For the past 15 years, the number of private student residences in Poland has been steadily increasing. In the last two years, the pace of new project completions has accelerated significantly, and in 2025 alone, 12 new buildings offering a total of 3,800 beds were opened, according to the CBRE report “Private Student Housing in Poland – Time for New Developments.” Another 8 facilities are currently under construction, and 30 more are in the planning stages. CBRE experts emphasize that investment in the Polish private student housing (PBSA – Purpose-Built Student Accommodation) sector remains attractive for investors active across Europe.
Investment volumes in the European PBSA market grew by 9% in 2024 compared to 2023, and by mid-2025, transaction values in this segment had already reached half of the total invested in the entire previous year. The CBRE report “2025 European Investor Intentions Survey” confirms sustained, long-term interest in the sector. Among the surveyed investors, 62% declared that they intend to seek opportunities in alternative real estate sectors, with PBSA at the forefront. Half of all investors focusing on alternative assets are considering private student housing as their primary investment target.
“Poland is attractive to investors thanks to the strong fundamentals of its private student housing market, the insufficient supply of modern facilities, and the freedom to set rents under market conditions. One of the main risks, however, for investors whose operations are based in a foreign currency—most often the euro—is that rental payments are traditionally denominated in Polish zloty,” said Przemysław Łachmaniuk, Co-Head of Living and Senior Director, Capital Markets, CBRE.
Student Housing Is Growing Faster Than Ever
Over the past 15 years, at least one new private student residence has been completed in Poland each year. The pace of development projects accelerated sharply in 2023 and 2024. During that period, 12 new private student dormitories offering over 4,000 beds were opened across the eight largest academic centers in the country. Even against this backdrop, the results for 2025 stand out: this year, another 12 facilities providing a combined 3,800 beds were completed. Additionally, 8 more projects are under construction, and nearly 30 are at various stages of planning.
Still Not Enough Student Housing
Despite the significant number of new private student residences delivered in recent years, Poland’s market still offers vast potential for further PBSA development. There is no university city in the country where student housing supply fully meets demand. The largest deficits of available accommodation relative to the number of students are seen in Warsaw, Wrocław, and Poznań. The shortage is especially acute in the capital, where, despite record-breaking deliveries in 2025—more than 1,700 new beds across six buildings—the supply remains insufficient.
The growing demand for private student housing is driven by a rising student population. In this regard, Poland ranks among the largest higher-education markets in Europe. The number of international students enrolling in Polish universities is also steadily increasing, representing a significant and stable segment of effective demand for PBSA facilities.
“The traditional rental market, dominated by individual landlords with single apartments, often proves less transparent for foreign students, even despite gradual professionalization in this segment. Private student housing, on the other hand, provides an opportunity to integrate within a diverse, international community. Moreover, PBSA operators often focus not only on providing comfortable living conditions but also on organizing engaging events and activities for residents,” adds Przemysław Łachmaniuk, CBRE.
Source: CEO.com.pl – “Boom on Private Student Housing Continues: Poland Among Key PBSA Markets in Europe”
