Global Student Living

1. What are the GSL Awards?

The GSL Awards are the ultimate recognition of excellence in the student housing sector globally. Unlike traditional industry awards, we do not require written nominations and there are no subjective “expert” judging panels. Every single award is decided 100% by the people who matter most: the residents themselves.

2. Which regions do the GSL Awards cover?

While historically focused on outstanding performance in the UK & Ireland and Europe, 2026 marks a major milestone for the GSL Awards. Driven by the global capabilities of our latest market intelligence platform, ResX Studio®, the GSL Awards have officially expanded to cover the Asia Pacific and Americas regions. This means student housing operators in these markets are now being recognised and celebrated on a truly global stage for the very first time.

3. How are finalists and winners selected?

The GSL Awards have always been and will always be based 100% on resident experience. Historically, finalists were calculated exclusively based on feedback gathered through the GSL Index® resident surveys. With the advent of our latest market intelligence platform, ResX Studio®, we’re now able to blend direct survey data with resident experience captured through online reviews, social media, forums and other publicly available channels. Finalists are those who achieve the highest benchmarked scores for each award category across these combined data sets. The operator or property with the highest score will be announced as the winner.

4. What award categories are included?

Awards are segmented by region and are given out across a wide range of specific operational and experiential metrics. As of 2026, the categories per region are as follows:

• UK & Ireland (15 categories): Best Booking Experience, Best Customer Service, Best Environmental Management, Best Individual Property, Best Learning Environment, Best Moving In Experience, Best Private Housing, Best Small Operator, Best Specialist Housing, Best Student Broadband, Best Student Community, Best Student Wellbeing, Best University Housing, Best Value for Money, Inclusivity Impact Award
• Europe (11 categories): Best Booking Experience, Best Customer Service, Best Environmental Management, Best Individual Property, Best Learning Environment, Best Moving In Experience, Best Private Housing, Best Student Broadband, Best Student Community, Best Student Wellbeing, Best Value for Money
• Asia Pacific (3 categories): Best Student Housing, Best Customer Service, Best Value for Money
• The Americas (3 categories): Best Student Housing, Best Customer Service, Best Value for Money 

5. Do we need to prepare and submit a presentation or written entry to win?

No. Because the Awards are entirely data-driven and independent, finalists do not need to submit any written entries, case studies or presentation decks. Your residents have already done the voting for you through their feedback, reviews, and survey participation.

6. How are the winners recognised and celebrated?

Winners are announced and celebrated live at our annual GSL Awards Ceremony, which takes place every October in London, following the GSL Investor Summit and GSL Live Conference.

The GSL Awards ceremony and gala dinner is the premier event for the global student housing sector, bringing together operators, investors, and universities from around the world. Winners receive an official GSL Award trophy and digital assets to showcase their achievement globally. The next ceremony will take place on 14^th October 2026 at Horizon 22 – Europe’s highest event space.

7. Do finalists need to attend the live ceremony in London to win?

While we highly encourage all finalists to attend the GSL Awards Ceremony to network with global peers and celebrate on stage, attendance is not a requirement to win. Because the GSL Awards are 100% data-driven, a winner is a winner regardless of whether they are in the room. If you cannot attend, we will coordinate with you to ensure you get your trophy and digital winner assets.

8. Can I attend the awards even if I’m not a finalist?

Absolutely! The GSL Awards Ceremony is open to anyone working in the student housing sector. It is an incredible opportunity to connect with peers and celebrate the very best in the industry.

Whether you are a finalist, an industry partner, or just want to experience an unforgettable evening 58 floors above London, you are more than welcome to join us. Reach out at [email protected] to book your tickets. 

9. What is the difference between a GSL Award and GSL Certification?

While the GSL Awards recognise outstanding, top-tier achievement in a specific area (e.g., Best Customer Service), GSL Certification (such as Platinum status) is a rigorous evaluation designed to recognise and promote excellent all-around performance based on meeting high baseline benchmarks across the entire GSL Index® dataset.