Studentification and
Moral Panic:
When is a ‘Student Area’
a ‘Student Ghetto’?
Darren P. Smith
University of Brighton, UK
The 3rd International
Population Geographies Conference
University of Liverpool
20th June 2006
Structure of presentation

Studentification in the UK:
background

Studentification in an
international context

Studentification and a changing
context


Dynamics of studentification
Perceptions of studentification are
not linked to distinct
concentrations
Empirical research:



Leeds, North of England (2001-2002)
Brighton & Eastbourne, SE (coast)
England (2002-2003)
National UK study > Department for
Education and Skills / Office of the
Deputy Prime Minister (2004-2006)


Australia


Melbourne, Hobart (March/April 06)
Ireland


6 case studies
Dublin, Galway, Cork (May/Aug 06)
Canada (Ontario / Quebec)

Kingston, Hamilton, Montreal, Toronto,
Quebec City (June)
Part one:

Studentification in the UK:
background
What is studentification?

Termed coined in 1999




Urban change with the hallmarks of
gentrification (Smith, 2002)
BBC Word of 2002
Macmillan English Dictionary (2003)
 ‘[Studentification is] the social
and
environmental
changes
caused by very large numbers of
students living in particular areas
of a town or city’
Wikipedia (2005)
Working definition: Economic

Studentification involves:



the revalorisation and inflation of
property prices, which is tied to the
recommodification of single-family
housing or a repackaging of private
rented housing to supply HMO for HE
students.
This restructuring of the housing
stock gives rise to a tenure profile
which is dominated by private rented,
and decreasing levels of owneroccupation.
*
Or
purpose-built
student
accommodation
and
knock-on
effects?
Working definition: Social

Studentification involves:
the replacement or
displacement of a group of
established permanent residents
with a transient, generally young
and single, [middle class] social
grouping;
 entailing new patterns of social
concentration and
segregation

Working definition: Cultural

Studentification involves:
 the
gathering together of
young persons with a
shared culture and
lifestyle,
 and consumption practices
linked to certain types of
retail and service
infrastructure
Working definition: Physical

Studentification involves:
 an
initial upgrading of the
external physical environment
as properties are converted to
HMO.
 This can subsequently lead to
a downgrading of the physical
environment, depending on the
local context’
Student Numbers
All
students
(UK)
Leeds
Nottingham
1995-96
1,720,094
40,111
44,685
2004-05
2,423,590
60,425
(+31,960)
59,610
2001 GB Census wards
% student
households
Dunkirk and Lenton (Nottingham)
24.0
Headingley (Leeds)
20.8
Crossgate and Framwelgate
(Durham)
17.4
Blean Forest (Canterbury)
16.6
Loughborough Storer (Charnwood)
16.5
Selly Oak (Birmingham)
15.5
Elvet (Durham)
15.2
Hanley West and Shelton (Stokeon-Trent)
15.2
Netherthorpe (Sheffield)
14.5
St Clement`s (Oxford)
14.4
2001 GB Census
wards
% total students
Holywell (Oxford) 90.3
Keele
82.2
(Newcastle-u-L)
Heslington (York) 79.7
Elvet (Durham)
76.3
St Nicholas
(Durham)
Carfax (Oxford)
70.3
Market
(Cambridge)
Newnham
(Cambridge)
65.7
68.2
64.0
Exaggeration?
Student concentrations:
Ireland
(source: 1996 and 2002 Irish census, using NIRSA interface)
DED
% students 2002
(% change 1996-2002)
% shared housing 2002
(% change 1996-2002)
Dun Laoghaire - Dublin
61.6 (+5.4)
36.9 (-12.7)
Gillabbey C - Cork
49.5 (+0.3)
43.1 (+3.7)
Ballysimon - Limerick
45.2 (-1.9)
24.8 (-1.9)
Danagan - Galway
43.1 (-1.4)
18.9 (-12.3)
Taylors Hill - Galway
40.7 (+13.8)
22.7 (+10.5)
Gillabbey A - Cork
37.6 (-0.7)
35.6 (+4.4)
Glahseen - Cork
36.0 (+8.7)
22.2 (+5.2)
Bishopstown - Cork
35.0 (-3.0)
26.6 (+3.4)
Gillabbey A - Cork
34.3 (0.0)
22.7 (+3.0)
Effects of studentification (What about
emotions / experential dimensions?)
Environmental
Economic
Social
Increased onstreet parking.
House price
inflation.
Conversion of
family housing
into student
residences
(HMOs)
Changes in retail
and entertainment
services.
Increase of anti-social
behaviour
Increased levels of
crime.
Purpose-built
accommodation,
that is out of
keeping with the
urban character
Poorer quality
housing stock
Increased
population density.
Increase of squalor
Seasonal
employment (in
shops, pubs).
Demand for private
rented housing.
Increased pressures
on services.
Decreased demand
for health and
educational services.
Displacement /
replacement of
established residents.
Increased competition
for private rented
houses
A Negative process!

‘Pubs have been converted to theme bars,
which often shut during the summer months
when students have returned to their homes.
Fast-food takeaways and off-licences selling
cheap alcohol dominate the shopping
streets. Schools have seen their class sizes
plummet as families move out of the area.
Inner-city factories have been converted into
flats, as locals lose their jobs. House prices
have also rocketed as landlords have
created a property boom and now people
wishing to move house but stay in the area
have found themselves priced out of the
market’ (The Observer, 21/07/2002).
A Negative process!

‘In the past three years, more than 8,500
families have left. Last year 1,600 houses
were converted to house students. Home
prices have risen by 50%, knocking firsttime buyers out of the market. Schools
fear closure because of a shortage of
children in the area. Because students
move on, there is an electoral roll-over of
52% a year in Headingley, compared with
an average 8% in other Leeds wards’ (The
Guardian (11/10/2000).
Perceptions of studentification

Moral panic (National HMO Lobby - 35
university towns)

‘Us and them’ language


Class-based claims of ownership to space /
place / services / resources - gentrifiers




‘Host’ community & ‘Guest’ community
‘Territorial wars’ & performances of power
relations
Intergenerational conflict
New forms of [mature] gentrification?
Begs questions about:




Sustainable communties?
Balanced communities
Social mixing / diversity?
The role of studentification / student
accommodation for urban regeneration?
Perceptions of studentification



When is the ‘demographic
imbalance’?
What is the tipping point /
threshold?
When are concentrations of
students perceived as a problem
by an established residential
community?
Perceptions of studentification

Postal (email) questionnaire survey
of all HEIs in UK


Postal (email) questionnaire survey
of local community groups within
National HMO Lobby


Response rate 62% (85% completed
by Acc. Officer)
17 university towns and cities
6 case studies – follow-up
qualitative research

Brighton, Canterbury, Leeds,
Loughborough, Manchester/Salford,
Nottingham

Studentification in an
international context

The ‘Student Ghetto’ in Kingston
Perceptions of studentification
in an international context

Carlton in Melbourne

Harmony between students and
established residential community

Studentification and a changing context


Changing student populations & geographies
The ‘Growing Esteem’ vision (University of
Melbourne, 2006)

4 new student geographies:






College Squares
Private sector purpose-built
Docklands & Southbank
Residential halls
Community resistance to the manufacture of
‘student ghettos’
Perception of changes which are akin to
studentification within UK context
STUDENTIFICATION –
CHANGING CONTEXTS (2)

THE PROLIFERATION OF
PURPOSE BUILT STUDENT
ACCOMMODATION

RELEASING HOUSING FOR
AFFLUENT FAMILIES WITHIN
THE CITY AND COUNTERING
THE ‘DRIFT’ TO THE
COUNTRYSIDE (C-URB.)
‘Marvellous Melbourne’?

Any lessons and / or good practice
 Funding of developments?
 Planning / legal obligations
 Aesthetics / building codes
 Design of internal space & services / external
space
 Mixing of students / different student intakes
 Marrying up with student experiences /
lifecourses
 Consultation with local communities
 Knock-on effects upon wider housing / retail
markets
 Satisfaction levels of students
 Management of students – e.g. anti-social
behaviour / pastoral care
 Cost to students & the wider ‘student package’
(top-up fees / appeals of university / location?)
 Student retention & recruitment
STUDENTIFICATION –
CHANGING CONTEXTS

THE GENTRIFICATION OF
STUDENT AREAS

THE DISPLACEMENT OF
STUDENTS
STUDENTIFICATION –
CHANGING CONTEXTS

DESTUDENTIFICATION
Leeds
 Coventry
 Nottingham
