Following last year’s successful CUBO and GSL research collaboration, which explored the experience of vulnerable students in student accommodation, CUBO and GSL have again joined forces to provide insight into the residence life experience. The newly released insight report, Building Connections, takes a deep dive into the GSL Index data to explore what truly matters to students in terms of residence life and how accommodation providers can better support them.
Key findings include:
- First impressions matter. Students who report a “very good” moving-in experience are significantly more likely to form close friendships, enjoy socialising, and feel a strong sense of community. Meanwhile, a bad moving-in experience has a severely negative impact, with students 7 times more likely to disagree that they enjoy socialising in their accommodation, or they feel a sense of community, and 9 times more likely to disagree that they feel a sense of belonging.
- Extracurricular activities have the power to positively impact student outcomes. Students who have fulfilling extracurricular experiences in their accommodation report higher levels of wellbeing, greater social connectedness, and a deeper sense of belonging. These factors are strongly linked to academic success, retention, and the likelihood of staying on in accommodation.
- There are missed opportunities to improve engagement and wellbeing. Nearly one in five students say they would like to be more involved in activities but are prevented from doing so by barriers such as low confidence, poor communication, or scheduling conflicts. Others seek connection outside their accommodation due to a negative experience – a missed opportunity to build community and boost retention.
- Specialist accommodation improves student outcomes. Students living in lifestyle-based specialist accommodation, such as alcohol-free or quiet floors, report higher satisfaction, stronger social connections, and better wellbeing.
- Student expectations are changing. Academic, employability, and wellbeing-focused events are increasingly prioritised by students. While traditional social events still have a place, today’s students value programming that aligns with their goals and personal development. Students are also increasingly seeking communal study and social places and structured support with conflict resolution.
- One Size Doesn’t Fit All. Vulnerable student groups, including students with a disability, students who are neurodivergent, or LGBTQIA+, face more social challenges and are less likely to engage with residence life programming. A data-driven, inclusive approach to engagement is essential to ensure no student is left behind.
With practical recommendations and in-depth analysis of different student segments, Building Connections offers valuable insight for both private and university accommodation operators, accommodation and student services teams and policymakers alike.
Interested in learning more?
Read the full report here.
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About the GSL Index
The GSL Index is the world’s leading student insight platform and performance improvement tool for both university and private student accommodation providers. Throughout the year, the GSL Index surveys hundreds of thousands of students across 15 countries and in 15 different languages, on all aspects of their student accommodation experience.
The Index brings together a range of standardised local, regional and global KPIs alongside bespoke insights from custom questions developed to meet the specific needs of accommodation providers. With responses from over one million students since its inception, and more than 250 million data points, data from the GSL Index provides rich insight into what students expect from their accommodation and the factors that drive student satisfaction.
