Colleges association unveils student housing revamp plan to Brussels

Brussels –  The student housing crisis is a silent but growing emergency in the European Union. With nearly 8 million out-of-state students enrolled in European universities and only 4.8 million beds, the deficit is close to 3.2 million, a gap that threatens to undermine the right to study and increase social inequality. To address this challenge, as part of a mission on May 12 and 13 in Brussels, the Conference of Colleges of Merit (CCUM) presented a new European model of student housing centered on housing quality, education, and inclusion. The delegation met with Borja Giménez Larraz, rapporteur of the House Special Committee of the European Parliament, Parliament Vice-President Antonella Sberna, and MEP Stefano Cavedagna.

According to the Eurostudent VIII report, only 38 percent of college students living away from their families have access to university housing. The rest turn to the increasingly pressured private market. Between 2010 and 2023, housing prices in the EU increased by 48 percent, with rents rising 22 percent. In Italy, the cost of renting a room has risen 20 percent over the past five years. Also contributing to the housing supply is mass tourism and the spread of short-term rentals for tourists, which take housing units away from long-term rental, even in university towns. The result: 62 percent of out-of-town students are forced to allocate up to 80 percent of their monthly budgets to rent. The consequences are reflected economically, socially, and psychologically: increased stress, isolation, and risk of dropping out of studies.

In this context, CCUM proposes the Colleges of Merit experience as a best practice to replicate at the European level. These are 57 facilities located in 18 Italian cities, recognized and accredited by the Ministry of Education, University, and Research, which offer not only accommodation but also integrated training, scholarships, and services to support the student’s personal and professional development.

“We hope that the student housing crisis can become an opportunity to promote a new European educational model of student housing, centered on welfare, skills, and participation and to integrate such a model into the future European Social Housing Plan,” said Carla Bisleri, president of CCUM. The approach proposed by the conference goes beyond a simple emergency response: it promotes a housing system that is also educational, in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights and the EU strategy for affordable housing. It is a way to maximize the effectiveness of public investment, fostering social cohesion, student mobility, and academic success.

The proposal comes at a key moment as the European Parliament works on strengthening housing policies and proceeds to set priorities for the new legislative cycle. CCUM’s initiative thus fits into the debate on a more equitable Europe, where economic barriers do not hinder the right to study.