ICEF is the global market leader in business-to-business networking events and services for the international education sector. For over 25 years, we have been connecting education institutions and carefully chosen student recruitment agents with providers of accommodation for the short, mid or long-term accommodation needs of their international students.
Our unrivalled global programme of online and in-person networking events offers student accommodation providers an efficient and cost-effective platform to introduce your brand and access new clients in this exciting growing market.
Access customers at their most receptive with ICEF
International students represent a unique opportunity for accommodation providers: When studying abroad, these students need accommodation in their host country and are often willing to pay a premium for options which are seamless and hassle-free. Many of these individuals have higher disposable income than local students, meaning that they can be an immensely attractive market for the right accommodation options.
Each year, millions of students from around the world choose to pursue their studies in higher education abroad. Popular study destinations such as the US, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany and Australia are well known for attracting large numbers of inbound students, while up-and-coming destinations like the UAE, Singapore, Malaysia and Argentina have also been experiencing growing numbers of international students from their respective regions. Regardless of where they choose to study, international students require safe and reliable accommodation.
Historically, most international students come from South Asia, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Northern Africa and Latin America.
How our network can help you
The majority of international students around the world find their programme of study and suitable accommodation through international student recruitment agencies based in their home countries. These agencies are specialist recruiters who know the application and immigration process for their key markets, giving expert advice and guidance to would-be students. These agencies are therefore critical in matching students with the right programmes abroad, assisting them with advice, and introducing relevant products and services – including the right options for accommodation.
These student recruitment agencies, as well as the education institutions abroad, are ideally positioned to introduce your accommodation services. They can be referrers, brokers or promoters of your accommodation – and you can meet these agencies and institutions at ICEF networking events. With access to information in many of these outbound student countries sometimes being difficult, a recommendation from an agent to a student is often a key purchase driver.
Webinars for ACCOMMODATION PROVIDERS
Accommodation Providers - Increase your international student bookings with agents
November 2020 • International Student Accommodation in a Post-Covid World
Market intelligence for Accommodation providers
Student housing investments jumped in 2022 but still lag behind demand
A new report from online booking service Amber Student focuses on trends in student housing in three key study destinations: the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Reflecting similar findings in another recent analysis from industry research specialists BONARD, Amber reports a notable increase in investments in student housing in 2022. This includes US$7 billionContinue reading…
Tracking global demand and price trends in purpose-built student accommodation
The 2022 Student Housing Annual Report from industry research specialists BONARD provides important insights on purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) stock across 253 markets in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Australia. In total, those markets are home to 13,676 PBSA facilities, a third of which are managed by private-sector providers, and 2,255,678 beds. One overarching themeContinue reading…
Property experts forecast a tight UK student housing market into 2023/24
“Overwhelmed and understocked,” is how Stripe Property Group describes the student housing market in the United Kingdom. Stripe is a UK-based property developer and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) provider, and it is raising alarm bells, even at this early stage, about the availability of housing for incoming students in the 2023/24 academic year. Stripe’s previousContinue reading…
Dutch government asks universities to suspend active international recruitment amid capacity concerns
Indications that the Netherlands government was looking to clamp down on Dutch universities’ recruitment of international students have been evident for some time. It now appears that 2023 will be the year in which the government pushes for official rules limiting the influx of international students – a move that will not be popular amongContinue reading…
Measuring cost of study and cost of living across study destinations
Even before the pandemic, the affordability of different study abroad options was rising as a consideration for many prospective international students and their families. This reflects a growing emphasis on the return on investment of study abroad – especially in South Asia and Africa, where increasing numbers of students are considering travelling abroad for educationContinue reading…
European rental housing costs up 17% this year as crunch continues
A recent analysis shows that a now-familiar cocktail of economic factors – especially rising energy costs and inflationary pressures – continue to drive up the cost of rental housing across Europe this year. The HousingAnywhere International Rent Index report for Q3 2022 shows that the cost of rental housing has increased by 16.5% year-over-year. “The unprecedented energyContinue reading…
Housing issues persist in a number of student cities
Rising energy costs, inflation, and surging interest rates are all contributing to a student housing crunch in many study destinations this year. The situation is particularly acute in Ireland, where issues around cost and availability of student housing have been present for years. The situation, however, is notably worse as the new academic year getsContinue reading…
What if there is no room? The link between student housing and enrolment capacity
A recent blog post from Alex Usher, president of the industry consultancy Higher Education Strategy Associates, makes a case that housing supply is looming as a significant issue for foreign enrolment in Canada. The biggest pressure on future growth in student numbers, he argues, “is going to be about housing, and the way that someContinue reading…
Student housing market shows its strength as demand surges
Affordable, quality student housing is an important dimension of capacity for any study destination. More limited housing supply pushes up living costs for domestic and international students alike, and, beyond budgeting, can intrude otherwise on the quality of the student experience and destination competitiveness. At the same time, demand for housing is an important indicatorContinue reading…
Significant student housing shortages reported in the Netherlands
Many students planning on going to the Netherlands this year for study will face a challenge in securing housing, and this challenge looks like it will intensify in the next few years. The issue could well affect international enrolments, since foreign students will of course think twice before applying to Dutch universities if they knowContinue reading…
Upcoming events
To find out more about our upcoming events for international education professionals and for providers of accommodation and other services relevant to the international student segment, please see an overview of our upcoming events below.
ICEF ANZA
April 12 - 14, 2023
Perth, Australia
IN-PERSON
The 16th annual ICEF Australia New Zealand Agent event (ANZA) gives you the opportunity to meet the top international student recruitment agents from around the world who have a focus on Australia and New Zealand, as well as leading educators and service providers from this exciting and vibrant study destination.
ICEF Vancouver returns in 2023, with a three-day networking event welcoming hundreds of student recruitment professionals from around the world. This is an opportunity for educators and service providers from across the Americas, to connect with hundreds of pre-screened agents representing tens of thousands of students interested in studying in Canada and the US.
The 3rd edition of ICEF French Education takes place in Montréal and provides a unique opportunity for francophone education providers promoting study programmes taught in French to network with screened, quality student recruitment agents from around the world.
ICEF Spanish Education returns to Seville for a second time, providing a unique opportunity for education providers in Spanish speaking countries to network with ICEF-screened, quality student recruitment agents from around the world.
ICEF Africa returns in 2023 as a hybrid networking event focused on the needs of international education institutions, and relevant service providers, interested in recruiting students from this dynamic and vibrant continent.
ICEF Asia 2023 is an exciting and greatly anticipated event providing a first-rate networking environment for professionals with an interest in over 20 outbound student countries in Asia, including Vietnam, South Korea, China and India.
Hosted over three days, this hybrid event welcomes participants in-person, at the InterContinental Saigon Hotel, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and online.
As the largest industry networking event in the region, ICEF Latin America brings together hundreds of high-quality, ICEF-screened agents, decision makers from education institutions and companies providing industry services, in one place. This popular event enables you to forge professional and personal connections to support your engagement strategy in the region.
ICEF Accommodation is the world’s first-ever agent networking event where providers of student accommodation and related services meet with international student recruitment professionals.
ICEF Higher Education is a long-standing, popular networking event specifically designed to bring together educators and pre-screened student recruitment agents, all focused on recruiting students to the international higher education sector.
ICEF China, hosted in the vibrant city of Beijing at the Grand Millennium hotel, is taking place between the 16 - 18 October, 2023. Bringing together those from the international education industry focused on supporting students from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
A one-day networking conference that informs and updates senior international education professionals on the latest technologies and digital tools available to them. ICEF Digital is a perfect fit in the international education calendar, scheduled two days prior to the sector’s largest networking event, ICEF Berlin, and taking place in the same venue.
Considered the pinnacle of the annual networking calendar, our flagship event ICEF Berlin returns for its 28th edition this year, bringing together thousands of colleagues, peers, partners, and friends from across the global education industry.
ICEF Miami returns in 2023, bringing pre-screened student recruitment agents from across the world to the US, to connect with educators from across the Americas. Also attended by service providers and Cultural Exchange, and Work & Travel programme providers, ICEF Miami is a key networking event in the international education calendar for the region.
ICEF Student Recruitment for Online Programmes is a virtual B2B networking event connecting providers of online education with pre-screened student recruitment agents who are experienced in promoting online and hybrid programmes across all study types, levels and durations.
ICEF Dubai returns in 2024, from 12-14 February, enabling educators and service providers from around the world to meet with ICEF-screened agents specialising in student recruitment for the MENA region.
Running from February 27 – 29 February 2024, with one-day networking events in both Tokyo and Seoul, the roadshow is an efficient and cost-effective way to meet a large number of quality agents focused on two key locations.
Mexico and Columbia are major sending markets for international students and are continuing to grow. The ICEF Mexico-Columbia Roadshow provides an excellent, cost-effective opportunity for educators to meet, and leverage the expertise of ICEF-screened agents to recruit students from both of these important markets.
Engaging ICEF has greatly assisted Study NSW to develop a strong foundation for our international student alumni strategy.
Toshi Kawaguchi, Study NSW, Australia Service Provider
I enjoy regional ICEF events. The agents are well vetted, and they come with well-researched questions. It shows good preparation. This was my second time attending ICEF Southeast Asia, and I highly recommend it.
Julia Salema , Study Insured by Ingle International, Canada Service Provider
This event was absolutely incredible. We met many promising contacts, the
event was executed seamlessly - and it was fun! Can’t wait to see the business
opportunities that develop as a result of this.
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