Student residences are accelerating, but not at the pace Spain needs to respond to demand. The country is experiencing a notable growth in the development of new assets, driven by the increase in international students and the movement of young people to study in other regions of the country. According to a report by Savills, the year 2024 is expected to end with an increase of 9,000 beds, bringing the total to 116,000 places in approximately 876 residences nationwide, an increase of 8% compared to the previous year.
The distribution of new bedplaces shows a significant concentration in the main metropolitan areas, with more than 50% of the new beds located in Madrid (24.2%), Barcelona (14.1%), Seville (7.8%) and Granada (5.5%). By 2025 and 2026, 10,500 beds are expected to be added, with Barcelona leading the expansion with 3,700 new beds.
These residences not only offer accommodation but are evolving towards a model that enhances the student experience, incorporating facilities such as gyms, coworking spaces and leisure areas, responding to the needs of student communities in major university cities.
Despite this rapid development, Savills points to a persistent mismatch between supply and demand in the sector. The current ratio of available beds per student enrolled in on-campus universities is approximately 7.4%, or one bed for every 13 students.
In terms of investment, the student residence sector remains attractive, especially in cities with a shortage of rental housing. Investment in this segment is estimated to exceed €800 million by 2024, with a particular focus on major cities and, increasingly, provincial capitals such as Malaga, Murcia and Valencia, where investors are looking to diversify geographically and respond to different demographic profiles.
