Students
Student numbers come from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), counted where each student's university is. A university with several campuses sits in one council area, courses taught by partner colleges are counted at the university that awards them, and distance providers such as the Open University are left out. HESA rounds its counts to the nearest five.
Councils with more students per resident did not see faster rent growth. Across English and Welsh councils the simple link is close to zero, and it stays that way once other factors are taken into account. The older stand-in, the share of residents aged 18 to 22, has a weak positive link on its own and nothing after other factors.
Frequently asked questions about students and rents
Do student numbers push up rents in university towns?
Not in these figures. Councils with more students per resident did not see faster rent growth. Across English and Welsh councils the simple link is close to zero, and it stays that way once other factors are taken into account.
Where do the student numbers come from?
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), counted where each student's university is. A university with several campuses sits in one council area, courses taught by partner colleges are counted at the university that awards them, and distance providers such as the Open University are left out. HESA rounds its counts to the nearest five.
What is the 18 to 22 age share, and why is it shown?
It is the share of residents aged 18 to 22 in the ONS mid-year population estimates, an older stand-in for student numbers. It has a weak positive link with rent growth on its own and nothing after other factors.