Living Black at University

Research into the experiences of Black students in UK student accommodation.

Download the report

Living Black at University

The research explores the experiences of Black students across university accommodation and private halls of residence, amplifying their voices and stories to the wider Higher Education sector.

Download the report

Living Black at University

Now we at Unite Students are calling on universities and student accommodation providers to collaborate across the Higher Education sector and take meaningful action in order to address these issues.

Living Black at University is a major new report into Black students’ experience in UK student accommodation, commissioned by Unite Students and carried out by Halpin Partnership.

The research explores the experiences of Black students across university accommodation and private halls of residence, amplifying their voices and stories to the wider Higher Education sector. The findings are challenging, but it’s important that we have this knowledge in order to be able to respond.

Now we at Unite Students are calling on universities and student accommodation providers to collaborate across the Higher Education sector and take meaningful action in order to address these issues.

NEW: Living Black at University Commission Report

Our new Commission report shares practical tips and resources for improving Black students’ accommodation experience.

Find out more

Living Black at University

Featuring significant findings and 10 recommendations, Living Black at University is essential reading for anyone connected to student accommodation in the UK.

Download Living Black at University now:

Desktop report

Mobile report

Summary report

Living Black at University

Resources and toolkits

Unite Students has launched a national commission, comprised of decision makers from across the Higher Education and wider student accommodation sector, in order to respond to the findings and recommendations at a national level.

Below, you can find the resources created by or on behalf of the Commission to support your institution in improving Black students’ university experience.

Find out more about the commission

View our resources and toolkits

View the report appendices

Informed by Living Black at University, a major report into Black students' experience in UK student accommodation – with research undertaken by Halpin Partnership – Unite Students has launched a national commission in order to respond to the findings and recommendations at a national level.

Find out more

Learn more about the report by clicking through to our summary video and press release. You can also watch the launch event webinar and panel discussion, run in conjunction with the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI).

Press Release

05/02/2025

Higher Education blogs

2025 survey: Living Black at University

Living Black at University was published three years ago this week. Whether you’ve fully embraced it, taken some first steps or are brand new to it, we’d love to hear from Higher Education partners in our new impact survey.

21/10/2024

Higher Education blogs

Taking action on Living Black at University

At the 2024 Living Black at University conference, the sector shared what they’ve done to improve Black students’ living experience as a result of our research. Here’s what they’re doing, and what we’re doing.

24/09/2024

Higher Education blogs

Meet Carol Thomas, the new Living Black at University Commission chair

In 2022, Unite Students set up a sector-wide commission to activate the recommendations of our Living Black at University report, which explored students’ experience in UK student accommodation. With the Commission now in its second phase and run in partnership with CUBO, we caught up with the new Commission chair, Carol Thomas.

14/08/2024

Higher Education blogs

Living Black at University Conference: Engaging with Equity

Led by Unite Students in partnership with CUBO (College and University Business Officers), the Living Black at University Commission is hosting its second conference in Canterbury on Tuesday 8th October. Here’s what you need to know.

30/04/2024

Higher Education blogs

Living Black at University: Our new partnership with CUBO

We are delighted to announce that the next stage of the Living Black at University Commission will be jointly led by Unite Students and CUBO (College and University Business Officers), as we look to continue the Commission’s work on supporting equity, inclusion and belonging in student accommodation and beyond.

22/11/2023

Higher Education blogs

The future of race and inclusion in student accommodation

Hot off the launch of the new Living Black at University Commission report, we’re continuing our focus on the future of sustainability within purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) with this month’s episode on race and inclusion in student accommodation.

14/11/2023

Higher Education blogs

Why there’s a new Living Black at University report

Jen Steadman, Commissioning Editor of the new 2022/23 Living Black at University Commission report, explains why there’s a new Living Black at University report, what it covers and what’s next for the Commission.

25/10/2023

Higher Education blogs

How can we help Black students to settle in at university?

A key finding from last year’s Living Black at University report was that a lack of culturally relevant services in many UK cities contributed towards many Black students feeling like they didn’t belong at university. As part of the Unite Students Commission on Living Black at University, we wanted to take action so that Black students could more easily acclimatise to university life. Here’s how we co-created a brand new resource to support Black students moving away from home for the first time.

Living Black at University blog series: The Unite Students Commission on Living Black at University – A safe home environment as crucial to Black student success | HEPI

The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), has launched a blog series to continue discussion on our Living Black at University research report. Here we share the first blog in the series, 'The Unite Students Commission on Living Black at University – A safe home environment is crucial to Black student success', written by Professor Iyiola Solanke, Chair in EU Law and Social Justice at the University of Leeds and Chair of the Unite Students Commission on Living Black at University.

Living Black at University report: What you need to know | Unite Students HE Blog

Unite Students has published ‘Living Black at University’, major new research looking into Black students’ experience in UK student accommodation, commissioned by Unite Students and carried out by Halpin Partnership. Here’s an overview of what you need to know about the report, and where you can find out more.

Racial inequity plays out in university accommodation as well as the classroom | WONKHE

Accommodation is rarely mentioned in discussions of inequalities, but it may be a key piece of the puzzle. Jenny Shaw reports on Unite Students research on black students in halls.

Living Black at University: A call to action | HEPI

Jenny Shaw, Higher Education External Engagement Director at Unite Students, writes for HEPI about why we commissioned the Living Black at University research and what we want the Higher Education sector to take away from the report.

Living Black at University is a major new report into Black students’ experience in UK student accommodation, commissioned by Unite Students and carried out by Halpin Partnership.

Living Black at University

Resources and toolkits

Find out more

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Living Black at University is a major new report into Black students’ experience in UK student accommodation, commissioned by Unite Students and carried out by Halpin Partnership.

Living Black at University

Resources and toolkits

Find out more

Read more:

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