The wait is over. We’re excited to reveal the full list of finalists for this year’s much-awaited GSL Awards, the only awards in PBSA based entirely on student feedback.
In December, we announced the finalists for the Best Booking Experience and Best Moving In Experience categories, based on resident feedback collected from October to December 2024. And now, based on resident feedback collected from February to May, we unveil the shortlists for the remaining 13 award categories in the UK and Ireland, and 9 in Europe.
Based exclusively on data from the world’s leading resident insight platform—the GSL Index—the GSL Awards are free of submissions or judging panels, offering recognition that reflects what students truly experience and value in their accommodation.
UK & Ireland Finalists
A total of 32 universities and operators have made the shortlist across all award categories.
Leading the private operators are Fresh and Student Castle Property Management Ltd, with each shortlisted in 5 categories, including Best Private Housing.
“I am incredibly proud that Fresh has been recognised as finalists in multiple categories at the GSL Awards following the Spring Wave of the GSL Index Survey. Being shortlisted for awards such as Best Individual Property, Best Private Housing, Best Value for Money, and the Inclusivity Impact Award is testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of our team. These nominations highlight our commitment to creating exceptional student accommodation that prioritises quality, inclusivity, and value for our residents. We are honoured to be acknowledged in this way and remain focused on continuing to raise the bar in student living.”
– Sam Scott, Managing Director, Fresh
Among universities, the University of Derby leads, having been shortlisted in 8 categories, including Best University Housing.
“We’re very proud to have been nominated for eight award categories in this year’s GSL Awards. The GSL Index survey is a valuable, annual litmus test that helps us gauge our performance and the satisfaction levels of residents. It’s also very effective in helping us identify areas for improvement and development. The student accommodation sector is very competitive and having an objective, respected, stamp of approval from the GSL Index truly is a quality mark that helps us to stand out from the crowd.”
– Steve Ward, Head of Student Living, University of Derby
Finalists shortlisted in multiple categories include:
- University accommodation providers: Edge Hill University (4 nominations), Ulster University (4 nominations), University of Liverpool (3 nominations), Queen Margaret University (3 nominations).
- Private operators: LIV Student (4 nominations), Nurtur Student Living (4 nominations), Homes for Students (3 nominations, including nominations for EVO Student and Prestige Student Living), Host (3 nominations), Unilife (3 nominations), Yugo (3 nominations), Derwent Students (2 nominations), Hello Student (2 nominations), Prime Student Living (2 nominations), and Unite Students (2 nominations).
“Prime Student Living are delighted to be shortlisted once again as a finalist in multiple GSL award categories. We are driven by our purpose to ‘shape a brighter future’ with our ESG framework core to our approach so we are particularly proud to be a finalist for the second year in a row for Best Environmental Management.”
– Charlie Pogson, Manging Director, Prime Student Living
“We’re absolutely delighted that Brunswick Apartments has been named a finalist for both ‘Best Individual Property’ and ‘Best Learning Environment’. The property sets a new standard for premium student accommodation, combining exceptional design with a supportive, inspiring environment for learning and personal growth for the most introvert or extrovert. It’s fantastic to see that recognised. The building has been transformed into a fully electric, air source-powered property, with its EPC rating improved from E to an impressive B. We’ve also enhanced safety throughout, upgrading all external wall fire protection to low-risk standards and fully integrating advanced internal systems, including a comprehensive sprinkler solution. It truly is a building to be proud of.”
– Matt James, Head of Site Operations, Hello Student
“Being shortlisted for three categories across three of our brands is a testament to the dedication of our teams. We work hard to ensure that we ‘go for gold’ across the board: gold standards of service is a none-negotiable throughout our portfolio. Thank you to GSL for helping us to gather feedback—it is invaluable to us!”
– Scott Lewis, Chief Operating Officer, Homes for Students
“We are thrilled to be recognised as finalists in the Global Student Living Awards. Creating a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive living environment is at the heart of everything we do, and it means so much to know that this recognition is based on feedback from our students. We’re incredibly proud of our community and our team, and we’re committed to continually improving the student experience at Queen Margaret University.”
– Queen Margaret University
“We’re proud to once again be shortlisted for the GSL Awards – an achievement that matters so much to us at Host because it comes directly from the students who live with us. Being consistently recognised year after year is a reflection of the hard work, care, effort and attention our teams bring every day, creating places where students feel supported, included and truly at home.
Thank you to every member of the Host team across the UK.”
– Sam Hollex, Director of Operations, Host
“We’re incredibly proud to be recognised across four categories at this year’s GSL Awards. These nominations are a testament to the passion and dedication of our team, who consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional service and build vibrant, supportive student communities. Being acknowledged based on student feedback makes this recognition especially meaningful, it reflects the heart of what LIV Student stands for.”
– LIV Student
“We are delighted to be nominated in three categories at the GSL Awards, based on student feedback. This is testament to the dedication the Unilife team puts into building a supportive, welcoming and thriving student community. We’re committed to turning service into wow moments daily and creating a home with heart for every student who lives with us.”
– Unilife
“Being named finalists across multiple award categories is a true reflection of the passion and dedication of our incredible teams, who go above and beyond to create a Home for Success. I also want to extend heartfelt thanks to the 10,000+ residents who shared their feedback — it’s their voices that inspire and drive everything we do, for them and our residents of tomorrow.”
– Paul Watson, Group Operations Director, Unite Students
Completing the list for UK and Ireland are: AXO Student Living, Campus Living Villages, Cloud Student Homes, Dwell Student Living, Goodenough College, International Students House, Kaplan Living, Lancaster University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Southern Housing, Study Inn, University of Essex, University of Strathclyde, University of East London and University of the West of England.
“We’re thrilled to be nominated once again for the Best Specialist Housing Award for UK & Ireland. Participating in the GSL Index survey gives us a wealth of insight into our student residents’ experience. It’s valuable information to help us meet our residents’ needs and to keep striving to innovate and improve year on year.”
– Iwona Newton, Deputy Registrar, Goodenough College
“We’re proud to be shortlisted for the Global Student Living Awards. This reflects our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, affordable accommodation, but a supportive and empowering environment where our residents can thrive. AXO – where ambition, experience and opportunity merge. Students do not just live at our properties, they launch!”
– Zainab Charchafchi, Managing Director, AXO Student Living
“We are honoured to be nominated for the Best Learning Environment award. At Cloud Student Homes, we believe that a supportive and inspiring living experience is essential to academic success and personal growth. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to creating environments where students can thrive.”
– Kevin Dickins, CEO, Cloud Student Homes
“We’re incredibly honoured to be nominated for the GSL Awards. This reflects our core belief that student accommodation is more than just a place to study, it’s a home. This nomination reflects the dedication our team puts into fostering a vibrant, supportive community. It truly wouldn’t be the home it is without our amazing site team, who are the heart of the Dwell family.”
– Andrea Seddon, Head of Operations and Sales UK, Dwell Student Living
“We are proud to be a finalist for the GSL Inclusivity Impact Award. It is great to receive the fantastic recognition from students for the huge investment we have made in our campus to make it a welcoming, enjoyable and accessible place where all students can fulfil their potential and make the most of their time at university.”
– Casey Cross, University Associate Academic Dean for Students and Dean for Colleges, Lancaster University
“We are delighted with the outstanding results of our portfolio in the latest GSL Index survey and proud to be shortlisted again for Best Student Broadband Awards. Having won this award last year, it’s an honour to receive recognition based entirely on direct student feedback. These achievements highlight the dedication and passion of our teams, who go above and beyond to deliver exceptional service. It’s not just our high-quality facilities and services, but the incredible people behind them, that truly set us apart.”
– Matt Shakespeare, MD of Operations, Study Inn
“We are delighted to be finalists in the Best Specialist Housing Award for UK & Ireland. International Students House is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year (2025) and this nomination reflects our continued dedication to creating a home-away-from-home experience for all our residents.”
– International Students House
“It’s a huge achievement and honour to be a finalist in the Inclusivity Impact category for the Global Student Living Awards for the second year in a row. Being a finalist in this category is a testament to the hard work of the whole Accommodation Services team, with the help of our colleagues across UWE. As this nomination came from direct feedback from our student customers it makes it extra special.”
– Kate Peters and Viv Jowett, Services Heads of Accommodation, University of the West of England
Europe Finalists
For Europe, 24 operators have been shortlisted, with Nido Living leading the pack with 9 nominations, including Best Private Housing.
“Nido Living is thrilled to be a finalist in a total of nine categories for the GSL Awards. As the only awards in the sector that are voted for by students, this has a very special meaning to us and underpins our commitment to delivering an exemplary student experience. This is especially important this year where we have undergone significant transformation from an operator into a fully integrated platform that also invests, acquires and develops, with new leadership, markets, assets, and a new growth strategy. It shows that despite change, we are unwavering in our values and student focus. It is particularly pleasing to see that two of our key pillars—wellbeing and community—are reflected in the awards we have been shortlisted for. Congratulations to all the finalists, and we look forward to the awards.”
– Nido Living
The following finalists have been shortlisted in at least 3 categories:
- Yugo (8 nominations)
- Lumis Living (5 nominations)
- Collegiate AC Group (4 nominations)
- Resa, Residencias Universitarias (3 nominations)
“We’re delighted that Collegiate Milan North has been shortlisted for Best Individual Property at this year’s GSL Awards. Our ambition has always been to set new standards in student living—offering what we call a ‘Student Resort’ experience, where outstanding design, wellbeing, and community come together. This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to creating exceptional environments for students to thrive.”
– Collegiate AC Group
“We are truly honoured to be shortlisted in three of the most significant categories at this year’s GSL Awards: Best Private Housing, Best Student Community, and Best Student Wellbeing. These nominations reflect the core pillars that guide everything we do: quality, community, and wellbeing. Knowing that this recognition comes directly from our students is especially meaningful and reinforces our commitment to keep improving. As we look ahead, we remain focused on creating inclusive, connected, and accessible living experiences where every student can thrive.”
– Marta Sánchez, CEO, Resa
Shortlisted in 2 categories each are: Bo Coliving, CampusX, Livensa Living, micampus residencias, Novel Student, Student Experience, and UXCO Student.
“We are thrilled to have once again been shortlisted for the GSL Awards. This recognition is a testament to our ongoing commitment to excellence and attention to detail. Our goal has always been to provide an experience that is not only welcoming but also memorable and distinct.”
– CampusX
“On behalf of Bo Coliving, we’re honored that our properties Atlantica Ålesund and Falkenborg Trondheim have been shortlisted for Best Individual Property and Best Learning Environment at the GSL Awards 2025. This recognition reflects our commitment to building vibrant, student-focused communities. We truly appreciate the acknowledgment of our team’s dedication to reimagining student living in Norway.”
– Hans Stenseng, COO, Bo Coliving
“At Livensa Living, we take great pride in creating vibrant communities where students feel supported, connected, and empowered. Being nominated for these awards affirms our commitment to wellbeing and to making every Livensa residence a place to grow and belong.”
– Livensa Living
“micampus residencias redefine student accommodation by combiningwellbeing, innovation and inclusion. With over 10,000 students in 48 residences, we offer affordable, tech-driven, and community-focused living.”
– micampus residencias
“We do it because we genuinely care about people and the planet and because it’s worth the effort. Being recognized for it is a meaningful confirmation that we’re on the right track.”
– Johan Verweij, CEO and Founder, Student Experience
“We are very proud to have been shortlisted for this year’s GSL Awards. This recognition, grounded in direct student feedback, is a powerful incentive for us to continue delivering meaningful, sustainable, and high-quality living experiences across our residences. Listening to our students and striving for continuous improvement are at the core of UXCO Group’s mission.”
– Julien Matteudi, Marketing, Communication & Sustainability Director, UXCO Group
Rounding out this year’s European finalists are Camplus, KLEY Student Residences, Les Belles Années, Mi Casa Inn, Milestone, Odalys Campus, Staytoo, Studéa, Student Factory, THE FIZZ, The Social Hub, and Xior Student Housing.
“This award nomination celebrates our passion for creating high-quality living environments that foster both academic success and personal growth.”
– Camplus
“We are delighted to be nominated for the GSL Award 2025 in the Best Customer Service Award category. This recognition underlines the extraordinary work carried out by The Boost Society team over the past few years to develop KLEY student residences and HIFE coliving residences. Thanks to our collective of over 160 talents, tens of thousands of young people in France and Spain benefit from the best conditions for their personal and professional development. Together, we will continue our efforts to provide quality living spaces for young people and will make it possible to accommodate more than 20,000 students and young professionals by 2030.”
– Jean-Baptiste Mortier, CEO, KLEY Student Residences
“We are delighted to be nominated for the Best Value for Money award. It’s a reflection of our deep commitment to viewing student housing as a socially impactful asset class and to giving students more than just a place to stay, for a range of different pricings. Through our strong operational platform and leading position across Europe, we focus on delivering consistent, high-quality service that supports students in every step of their journey. For us, value means creating spaces where students feel at home, supported, and set up for success.”
– Kristina Olsen, COO, Xior Student Housing
Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony in London on 16 October.
View the full list of finalists here.
