Analysis: Fastest-growing European cities by international student population
Europe’s international higher education sector is expanding rapidly, supported by growing demand from South and Southeast Asia and increased intra-continental mobility.
For student housing investors, fast-growing student cities can serve as early signals of future accommodation pressure, especially where supply remains limited.
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Europe is expanding as an international student destination, with Italy emerging as a key growth country;
Fast-growing cities include Bologna, Milan, Amsterdam, Dublin and Padua, combining scale with strong international student growth;
Smaller cities such as Potsdam, Kaunas, Linz and Eindhoven are also gaining traction, showing that growth is not limited to established capitals or major hubs;
For student housing investors, city-level monitoring is becoming increasingly important, as international student growth can create accommodation pressure before it is visible in headline market data.
European cities are leading the expansion of international education
International student demand across Europe is becoming more diversified. While established hubs such as Amsterdam and Dublin continue to grow, several mid-sized cities are emerging as increasingly important international education destinations.
This matters for student housing stakeholders because international and mobile students are among the strongest drivers of accommodation demand. When student inflows accelerate in cities with limited dedicated supply, pressure can build quickly across private rental markets and purpose-built student accommodation.
The current analysis highlights a dual pattern: large, established hubs continue to expand, while smaller and mid-sized cities are gaining momentum from a lower base.
Italy is spearheading international student growth
Italy stands out as one of the strongest growth stories in Europe’s international education landscape.
Milan represents a unique combination of established scale, steady long-term growth and additional acceleration over the past two years, supported by the city’s academic reputation, financial ecosystem and technology-focused economy.
Bologna and Turin are emerging as second-tier international destinations. Bologna is accelerating rapidly, while Turin continues to build momentum. Both cities benefit from broader internationalisation policies and the expansion of English-taught programmes.
Padua is another notable case. Although still transitioning towards a longer period of sustained growth, it recorded an increase from 1,452 international students in 2017/18 to 6,503 in 2024/25, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in the selected sample.
For student housing investors, Italy’s growth story is particularly relevant because international student expansion is increasingly spreading beyond the most obvious large-city markets.
Established hubs remain important, but smaller cities are gaining traction
The Netherlands remains a dominant international student hub in Europe. Amsterdam continues to show long-term growth, supported by its international profile and strong student demand.
However, the recent slowdown in international enrolment growth relative to its historic trajectory reflects emerging constraints, including housing pressure and potential policy tightening around internationalisation.
Eindhoven, by contrast, combines a relatively smaller scale with recent growth momentum. Its technology-oriented ecosystem and strong presence in STEM make it an increasingly relevant market to monitor.
Kaunas in Lithuania is another example of how smaller international education markets can gain traction. It remains more limited in absolute scale compared with Western European markets, but is benefiting from investment in international students and researchers.
These examples reinforce the importance of looking beyond national averages. For student housing investors, the next opportunity may emerge in cities where internationalisation is accelerating, but institutional-grade student housing supply remains underdeveloped.
Welcoming policies are supporting growth across Europe
One of the key drivers behind the growth of international students across Europe is the widening appeal of destinations that combine lower education and living costs with stronger academic quality and expanding English-taught provision.
Italy has significantly expanded its portfolio of English-taught programmes, particularly in STEM subjects and business at the postgraduate level. It has also introduced a relatively low-cost student visa application process and part-time work opportunities for students.
The Netherlands, despite policy uncertainty and attempts to tighten parts of the sector, continues to recognise the role of international students in addressing labour shortages and maintaining institutional competitiveness.
Germany is expected to remain a major growth market, supported by free undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for third-country nationals and strong graduate employability. Austria’s internationalisation is backed by targeted government initiatives, positioning the country as an attractive Central European study destination.
Lithuania is transitioning from an expansion phase to a more centrally managed phase of international education, shaped by a tighter regulatory environment. Ireland’s growth, meanwhile, reflects its broader success as an English-language study destination.
What does this mean for stakeholders?
Recent trends in international student enrolments signal sustained growth across Europe, concentrated in both established hubs and fast-growing mid-sized cities.
For student housing investors, this creates a clear demand-side signal: cities gaining international students today may become tomorrow’s pressure points for accommodation supply, occupancy and rental growth.
Growth is being driven by a mix of policy openness, affordability, expanding English-taught provision and programme relevance. However, the opportunity is not uniform. Investors need to monitor city-level demand, local policy conditions, student housing provision rates, pipeline activity and affordability constraints.
At the same time, potential regulatory divergence means location-specific policy monitoring is becoming as important as demand forecasting.
For a deeper understanding of student housing transactions, deal activity and market fundamentals, explore the BONARD Platform or learn more about BONARD’s transaction data and commercial due diligence services.
For tailored advice on evaluating student housing investment opportunities and transaction activity, contact Filip to explore how he can support your next acquisition or development strategy.
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