Student Housing at the European Student Affairs Conference (ESAC) 2026
Housing was a key topic at ESAC 2026.
On the first day of the conference, during the session titled: Government responses to the student housing crisis, we discussed The EU Affordable Housing Plan and its aims to boost supply, mobilise investment, and bring about immediate support. At the same time, governments in Europe are investing billions on affordable housing. But how can we shape these initiatives, and how can we make sure that affordable student housing will be the result?
We delved into this question with perspectives from Germany, France, Italy, and Norway:
- Matthias Anbuhl: Lessons from the Federal Government's "Young Living" Programme in Germany
Over decades, the widening gap between increasing student numbers and stagnating capacity in affordable student housing has created a student housing crisis in Germany. Matthias Anbuhl presented the Federal Government's "Young Living" programme since 2023, which has provided €500 million per year for residence halls, rising to €1 billion from 2027. He interestingly pointed out that only around 10% of students live in Studierendenwerk (STW) accommodation, with an average rent of €318. While the number of students has risen by 50% since 2007, student housing has increased by only 7%. The presentation also highlighted the economic difficulties faced by the STWs, as well as the importance of unifying efforts and ensuring the continuation of public support.
- Sophie Roussel: Student housing in France – strategies for densification, renovation and construction
The public student service organisations in France, organised in the Crous network, are a pillar of the French government's plan to increase the capacity of residence halls by 100,000 new beds. Sophie Roussel shared that the Crous are rolling out national strategies for densification and renovation of existing residence halls, office buildings, and other properties, as well as new construction using a highly efficient and standardised approach. It was especially interesting to see that only 7% of students in France live in Crous residences, while 90% rely on the private market. Innovative solutions presented included densification, vertical expansion, sustainable construction, and user-centred design.
- Dr Daniele Maoddi: 60.000 new beds in Italian residence halls by 2027 – what is the road ahead?
Dr Daniele Maoddi presented the current campaign to construct and renovate student housing in the ANDISU network, using European economic recovery funds, and discussed the consequences for the public student services sector in Italy.
- Jakob Mæland & Sjur Selsvik: State Support and Student Success: Lessons from Norway's Student Housing Programme
This session explored how Norway's national investment programme for student housing strengthens student welfare, affordability, and equal access to higher education. Jakob Mæland & Sjur Selsvik outlined how public funding is structured, how projects are implemented in cooperation with student welfare organisations, and what impact they have on student welfare. Norwegian student welfare organisations serve around 280,000 students with approximately 40,000 housing units. The presentation also included examples of new student housing and student village projects, including renewal and refurbishment.
The next day, we delved further into the importance of housing as a key element of the social dimension of higher education, during the session Social Dimensions of Student Housing and on Campus.
We explored innovative examples of equity, access, and social inclusion in student housing operations through presentations from:
- Prof Dr Christoph Holtwisch: Preventing homelessness among international students through the work of student services organisations
Drawing on existing academic literature, this lecture explored the often-overlooked issue of (potential) student homelessness in Germany. It was informed both by practical experience and by a standardised online survey conducted by ARGE NRW in autumn 2025. With only 5–9% of students receiving student dorm rooms in NRW and occupancy rates of almost 99%, emergency accommodation remains limited. The presentation highlighted the unique challenges faced by international students and presented concrete recommendations for action.
- Marc Bruant: Student Residence for Academic Success : giving students every chance to succeed in their first year
Residence halls can be incubators for social cohesion and student success. This presentation focused on a national pilot project in France to improve students' quality of life and academic success through targeted support in residence halls. Marc Bruant presented the tutor and tutee systems that specifically support students who are eligible for needs-based study grants, come from disadvantaged urban or rural areas or French overseas territories, and female students in STEM fields.
- Ole Grönniger: What is happening behind the walls? Living and studying between arguing neighbours, psychological stress, and locked fridges – experiences from social work in residence halls
Adding a new perspective to the conversation as a social worker, Ole Grönniger explored the financial, social, and structural challenges experienced by students living in residence halls. Based on his work with Studierendenwerk Münster, which operates 23 residence halls, he shared that around 42% of international students live in dormitories in Germany. The presentation also highlighted that 16% of students have health issues, of whom 65% experience mental health issues, and shared initiatives like the tutor project and dorm councils to help address these challenges.
These sessions and the enthusiastic response they received from the 100+ conference participants in the student affairs and services sector across Europe showed that student housing remains a priority topic to be discussed when it comes to student welfare. In order to ensure social cohesion, student wellbeing, and academic success, the basic needs of students, such as housing, needs to remain accessible and affordable.