An exploration and explanation of housing precarity in Scottish Higher Education

Abstract

There is an emerging student housing crisis in the UK. This research explores the housing experiences of Higher Education (HE) students in Scotland—amplifying the voices of students who have experienced housing insecurity, homelessness, and exclusion while attending university—and explains what factors have led to these outcomes. Aiming for a holistic approach, the research also includes insights from those who have engaged with this group in their role, including frontline student support staff, housing and homelessness service workers, and policy practitioners. Acknowledging some of the wider challenges in recruiting participants, and in conducting research during a pandemic, this research involves thematic analysis of participants’ interview data and brings together literature on student identity, studentification, housing, home and homelessness, and youth transitions to help fill in the evidence gap on HE housing precarity. Considering that university students are a group who are, largely, ineligible for welfare support, it is, therefore, vital that we recognise vulnerability in this group. This research suggests that HE students are facing a multitude of housing barriers and finds that students have been restricted access to accommodation (due to their student status) and dissuaded from, or denied access to, statutory housing and homelessness services. Critically, this research questions our, arguably, antiquated understanding of housing journeys through university and questions both local authorities’ and HE institutions’ role in recognising and responding to student housing precarity. Moreover, it questions if we, and—more importantly—students themselves, recognise their candidacy for homelessness services. Ultimately, the research provokes discussion of how we can better support students experiencing structural inequality in housing provision.