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REPORT

European Student Living Monitor 2024

Country Highlights

Explore the Country Highlights section to discover key facts and notable aspects that highlight each country's unique situation

Respondents by countries:

Finland

711

Netherlands

741

Denmark

416

Sweden

534

Ireland

616

Austria

972

Spain

2,703

Italy

372

Germany

752

Iceland

293

United Kingdom

4,819

Belgium

178

Poland

212

Portugal

128

France

315

Other

397

Finland

711

Netherlands

741

Denmark

416

Sweden

534

Ireland

616

Austria

972

Spain

2,703

Italy

372

Germany

752

Iceland

293

United Kingdom

4,819

Belgium

178

Poland

212

Portugal

128

France

315

Other

397

At the Country Level

The research at the country level suggests some powerful findings about accommodation types, services and facilities which have the most positive impact on students.

The findings from Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands are of particular interest as these countries report the most positive impact of living environment on well-being.

The countries where mental health was reported as the best are Germany, Austria and Italy. The countries where respondents felt the greatest impact from their living environment are Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal.

Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal are also the countries where respondents were most likely to recommend their accommodation

Country highlights

Explore country snapshots across Europe. For more in-depth reporting, visit our interactive open-source dashboard

What data did not reveal but students told us anyway

We asked the survey respondents to tell us in their own words how do their accommodation makes them feel. The following are certain areas and topics that we did not glean any notable findings from the quantitative data, but the student informed us about them in no uncertain terms.

The scores you see below are in response to the question: "Please rate the impact you believe your living environment has on your mental well-being,” with '0' representing a very negative impact and '10' representing a very positive impact."

Cleanliness

Unsurprisingly, cleanliness is a crucial factor.

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"For me, it is important that my apartment is clean and tidy so that I feel comfortable. A quiet atmosphere at night is also important to me." — Female, international, Germany, Wellbeing_NPS score: 7

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"A clean and friendly environment can easily change someone's perspective of the day and can even motivate them." — Female, domestic, UK, Wellbeing_NPS score: 9

Safety, Security and Peace

The feeling and assurance of being in a safe environment make a difference to many. Further, while students do enjoy the social aspect, we found that many want a place that is peaceful.

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"There have been many problems about security issues." — Female, international, Belgium, Wellbeing_NPS score: 1

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"The residence offers a safe and comfortable environment and contributes to my well-being." — Female, international, Spain, impact of accommodation on well-being score: 8

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"I have a peaceful environment at my accommodation which allows me to 'unplug' the switch of my everyday worries." — Male, domestic, Portugal, Wellbeing_NPS score: 9

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"It’s peaceful and serene. All of these are what I require in a place I want to relax, study, and reflect." — Male, international, UK, Wellbeing_NPS score: 10

Location

Students are a lot more relaxed and happier if their accommodation is well located relative to their university, amenities, and recreational options.

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"I’m a disabled person and live very far from campus, so socializing and attending classes is hard." — Non-binary, domestic, Iceland, Wellbeing_NPS score: 6

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"The fact that living in this building saves me 2 hours of travel time and turns it into 5 minutes has had a great impact on my mental health." — Female, domestic, Netherlands, Wellbeing_NPS score: 10

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"It’s one of the furthest accommodations from uni, and we are a few living out here, the farthest apart. It makes it harder to join social activities outside of the casual stuff." — Male, domestic, Denmark, Wellbeing_NPS score: 4

Nature and outdoors

Living experience of students is deeply impacted by having natural light in their rooms and easy access to green spaces.

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"There are also a lot of beautiful parks around the area which are nice to take a walk through whenever you feel not at ease." — Female, domestic, Sweden, Wellbeing_NPS score: 8

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"My room is very dark and there is no sunlight. I believe that because of this I sometimes feel low energy." — Male, international, Belgium, Wellbeing_NPS score: 4

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"I like the access to the beautiful terrace and the view from my window. My space makes me happy and I dread the day I have to leave." — Non-binary, international, Czech Republic, Wellbeing_NPS score: 8

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"I don't even have a window. No direct sunlight." — Female, international, Austria, Wellbeing_NPS score: 1

Privacy vs Communal Living

Among our survey respondents, many prefer to live alone as long as they have opportunities to socialize when they want to. For those in communal living, roommates tend to make or break their overall experience.

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"Having a studio with a kitchen gives me the option of being alone and, at the same time, being in a residence, being able to be with friends." — Female, domestic, Spain, Wellbeing_NPS score: 8

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"I am not on speaking terms with my roommate." — Male, domestic, Portugal, Wellbeing_NPS score: 3

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"Living alone gives me peace and my own space to process and live on my terms. It helps quite a lot." — Female, domestic, Germany, Wellbeing_NPS score: 8

Communal Kitchens

Communal kitchens are great for those who want to socialize and/or enjoy cooking. However, as they are a ‘core’ necessity, when not up to the mark (dirty and overcrowded), they can negatively impact the student experience.

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"I enjoy having a shared kitchen and meeting new people." — Female, international, Ireland, Wellbeing_NPS score: 9

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"The biggest pain-point for many students is the state of the kitchen. While I have been living here, the kitchen is shared with between 230 and 350 people, which is far too many to ensure equal access and hygienic standards. Very often, the kitchen surfaces are left in a deplorable state, as are the tables in the kitchen." — Male, international, Italy, Wellbeing_NPS score: 2

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"Community cooking allows me to explore my culinary skills." — Male, domestic, France, Wellbeing_NPS score: 10

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Join us on our journey

Interested in getting involved or curious to learn more? Please contact our Research Manager, Arunima Dey at arunima@theclassfoundation.com

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