Evaluating university proximity in practice
For a student housing project, it is worth examining the routes of daily life. The address should be assessed in relation to university locations, public transport, shopping facilities and the social environment. A location description thereby becomes a concrete evaluation of the planned housing offer.
A nearby university is a starting point. However, the analysis should identify the actually relevant faculties and campus locations. Travel times at different times of day can then be examined: on foot, by bicycle and by public transport. Transfers and the journey home in the evening should also be part of this assessment.
Considering demand and supply together
The location assessment should capture which students the concept is intended to reach and what alternatives they have. This includes existing student halls, shared flats and other apartment offers. Fit-out, location, contract terms and total monthly costs should be compared. The number of enrolled students alone does not answer the question of the right product.
For international students, it is additionally advisable to check whether information, viewings and bookings are accessible and comprehensible from abroad. This is a distinct component of the marketing plan.
Developing the product from the analysis
The findings should feed into the apartment mix, fit-out and positioning. A location with a direct campus connection may suggest different priorities than a city-centre building with several universities in its catchment area. What matters is the documented link between target group, location and the planned rental offer.