The current demand for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) across India totals more than 8 million bed spaces – a figure which is expected to grow at a rate of around 8% each year, to reach 13 million beds by 2025, according to the Global Student Property 2019 Report by Knight Frank. Around USD 100 million was invested into the Indian PBSA market in the year 2018. However, Knight Frank estimates the current potential demand for PBSA in the country to be approximately USD 50 billion.
“The Indian student population base is growing consistently. This growth, coupled with a push from the government to promote more enrolment for higher education, is a perfect recipe for the student accommodation market to flourish. The forecast is highly promising and is likely to offer investment opportunities in this alternate asset class, for domestic and international investors,” said Shishir Baijal, chairman and managing director, Knight Frank India.
As per the report, there are two major factors contributing towards reaching this target. India’s GDP growth has averaged more than 7% per year for the last decade and it is now the sixth-largest in the world. This rapid growth has fuelled the emergence of a burgeoning middle class population estimated to be growing at a rate of 25 million each year. Subsequently, this has resulted in increasing demand from businesses, for more highly educated workers who hold degree-level qualifications.
The second factor that will underpin growth of the higher education sector in India relates to demographics. India has the youngest population in the world, with some 18% of the 1.3 billion-strong population aged between 15 and 24.
The student housing market in India
- The number of Indian students currently studying outside the home country is approximately 2,55,000.
- The number of universities in India is recorded at 864 in 2017, as per the India Survey of Higher Education, Ministry of HRD.
- India has the youngest population in the world, with approximately 18% of the 1.3 billion-strong population aged between 15 and 24 years.
- By 2020, the Indian government wants 30% of all in the age group of 18 to 23 years, to be enrolled in higher education courses. This would increase the country’s student population to 40 million, a figure which is nearly double the current number of students studying in the United States.
- The current demand for PBSA bed spaces across the country is estimated to total more than 8 million. This figure is expected to grow at a rate of around 8% each year, until 2025.
- Only 20% of the current demand is met by university-operated supply. The student housing market in India is driven by a large volume of private owners, with relatively small portfolios of off-campus hostels.
- Knight Frank estimates that there is currently a potential to deliver 6 million PBSA bed spaces on greenfield land, located in proximity to universities, while a further 2 million can be delivered on brownfield land.
“Currently, the bulk of the student housing demand is serviced by the unorganised sector, comprising of rented accommodations and private hostels. These properties are often below students’ expectations. The demand-supply gap, coupled with strong fundamentals of the sector, have led to an increase in investor interest to develop and operate well-located, high-quality purpose-built accommodation. Knight Frank estimates that there is currently a potential to deliver 6 million PBSA bed spaces on greenfield land, located in close proximity to universities, while a further 2 million can be delivered through retrofitting and augmentation of existing on-campus hostels,” said Saurabh Mehrotra, national director of advisory services, Knight Frank India.
See also: India a leader in co-living spaces in Asia-Pacific: Report
Hotspots for student housing in India
- Bengaluru has the highest concentration of university colleges in India. The current student population in professional courses is estimated at 6,60,000, of which 3,06,377 require accommodation and only 10% of these are covered by on-campus PBSA provision.
- Pune is the ninth-largest city in India and is emerging as a centre for IT and manufacturing and a strong base for start-up companies. With 2,64,350 of total student population, 1,91,937 need accommodation, 11% of which is covered by on-campus PBSA provision.
- Hyderabad has also been attracting a fair amount of student population in the country. However, of the 29,300 students that require accommodation only 2% are covered by on-campus provisions.
- Jaipur and Nagpur are emerging clusters for student accommodation and they offer 15% and 13% on-campus provisions to the student population in the cities, respectively.
- Noida and the Greater Noida have emerged as modern industrial cities, well-connected to Delhi. Noida is the outsourcing hub for Delhi’s IT services. Home to a number of private engineering, management and arts universities, the current accommodation provision is some of the best in India.
“Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) has become a global asset class, underpinned by a continentally mobile student population and an increased recognition across the world, of the importance of higher education. The structural undersupply story is transparent, with students attending universities across the world struggling to secure housing in what is a global housing crisis. PBSA represents an opportunity for institutions to invest in an asset class that has demonstrated rental growth every year, since the economic downturn,” said James Pullan, global head of student property, Knight Frank.