Madrid faces a stark mismatch between the influx of students seeking dormitory beds and the limited supply available for study abroad. In the capital, around 61,768 students may need accommodation, while only 15,838 beds exist in student residences, according to Atlas Real Estate’s Fragua data platform as reported by this publication.
The housing stock is organized into several property types: 7,533 beds are in traditional residences, 1,386 are run by religious organizations, and 6,350 are in other student housing facilities. Publicly managed beds number 166 and privately managed ones total 403, yet these counts do not meet current demand. Additionally, there are 2,258 beds under construction across various projects. In total, Madrid’s student complexes account for 18,096 beds, including units not yet brought into service.
Demand-side data shows Madrid hosts 161,642 students, but only 65,182 require shelter because many live close to campuses. Among them, 12,580 are international students pursuing diplomas or master’s degrees, and 6,801 are Erasmus students who stay for short or mid-length periods. The remaining 45,801 are local students whose primary residence lies in another autonomous community.
Spain’s capital is also the country’s city with the most university locations. A report by JLL indicates that Madrid holds the highest share of the nation’s student population and that 21% of Spain’s student dormitories are located here. Madrid hosts 15 universities offering in-person studies and two distance-learning institutions. Of the in-person universities, six are public and enroll about 224,000 students, while nine private institutions enroll just over 80,000. The Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) is the largest in terms of student numbers. ShanghaiRanking’s 2022 list places two Madrid universities, UCM and the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), among the world’s top 500, drawing many international students to the capital.
Chamberí and CIU concentrate most of Madrid’s housing
Overall, the city accounts for 72 percent of the capital region’s dormitory supply, followed by Alcalá de Henares (7.5 percent), Getafe (7 percent), and Villanueva de la Cañada (5 percent). Within the city, the University City district and Chamberí boast the highest bed density, with about 7,100 and 4,300 beds respectively. These areas also host the highest concentrations of educational centers in the capital.
Map markers illustrate study centers (yellow) and dormitories (blue), highlighting how tightly clustered teaching facilities and housing are in central Madrid. These observations come from Atlas Real Estate’s data visualization and mapping efforts, compiled for publication as a point of reference.
In broader market terms, there is a noticeable shortage of land suitable for new asset development in Madrid, a trend noted by JLL. Some investors are pursuing value shifts, including changes of use. For example, the Round Hill fund purchased the Florida Norte Hotel near the city center, opposite Príncipe Pío station, for around 120 million euros with the aim of converting it into a student residence. The complex spans 24,000 square meters and contained 400 rooms at purchase. In a parallel move, MiCampus, a leading platform for student housing, acquired the Tryp Leganés Hotel due to its proximity to the Carlos III University campus.