The wait is finally over. Against the backdrop of the GSL Investor Summit Europe in Málaga, Spain on the 3rd of June, the finalists for the highly anticipated 2026 GSL Awards were officially unveiled.
This year marks a major milestone. As part of GSL’s global expansion, the awards are breaking boundaries, moving well beyond the UK & Ireland and Europe to champion outstanding student accommodation across the Asia-Pacific and Americas regions for the very first time.
What makes these accolades so coveted? 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. This is powerful recognition that directly reflects what students actually experience, value and say about where they live.
Going global: a spotlight on Asia-Pacific and The Americas
The competition across these two regions was exceptionally fierce, showcasing private sector providers who are constantly pushing the boundaries of the resident experience.
A total of nine operators have been shortlisted for Asia-Pacific, with finalists highlighting operational excellence, system innovation, and customer care.
Leading the nominations in Asia-Pacific is Stanza Living with three nods, while Cove, Mangrove, Weave Living and Y.X follow with two nominations each. Joining them on this year’s shortlist are Dash Living, Sakura House, Taylor’s Residence and Zolo Stays.
“At Stanza Living, we’ve always believed that managed living, done right, is fundamentally a technology problem. The quality of a resident’s experience and how consistently the promise of home is delivered is only as good as the systems and intelligence behind it. What these nominations (Best Student Housing, Best Customer Service, Best Value for Money) tell us is that residents feel the difference. That’s not a small thing. It means the gap between intention and experience is closing, and that’s what we’re most proud of.”
Anindya Dutta, MD and Co-Founder, Stanza Living
“Our nomination for Best Customer Service reflects Taylor’s Residence commitment to a resident-first culture, where residents are placed at the heart of everything we do. We strive to create more than just accommodation by delivering the best place to stay through meaningful, people-centric resident experiences. We believe exceptional student living is built through genuine care, service excellence, and creating a place where residents truly feel they belong and thrive.”
Elaine Yap, SVP Student Residence, Taylor’s Residence
Nine operators have been shortlisted for The Americas as well, where the focus leans heavily toward exceptional on-the-ground support and local community excellence.
Among the finalists, Forum and Hub on Campus have secured three nominations each, while LX Collective and Subtext Living are also up for multiple awards, with two nominations each. The Americas shortlist is completed by HOEM, Landmark Properties, LivinnX, Share Student Living, and Uliving.
“At HOEM, great customer service isn’t a checklist, it’s about meeting every student where they’re at. Our team shows up for the expected things, but what makes us proud are the moments in between: learning a student’s name, celebrating their wins, helping them troubleshoot when things go sideways, and being there with a smile when it matters most. Being named a finalist for Best Customer Service is a reflection of that team, and it means everything knowing it comes right from the students we care so much about.”
Beth Spilchuk, VP Operations, HOEM
“Being named a finalist for Best Student Housing in the Americas is a tremendous honour and a reflection of the talented people across our organization who are committed to delivering exceptional communities for students. We’re proud to be recognized as the student housing leader in the United States — and even more excited to be building on that foundation as we continue our expansion into global markets.”
Wes Rogers, Chairman & CEO, Landmark Properties
Setting the benchmark: UK & Ireland finalists
A total of 37 universities and operators have made the shortlist across all award categories this year. Leading the private operators is Homes for Students, which racked up 9 nominations across its four brands: EVO Student, Homes for Students, Prestige Student Living, and Urban Student Life.
“We are one of the most surveyed operators in the sector, having received almost 14,000 survey responses in the latest GSL Index survey – something we are very proud of – and we use this valuable feedback from our residents to constantly improve our service offering. Being recognised as finalists across multiple categories at this year’s GSL Awards is a fantastic achievement for our teams across four of our brands: Homes for Students, Prestige Student Living, EVO Student and Urban Student Life. These nominations reflect the passion, innovation and commitment our teams bring every day to creating outstanding student experiences and high-quality living environments. We will continue to take all resident feedback onboard and utilise it to create the very best home away from home experience.”
Scott Lewis, Group COO, Homes for Students
Among universities, the University of Derby leads, having been shortlisted in 7 categories, including Best University Housing.
“We are delighted to have been nominated again across a range of awards at this year’s GSL Awards, to be finalists in so many categories is a real honour and testament to the continuing dedication of our staff. It is really pleasing to see that our students have again rated the services they receive from us so highly.”
Steve Ward, Head of Student Living, University of Derby
Finalists shortlisted in multiple categories include:
- University accommodation providers: Queen Margaret University (4 nominations), Edge Hill University (3 nominations), Stranmillis University College (3 nominations), Durham University (2 nominations)
- Private operators: Fresh (5 nominations), Student Castle (5 nominations), Nurtur Student Living (4 nominations), PfP Students (3 nominations), Prime Student Living (3 nominations), AXO Student Living (2 nominations), Luxury Student Homes (2 nominations), SPACE (2 nominations), Yugo (2 nominations).
“We are proud and honoured to be recognised as a finalist for both Best Value for Money and the Inclusivity Impact Award. It is a reflection of our commitment to putting students first. We believe that every student deserves to feel safe, supported and part of a welcoming community, whilst also having access to high-quality accommodation that offers real value. Creating an inclusive environment where student can thrive, connect and feel at home is at the very heart of everything AXO Student Living stands for.”
Zainab Charchafchi, Managing Director, AXO Student Living
“Durham University is delighted that the sense of community and inclusivity fostered by our collegiate model has been reflected by our wonderful students in their response to the GSL Index survey, securing our nomination for awards in the categories of Best Student Community and Inclusivity Impact. These nominations reflect the hard work and passion of a huge number of staff across multiple disciplines, as well as the dedication of our students themselves. We look forward to learning more from the insight that the GSL Index survey will provide to us an institution to ensure our residential offer continues to address student need and our colleges remain the cornerstone of our extraordinary wider student experience.”
Stewart Ross, Chief Operating Officer, Durham University
“I am exceptionally proud that Fresh has continued to be recognised at the GSL Awards, following our properties’ outstanding performance in this year’s GSL Index survey. Being continually shortlisted for awards such as Best Private Housing, Best Student Wellbeing, and Best Individual Property is a testament to the ongoing hard work from our residents’ teams, who continually provide an outstanding experience for our residents. Notably, we’re delighted to see The Gate included in the shortlist for Best Individual Property, following the success of The Waterways in last year’s award ceremony. What counts is the student experience, however, to be recognised means so much to our teams at site and centrally who put in the hard work, creativity and make it happen consistently across our business.”
Sam Scott, Managing Director, Fresh
“We’re thrilled to be nominated in two categories at the 2026 GSL Awards, Best Booking Experience and Best Small Operator. As an independent student accommodation provider in Liverpool, being shortlisted alongside major national operators is a testament to our team’s dedication and our commitment to putting students first, from first enquiry through to move-in and beyond.”
Luxury Student Homes
“Nurtur Student Living are absolutely thrilled to be a finalist in four categories for the GSL Awards: Best Small Operator, Best Value for Money, Best Student Broadband and Best Environmental Management. A huge thank you goes out to our amazing teams onsite at Nurtur House and Canterbury Hall, but most of all to the students who have taken part in the feedback and rated us so highly.”
Mark Robinson, Managing Director, Nurtur Student Living
“We are delighted to be recognised as a finalist across three categories at this year’s GSL Awards — Best Moving In Experience, Best Environmental Management and Best Small Operator. These nominations are a testament to the dedication of our team and our continued focus on delivering exceptional resident experiences, operational excellence, and sustainable communities. We are especially proud to be shortlisted for Best Environmental Management for the third year in a row, reflecting our long-term commitment to sustainability and responsible operations. At Prime Student Living, we are driven by our purpose to ‘shape a brighter future’, with our ESG framework core to our approach across every aspect of the business. We would also like to thank GSL for getting the feedback from our residents for continuing to celebrate innovation and excellence across the PBSA sector.”
Harshita Narayan, Managing Director, Prime Student Living
“We are incredibly pleased to be named finalists in four categories at the GSL Awards. Supporting our students and creating a positive, welcoming, and inclusive community is central to our work, so it is particularly rewarding to see this reflected through student feedback. Being recognised across multiple areas of the student experience is a real achievement for our team, and we remain dedicated to providing the best possible experience for students at Queen Margaret University.”
Queen Margaret University
“We are incredibly proud to be shortlisted for two GSL Awards, including Best Small Operator. As these awards are based entirely on student feedback, this recognition is a real reflection of the experience our team works hard to deliver every day. I would like to thank our residents for their trust and feedback, and our team for their commitment to creating an exceptional student experience at SPACE.”
Jack Winning, Student Accommodation Operations Director, SPACE
“The GSL Index is an important platform for students to voice their experiences and provides accommodation providers like us with meaningful feedback that helps shape and improve the services we offer. At Stranmillis University College, delivering a positive, inclusive, and supportive student experience is central to our core values and ethos. We are therefore thrilled to have been shortlisted in three categories — Best Student Community, Best Value for Money, and the Inclusivity Impact Award — which reflects the dedication and commitment of our accommodation team and the wider college community. Creating an environment where students feel welcomed, supported, and connected is a priority for us at Stran Halls, and we are proud that this has been recognised through student feedback. We would like to thank our student residents for taking the time to participate in the survey, as their insights play a vital role in helping us continue to enhance the student living experience at Stran Halls.”
Mary Ryan, Head of Hospitality, Accommodation & Conferencing Services, Stranmillis University College
Completing the list for UK and Ireland are: Campus Living Villages, Cloud Student Homes, Dwell Student Living, Goodenough College, Host Students, International Students House, Kaplan Living, Leeds Trinity University, LIV Student, Manchester Metropolitan University, mys, Ulster University, Unite Students, University of East London, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, University of St Andrews, University of Strathclyde, and UWE Bristol.
“We are delighted that Campus Living Villages has been recognised as a finalist in the Best Student Community category at the GSL Awards, reflecting our commitment to creating inclusive, supportive, and thriving student environments. Our unique university partnerships mean we can tailor our environments to the specific needs of our residents. At a significant transition point in many students’ lives, moving into independent living for the first time, our dedicated and supportive on-site teams play a vital role in fostering a strong sense of community, helping students feel supported and minimising the effects of isolation and loneliness. Through our annual Village Life calendar, we deliver free events that encourage interaction and belonging and are designed to help residents build meaningful connections with their neighbours and staff alike.”
Lee McLean, CEO, Campus Living Villages
“We are incredibly proud that Goodenough College Members have rated their experience so highly. This recognition belongs to our whole community — Members, staff, Alumni and supporters alike. At a time when postgraduate students face increasing pressures, Goodenough College remains deeply committed to providing a home that offers friendship, support, opportunity and a sense of belonging. We are thrilled that this has been recognised through the Global Student Living Awards.”
Caroline Persaud, Registrar, Goodenough College
“The team at Host are proud to be shortlisted for the Best Learning Environment award. This recognition underpins the team’s hard work and commitment to the residents at 17a Christchurch Road in Bournemouth. Providing outstanding learning environments is core to the Host offering, supporting all our residents on their journey while living with us. Thank you to the team at 17a Christchurch Road, as well as the wider Host team, for their never-ending efforts to support our residents.”
Tony Allen, Operations Director, Host Students
“We’re excited to be shortlisted for Best Specialist Housing in this year’s GSL Awards, a true reflection of the community we’ve built together at International Students House. This recognition belongs as much to our residents as it does to our team; it’s their openness, their feedback, and their trust in us that drives everything we do. We remain committed to making ISH a place where every student, from wherever in the world they come, feels at home.”
International Students House
“We’re delighted to be a finalist in the Best Student Wellbeing category at the Global Student Living Awards. We pride ourselves on the support we provide to students, and to be recognised by our residents in this category is truly rewarding. The Kaplan Living team works tirelessly to ensure our residents have everything they need to thrive, giving them the best possible chance of academic success.”
Katy Lemmon, Interim Director, Kaplan Living
“We are delighted to be nominated for Best Private Housing at the 2026 GSL Awards. Following our recent wins, this recognition means a great deal and reflects the commitment, energy, and care our teams bring every day to creating exceptional living experiences for our residents.”
Peter Brook, Operations Director, LIV Student
“We are proud to be shortlisted for Best Student Community at this years Global Student Living Awards. Our students are at the heart of what we do, and this recognition is a true testament to our commitment to do better and create communities where our students can thrive”
Ashleigh Dunlop, Head of Projects, mys
“We are delighted to be shortlisted for Best Student Broadband at the GSL Awards. We recognise the important role reliable connectivity plays in the wider student experience, helping students stay connected to their studies, their peers and the communities around them. Working alongside our broadband partner Glide, we’re incredibly proud to continue investing in an environment that enables students to connect, engage and thrive.”
University of East London Team
“We are delighted to have been shortlisted at the GSL Awards in the category of Best University Housing. Participating in the GSL Index survey provides us with a wealth of insight into our residents’ experiences in halls. This information is essential to help us meet our students’ expectations of accommodation and continue to improve each year.”
Rebecca O’Hare, Assistant Director (Residence Life and Accommodation Office), University of Leeds
“We are incredibly proud to be finalists for Best University Housing. This achievement is a testament to the round-the-clock care, dedication and professionalism of our frontline teams, who work tirelessly to support our students at every stage of their journey. Their commitment goes far beyond day-to-day responsibilities they create a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment where students feel valued, supported and able to thrive. Through their efforts, our accommodation becomes more than just a place to live; it becomes a vibrant and supportive community. By fostering connection, wellbeing and a sense of belonging, they help shape a positive and memorable student experience that builds strong, engaged student communities within our halls and contributes to overall student success.”
Sam Pope, Deputy Director of Campus Services, University of Liverpool
“We are delighted to be shortlisted as finalists in the GSL Awards for Best Specialist Housing at Deans Court, especially as this recognition comes directly from our students. We are incredibly proud to be home to a postgraduate community that is supportive, welcoming, and highly valued by those who live here. Student feedback is at the heart of our approach, and we will use these insights to continue improving Deans Court and the wider St Andrews student accommodation experience.”
University of St Andrews Team
“University of Strathclyde Accommodation Team are absolutely delighted to be nominated as finalists in this year’s GSL Awards for Best Student Broadband Award. To be shortlisted as finalists in this category for the third time, is a fantastic recognition from our residents that the efforts of our accommodation and network team(s) provides a reliable broadband experience that’s being appreciated by our residents.”
University of Strathclyde Accommodation Services Team
Raising the bar across Europe
The European student accommodation market continues to evolve at a rapid pace, and this year’s finalists prove that operators are stepping up to meet increasingly high expectations.
A total of 18 operators have secured their spot on the European shortlist this year. Yugo leads the nominations in this region with nine nods, including Best Private Housing, alongside two nominations in the UK & Ireland categories.
“Recognition like this is always special because it reflects the work our teams do every day. To see Yugo recognised across so many categories is a credit to the people behind our student experience. From customer service and community to sustainability and belonging, these nominations reflect the commitment across our teams and communities to creating places where students can thrive. Congratulations to everyone who helped make this possible.”
Simon Griffiths, Senior Vice President Operations Europe, Yugo
The following finalists have been shortlisted in at least 3 categories:
- Collegiate Europe (8 nominations)
- International Campus, for THE FIZZ and HAVENS LIVING (7 nominations)
- Amro Students (6 nominations)
- Lumya Living (6 nominations)
- Nido Living (6 nominations)
- UXCO Group (3 nominations)
“We’re absolutely delighted to be recognised as finalists across multiple categories at this year’s GSL Awards. This recognition is something we’re incredibly proud of and is a true reflection of the passion, commitment and care shown by our teams on the ground every day. They are the ones who bring the AMRO brand to life, creating exceptional environments and experiences for our residents, and these nominations are a testament to the outstanding communities they continue to build across Europe.”
Darren Gardner, COO, Amro Students
“This recognition at the Global Student Living Awards is a great result for our teams and reflects the consistency of what we’re delivering across the business. Being shortlisted across multiple categories, based entirely on student feedback, is a strong validation of the experience we provide. It’s a clear sign that our focus on quality, service and community is making a real difference, and we’ll continue to build on that.”
Rob Clothier, Managing Director, Collegiate Europe
“We are thrilled to see both THE FIZZ and HAVENS LIVING recognised as finalists at this year’s GSL Awards. These awards are unique because they are grounded entirely in student feedback, which is the most meaningful recognition we could receive. It is a true reflection of the passion and commitment our teams bring every day to create places where students don’t just stay, but genuinely belong. We are incredibly proud of this nomination and it inspires us to keep pushing forward.”
Christina Gentsch, Head of Sales & Marketing Germany, THE FIZZ & HAVENS LIVING
“Six finalist shortlistings at the 2026 GSL Awards is humbling recognition of something we hold to tightly: that where students live shapes who they become. Our job is to make that experience feel effortless, supportive and secure – and these nominations reflect the consistency our teams deliver, and the trust our residents place in us in return.”
David Campbell, Managing Director, LUMYA Living
“We are very proud to be shortlisted for 3 categories at the 2026 GSL Awards, including Best Student Wellbeing for our entire portfolio and two nominations for one of our residences UXCO Student Fokus. We are also especially delighted that our site manager Robin Schobing has been shortlisted as Accommodation Hero of the Year — a recognition that reflects the dedication of our entire teams. Based on direct student feedbacks makes it all the more meaningful.”
Maël Aoustin, CEO, UXCO Group
Rounding out this year’s European finalists are Camplus, Campus Living, CX Living, KLEY Student Residences, micampus residencias, Odalys Campus, Resa, Student Experience, The Social Hub, and Xior Student Housing.
“Being shortlisted for Best Broadband at the GSL Awards is something we’re genuinely proud of. For students, reliable connectivity isn’t a nice-to-have — it underpins everything, from submitting coursework at midnight to joining a lecture, unwinding after a long day, or calling home. The fact that this recognition comes directly from the people who live with us makes it especially meaningful. It’s a real motivator to keep listening, keep improving, and keep getting this right.”
Rositsa Ilieva, Head of Asset Management, Campus Living
“At micampus residencias, we create more than student accommodation — we build environments where students feel connected, supported and inspired to grow. Across Spain and Portugal, our residences combine community, accessibility and innovation to help every student feel at home from day one.”
Inés Pérez-Pla, CCO, micampus residencias
“Odalys Campus is delighted to be a finalist in this year’s GSL Awards in the Best Student Community category. Our ambition is to provide affordable student accommodation for national and international students in a compact human-scale model with a national touch design.”
Xavier Bodart, Senior Business Development Executive, Odalys Campus
“We are incredibly honoured to have been shortlisted for the Best Student Community award at this year’s GSL Awards. This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the voices and experiences of our students, who are at the heart of everything we do. At Resa, community is built by students, for students. We are especially proud of our network of around 80 student coordinators, who lead, personalise and bring our activities to life across our residences. Their creativity, energy and commitment are essential to creating inclusive, connected and welcoming spaces where every student can feel they belong. This nomination is a testament to them, to our teams, and to the communities they help shape every day. We remain committed to continuing to create living experiences where every student has the opportunity to thrive.”
Marta Sánchez, CEO, Resa
“To be nominated for the fourth year in a row is an incredible honour. It shows that our commitment to sustainability is making a real impact and that our efforts are visible to our student community. That recognition is already a win; not only for us, but for the planet too.”
Johan Verweij, CEO & Founder, Student Experience
“We are delighted to be nominated for the Best Value for Money award once again. At Xior, value is about much more than accommodation alone – it’s about creating a complete student living experience. From well-located and high-quality residences to strong service, community feeling, and support throughout the student journey, we strive to offer students a place where they can truly feel at home. This nomination is a recognition of our continued focus on delivering meaningful value to students across Europe.”
Kristina Olsen, COO, Xior Student Housing
Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony in London on the 14th of October.
View the full list of finalists here.
