European Coalition for Student Housing
Uniting universities’ and students’ interests in EU housing policy.
Student housing has become a structural barrier to higher education access and mobility across Europe. The European Commission’s Affordable Housing Plan, presented in December 2025, explicitly identifies student housing as a policy priority and commits to mobilising investment and launching new support mechanisms for students and young people. The European Parliament adopted its recommendations in March 2026, and a first EU Housing Summit is planned for 2026.
This creates a window of opportunity for universities, colleges, or residential halls that provide student housing as part of their educational mission to contribute directly to the shaping of EU policy.
Purpose
The European Coalition for Student Housing is an informal network of universities, university colleges, halls of residence, and other actors that aims to:
Act as an institutional liaison for universities and students related to EU housing policy dialogues, ensuring a decisive voice in the implementation and related strategic initiatives;
Share information and exchange practices on student housing provision, management, and its integration with student affairs and services;
Contribute evidence and institutional expertise to EU-level discussions on student housing data collection, quality standards, and investment needs;
Engage with EU officials, Members of the European Parliament, and other stakeholders working on housing and higher education policy.
Why join?
A VOICE IN EU POLICY
Shaping how the Affordable Housing Plan is implemented, direct channel to EU officials and stakeholders.
EARLY ACCESS TO INFORMATION
Funding, investment, mechanisms and policy developments.
PEER EXCHANGE
Benchmarking with universities across Europe.
DATA AND RESEARCH
Contribute institutional evidence to EU-level data collection on student housing capacity, affordability, and quality standards; gain access and pioneer comparative benchmarks at EU level.
Working Methods
STRUCTURE
The coalition operates as a lightweight, informal network with no separate legal structure. It is coordinated by the European University College Association (EucA), based in Brussels. EucA provides the secretariat function, including meeting organisation, communication with members, and liaison with EU institutions.
A Co-Chair from a member institution will be identified on a voluntary basis to share the coordination role and ensure the coalition reflects the diversity of its members. The Co-Chair arrangement will be reviewed annually.
The coordinating team will circulate meeting notes, relevant policy documents, and updates on EU processes to all members after each meeting.
MEMBERSHIP
MEETINGS & ACTIVITIES
Members are encouraged to propose topics, identify relevant speakers from EU institutions and partner organisations, and share developments from their national contexts.
The coalition will meet approximately 3 to 4 times per year, combining online meetings with at least one in-person meeting, with flexibility to convene additional meetings around EU policy milestones.
Joint activities with other networks and working groups may be organised when appropriate.
REVIEW
The coalition’s scope, format, and priorities will be reviewed after 12 months. At that point, members will assess whether the informal network format remains appropriate or whether a more structured arrangement is needed.
Membership
The coalition is open to:
Universities, university colleges, and halls of residence that directly provide or manage student housing;
National and European associations of higher education institutions with a focus on student affairs and services, residential life, or student housing;
Student organisations or student-led civil society actors with an interest in housing policy at the European level;
Researchers interested in advancing EU comparative research on public policy, especially housing and educational policies.
Members participate on a voluntary basis and commit to active engagement in meetings and coalition activities.
Institutions or organisations interested in joining the coalition are invited to contact EucA at the address indicated below. Participation is free of charge, but members pay for all related travel costs.
Current Members
HIGH-LEVEL MEETING
European Student Housing Coalition:
a European Policy Dialogue on the Future of Student Housing
2 December 2026 | 14:30h - 17:00h
European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
On 2 December 2026, the European Parliament in Brussels will host the Coalition’s first policy consultation, bringing together higher education institutions, student organizations, housing providers and European policymakers to discuss the future of student housing in Europe.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Engage with European policymakers and stakeholders in a structured dialogue on student housing challenges and priorities.
Identify shared priorities for 2027 and opportunities for collaboration across the Coalition’s network.
Explore key EU policy developments, including the proposed Student Housing Pilot Project under the 2027 EU budget
Contribute to the Coalition’s first policy recommendations, supporting the work of the European Commission’s Housing Task Force and the Housing Alliance Working Group on Student and Youth Housing.
Join the dialogue and contribute your expertise to identifying common priorities, exchanging perspectives with key stakeholders and strengthening the role of student housing in European policies!
Co-organized with:
The event is part of:
With the support of:
AGENDA:
14:30 - 15:00
Registrations
15:00 - 15:15
Opening Remarks
Marco Falcone, Member of the European Parliament
Anna Maria Bernini, Italian Minister of University and Research
15:15 - 15:25
Introduction to the European Student Housing Coalition
Mirela Mazalu, Secretary General, EucA
Franziska Sophia Knogler, Vice-President, European Students’ Union (ESU)
Presentation of the Coalition’s mission and objectives
The Student Housing Pilot Project
Irene Tinagli, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the European Parliament's Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union (HOUS)
The role of the European Parliament in advancing the Student Housing agenda, observations. (To be confirmed)
Georgiana Teodorescu, Member of the European Parliament
Stefan Moser, Head of the Housing Task Force for youth, DG Energy, European Commission
15:25 - 15:45
Student Housing on the EU's Policy Agenda
Tatiana Márquez, Member of the Housing Task Force, European Commission: DG Energy, European Commission
15:45 - 16:45
Stakeholders Consultation
The session aims to develop a joint contribution from the university and student world in support of the work of the Housing Alliance Working Group on Student and Youth Housing of the European Commission
16:45 - 17:00
Closing Remarks
Anna Maria Bernini, Italian Minister of University and Research
Marco Falcone, Member of the European Parliament