Since tuition fees rose to ￡9,000 in September, universities are being forced to change their game. Students are now "customers", who want high-quality homes and facilities such as gyms, wi-fi lounges and 24-hour concierges, says Matthew Biddle, managing director at Berkeley First, which is due to complete 2,000 beds by the end of 2013. The Costume Store, a Berkeley First scheme for University of the Arts London, has an art workshop, 30MB broadband and even a public art gallery. "We now employ an interior designer, and we have a focus on facilities. Students are very conscious about where they are investing their money," explains Biddle.
展开▼
