Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in Australia is on track for major growth, with supply expected to reach 144,300 beds by 2027, according to the latest Urbis Student Accommodation Benchmarks produced in partnership with the Student Accommodation Council.
The report forecasts 1,045 beds to be delivered in 2025, with a further 11,200 beds to be built between 2025 and 2027. In total, there are around 39,000 beds currently in the pipeline.
This comes as the Federal Government recently announced that universities will be able to expand their international student numbers in 2026 if they can demonstrate new student housing delivery. The national planning level will also rise by 25,000 places, lifting the 2026 allocation to 295,000 students, up from 270,000 in 2025.
East Coast Leads, WA Gains Momentum
Victoria now leads New South Wales in future bed numbers, although much of this supply remains at the approval stage. Queensland also has a strong pipeline, while Western Australia is beginning to show renewed momentum.
Provision varies sharply across states. The ACT has the highest level of student housing, with just 2.7 full-time on-campus students per PBSA bed, while WA has the lowest, with 9.2 students per bed.
Sector Confidence Returning
Student Accommodation Council Executive Director Torie Brown said the outlook shows renewed investor confidence following the federal election.
“A strong wave of new supply is set to go live in the coming years, with the number of student beds estimated to reach 144,300 by 2027,” Ms Brown said. “With the ability of universities to grow their international student intake now linked to providing accommodation, this strong pipeline should give the sector confidence it can partner with the private student accommodation industry.”
However, Brown cautioned that Victoria’s pipeline faces challenges.
“Victoria’s numbers may look good on paper, but the state’s prohibitive tax regime means many of these approved projects are yet to begin construction. Without reform to Victoria’s land tax – much higher than any other state – it risks falling behind in attracting investment and delivering new housing for students.”
PBSA Supply by State (Total Beds in Pipeline)
- Victoria: 9,338
- NSW: 9,285
- Queensland: 8,839
- Western Australia: 6,500
- South Australia: 4,561
- ACT: 378
As Australia moves toward a higher international student intake, PBSA is emerging as a critical priority, with the private sector expected to play a central role in meeting future demand.
