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Student Housing Management in Australia - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Mia Jeremic Mia Jeremic Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: November 2025 ANZSIC OD4060

Revenue

$432.9m

2025-26

$432.9m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

1,476

Businesses

54

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Student Housing Management in Australia industry analysis

The Student Housing Management industry has rebounded strongly from a pandemic-induced slump, largely thanks to the return of international students and sustained demand for high-quality accommodation. Over the five years through 2025-26, industry revenue is expected to have grown at an annualised 1.6% to $432.9 million, including an anticipated 0.9% uptick in 2025-26. High occupancy rates, dynamic pricing strategies and a persistent undersupply of student beds have supported profitability. Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) management remains the strongest and fastest-growing segment, providing premium, fully serviced options that attract domestic and international students and underpin stable cashflows for managers.

Trends and Insights

  • Rising international student demand is driving growth in the Student Housing Management industry. A diversifying mix of student nationalities is making the industry more resilient to shocks affecting specific source countries.
  • Demand for purpose-built student accommodation continues to grow. PBSA remains the most significant and fastest-growing segment in the industry. High investor interest, premium amenities and limited supply drive revenue as managers maintain robust pricing power.
  • Victoria remains Australia’s premier student housing hub. Melbourne’s dense student population and concentrated university precincts support high occupancy and operational efficiency. High land taxes may slow new investment, but sustained international student inflows maintain long-term market attractiveness.
  • Economies of scale create competitive advantages. Large operators benefit from bulk procurement, centralised administration and integrated maintenance systems, which lower costs and boost efficiency. Smaller entrants face higher operational costs and limited access to premium contracts, reinforcing industry consolidation.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $432.9m in 2025.

Trends and Insights

The quality of Australian higher education continues to attract swathes of international students

  • International student demand continues to underpin the growth trajectory of the Student Housing Management industry. Over the past five years, enrolments have rebounded sharply from pandemic lows, driving a surge in accommodation demand across major tertiary precincts.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Student Housing Management in Australia
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

More student beds will enter the market and sustain revenue growth

  • A strong pipeline of new beds is set to enter the market over the next five years, supported by renewed investment in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). According to CBRE’s 2025 student accommodation report, around 28,000 new beds are scheduled for completion between 2025 and 2028, representing a 28% uplift on current stock levels.

Biggest companies in the Student Housing Management in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2026
Revenue ($m)
2026
UniLodge
111.6
Scape Student Living Australia
77.2
Iglu
20.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Student Housing Management in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Purpose-built student accommodation management, University-owned accommodation management and Other student accommodation management. Purpose-built student accommodation management is the largest segment of the Student Housing Management in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Demand for purpose-built student accommodation shows no signs of slowing down

  • Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) management is the largest service segment in the industry. Property developers need property managers' services to generate a return on their investment. Unlike university-affiliated accommodation, developers and managers for PBSA aren’t subject to university supervision.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The industry provides management services for student accommodation providers. Student housing managers control and oversee student accommodation, like university campus accommodation and purpose-built student accommodation. Industry revenue does not include rent income from providing student accommodation.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Student Housing Management industry in Australia include Managing purpose-built student accommodation, Managing university-affiliated student accommodation and Managing other student accommodation.

Companies

Companies covered in the Student Housing Management industry in Australia include UniLodge, Scape Student Living Australia and Iglu.

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Student Housing Management industry in Australia include student housing, welfare provider and purpose-built student accommodation (pbsa) .

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 6720 - Student Housing Management in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Rising international student demand is driving growth in the Student Housing Management industry. A diversifying mix of student nationalities is making the industry more resi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Demand for purpose-built student accommodation continues to grow. PBSA remains the most significant and fastest-growing segment in the industry. High investor interest, premi...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Victoria remains Australia’s premier student housing hub. Melbourne’s dense student population and concentrated university precincts support high occupancy and operational ef...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Economies of scale create competitive advantages. Large operators benefit from bulk procurement, centralised administration and integrated maintenance systems, which lower co...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Institutional investment strengthens Scape’s long-term stability. Scape’s $6 billion open-ended Core Fund attracts global investors, enabling direct management of significant...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of UniLodge's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Scape Student Living Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Iglu's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for UniLodge, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Scape Student Living Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Iglu, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Economic and demographic factors shape market potential. Growth in the population aged 18 to 25, higher university enrolments and a weaker Australian dollar expand demand for...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

High occupancy and scale have buoyed student housing managers’ profit margins. Student housing managers benefit from fixed rental income, operational efficiencies and limited...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Student Housing Management industry in Australia in 2025?

The market size of the Student Housing Management industry in Australia is $432.9m in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Student Housing Management industry in Australia in 2025?

There are 54 businesses in the Student Housing Management industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 8.4 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Student Housing Management industry in Australia?

The Student Housing Management industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Student Housing Management industry in Australia?

The Student Housing Management industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Student Housing Management industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Student Housing Management industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Student Housing Management industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Student Housing Management industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Student Housing Management industry in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Student Housing Management industry in Australia are UniLodge, Scape Student Living Australia and Iglu

What does the Student Housing Management industry in Australia include?

Managing purpose-built student accommodation and Managing university-affiliated student accommodation are part of the Student Housing Management industry in Australia.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Student Housing Management industry in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in the Student Housing Management industry in Australia is UniLodge.

How competitive is the Student Housing Management industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Student Housing Management industry in Australia.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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