulated private rental prices, and lack of policy measures to protect students as a vulnerable group in the housing system. While some universities in Almaty have started building new dormitories, the overall number of available student accommodations remains far below actual demand [10].

Therefore, addressing student housing affordability requires a complex policy response. Among the proposed measures are:

– introducing temporary rent control mechanisms during peak academic months;

– expanding public–private partnerships for constructing affordable dormitories;

– offering housing subsidies or tax incentives for student-oriented property developers;

– promoting alternative housing models such as co-living and shared apartments;

– and improving student awareness of rental rights and financial planning.

In conclusion, the demand from university students is not merely a seasonal phenomenon but a recurring and predictable driver of urban housing inflation. For Kazakhstan, incorporating insights from international experience could help design sustainable solutions that balance student needs with broader urban development goals. Ensuring affordable, accessible, and safe housing for students is not only an economic challenge but also a social imperative for supporting equitable access to higher education.

References:

1. Business Research Insights. Student Housing Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, 2025–2033 [Electronic resource]. — 2025. — Available at: https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/market-reports/student-housing-market-102989 (accessed 17 Oct 2025).
2. Bouchrika I. 82 Student Housing Statistics: 2025 Data, Insights & Predictions [Electronic resource]. — Research.com, 2025. — Available at: https://research.com/education/student-housing-statistics (accessed 17 Oct 2025).
3. AmberStudent. The Impact of UK University Rankings on Student Housing Demand in 2025 [Electronic resource]. — AmberStudent Blog, 2025. — Available at: https://amberstudent.com/blog/post/the-impact-of-uk-university-rankings-on-student-housing-demand-in-2025 (accessed 18 Oct 2025).
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9. Leverage Edu. Cost of Living in Kazakhstan [Electronic resource]. — 2 Jul 2024. — Available at: https://leverageedu.com/learn/cost-of-living-in-kazakhstan/ (accessed 19 Oct 2025).
10. Baiterek Holding. Kazakhstan Sees a Dramatic Rise in Housing Prices: How to Keep Them Down [Electronic resource]. — 14 Oct 2021. — Available at: https://baiterek.gov.kz/en/pr/media/articlesandinterviews/kazakhstan-sees-a-dramatic-rise-in-housing-prices-how-to-keep-them-down/ (accessed 19 Oct 2025).