23 June 2025 
Bethany Hancock, CUBO Communications Officer
CUBO and Global Student Living (GSL) have launched their latest joint insights report, “Building Connections: The Power of Residence Life in Student Experience”. The report uncovers powerful new data on the key drivers behind student belonging, wellbeing, and satisfaction in student accommodation across the UK and Ireland.
Unveiled this month at the 2025 CUBO Summer Conference at Northumbria University, the report draws on insights from over 48,000 student responses in the Spring 2025 wave of the GSL Index.
GSL’s Head of Insight, Sarah Ead, presented the findings at the conference, highlighting how inclusive residence life programmes have a measurable impact on academic success, student retention, and social wellbeing.
Key findings include:
This is the third collaborative report from GSL and CUBO, building on previous research into the experiences of international and vulnerable student groups. It provides actionable recommendations for accommodation providers and university leaders on how to enhance the student experience through residence life programming.
Commenting on the release, Nysa Pradhan, Executive Director of CUBO, said:
“This research really drives home that residence life is not a ‘nice-to-have’ for our universities, it’s essential. As student expectations continue to evolve, we must be prepared to meet changing student expectations with inclusive and evidence-based approaches that foster real community and connection. Building Connections provides the insights our sector needs to redesign residence life for a new generation.”
The full report is now available to download from the CUBO website.
