A Seamless Start to Global Education

Acumen & University Living Announce INR ₹2 Cr in ‘Living Scholarships’ to Make Studying Abroad Hassle-Free!

New Delhi, India – March 11, 2025 – Acumen, part of the Sannam S4 Group, is proud to announce a pioneering partnership with University Living to offer up to INR 2 Cr worth of ‘Living Scholarships’ for Indian students enrolling at their leading universities partners in the UK, Ireland, Australia, the US, and Canada.

This initiative is designed to ease the transition for Indian students, ensuring they feel supported from the moment they arrive. The scholarship fund of INR 2 Cr will be piloted to over 50 university partners of Acumen and University Living.  This partnership empowers students to focus on what matters most—their academic journey and personal growth—without the added stress of securing housing abroad.

According to University Living’s Indian Student Mobility Report 2024, Indian students’ spending on housing has increased sharply between 2019 and 2022, yet finding suitable accommodation remains a growing challenge. In the U.S., spending rose from $1.9 billion to $2.4 billion, while Canada saw an increase from $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion. Australia witnessed a rise from $0.8 billion to $1.2 billion, and the UK recorded the most significant jump from $0.4 billion to $1.4 billion.

A New Era of Student Support

Starting in March 2025, students accepted into Acumen’s partner universities will be eligible for living scholarships and can receive up to one month of free accommodation, helping them to settle in, connect with their peers, and kick-start their studies in a secure and comfortable environment.

“Studying abroad can be overwhelming, especially during the initial months,” said Sagar Bahadur, Executive Director – South and Southeast Asia at Acumen. “With this groundbreaking partnership, we’re not just helping students find a place to stay; we’re offering them peace of mind and the confidence they need to thrive academically and socially from day one.”

“University Living has always had a student-first approach, and this is another way for us to give back to the student community. We believe that financial challenges should not be a barrier to achieving your dreams. Through this scholarship with Acumen, we are committed to providing support to the student, for their second biggest expense when they plan to study abroad.  University Living’s Indian Student Mobility Report 2024, projects that by 2025, Indian students’ spending on accommodation will reach $4 billion in the U.S., $2.6 billion in Canada, $2.4 billion in Australia, and $1.9 billion in the UK.”

Saurabh Arora, CEO of University Living added, “This is our way of helping the universities ease the burden of their potential students, and enable a smooth transition.”

Empowering Students for a Bright Future

The partnership between Acumen and University Living is a crucial step in making the study abroad experience more accessible and supportive for Indian students. By offering up to one month of free student accommodation, the initiative allows students to settle into their new homes without the worry of accommodation costs or logistics. This helps ease their transition, enabling them to get the most out of their international experience.

What This Means for International Universities

International universities looking to attract Indian students can greatly benefit from this initiative. By partnering with Acumen, universities can offer their prospective Indian students greater reassurance and a smoother entry into their academic life. This partnership allows universities to support their students even before they set foot on campus, enhancing their overall student experience and making their transition to studying abroad easier and more welcoming.

Acumen and University Living are offering universities the opportunity to join this transformative initiative, supporting Indian students and helping them build the foundation for a successful academic career abroad.

A Call to Action for International Universities and Students

Acumen and University Living invite international universities to partner with them in this student-centric initiative to provide unparalleled support for incoming Indian students. By offering Living scholarship up to one month of free accommodation to eligible students, universities can position themselves as leaders in student well-being and demonstrate their commitment to providing a seamless and supportive experience for their international student community.

For press inquiries or more information, please contact: Sheena Satija – Principal Executive Officer, [email protected]

About University Living

University Living Accommodation is a community-based global student housing managed marketplace, providing students with safe, comfortable, and affordable accommodation options across different countries. Our innovative platform seamlessly integrates technology to empower students with a vast selection of accommodation options, boasting over 2 million beds across 515+ student-centric cities spanning the UK, Ireland, Australia, Europe, USA, and Canada.

The company generates annual traffic of 8 million annually and has assisted 2 Million students to date from 110+ nationalities. University Living has built an organic marketplace for student accommodation, and the focus has always been to stay ahead of the curve, which makes the company a tech-enabled and content-led product. UL is an award-winning organization with a GBV of 500 million and more than 15 million nights in just 8 years. Being a category creator with a decade of experience, the company offers hassle-free booking services, transparent pricing, and 24/7 assistance to ensure a seamless post-admission experience for students.

www.universityliving.com

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About Acumen

Acumen, part of Sannam S4 Group, is a market leader in the higher education sector, committed to helping globally ambitious universities and education partners enter, explore, and expand in South Asia, Southeast Asia, North America, and beyond. With a proven track record, we support over 100 universities and governments by providing tailored solutions for sustainable in-country presence, transnational education, strategic partnerships, and research collaboration.

Operating in 20+ countries with a team of 250+ industry practitioners, we offer expertise in student recruitment, enrollment growth, market research, and risk mitigation, ensuring institutions can leverage international education opportunities effectively. Our deep local knowledge, combined with global insights, allows us to act as an extension of our partners’ brands, helping them navigate an increasingly competitive education landscape.

At Acumen, we specialize in building impactful collaborations, providing policy insights, and supporting institutions in achieving long-term international success.