Restructuring public-private partnership in student housing

Abstract

This paper presents the historical development of public-private partnership models in student housing in higher education institutes. It focuses on the rationale for the changes largely in terms of the circuits of capital, where each round of investment in student housing is accompanied by changing financing structures to respond to the new investment environment. Traditionally, student housing was often considered as part of social housing but increasingly, universities are looking to the private sector to finance, build, operate and transfer these facilities to release limited university funds for priority areas such as research and teaching. The risks for lenders and private sector developers as well as the varied ways in which such housing is financed are considered.