Saurabh Arora, Founder & CEO, University Living Accommodation with Mayank Maheshwari, Co-Founder & COO, University Living Accommodation. Photo courtesy: University Living

Transforming a challenge into a thriving enterprise, Saurabh Arora has carved a path many dream of but few are able to achieve. University Living, his student accommodation marketplace, launched in 2015, has grown into a global platform spanning 640+ cities, serving 5.5k+ universities, offering 65k+ verified properties and supporting over 12 million students with over 18 million nights booked. Educationspeak caught up with Saurabh Arora, Founder & CEO, University Living Accommodation to find out more about the platform and his plans for the future.

Educationspeak: Tell us the story behind University Living.
 
Saurabh Arora: From the very beginning, I wanted to carve my own path, a path that was distinct from the family business. After graduating in Economics from Delhi University, I ventured into the banking sector and decided to pursue an MBA. I landed up at the University of Nottingham on an MBA exchange programme and faced a lot of problems securing student accommodation. When I discussed this with my friend and co-founder Mayank Maheshwari, he mentioned that he faced a similar struggle while studying for an MBA at the University of Northampton. Our experiences highlighted a glaring issue: only about 30% of students globally have access to university-provided housing, leaving the majority to navigate the rental market independently. Recognizing this gap, I launched University Living in January 2015 as a global student accommodation marketplace. Mayank joined as co-founder shortly after. 
 
Today University Living has grown into a global platform spanning 640+ cities, serving 5.5k+ universities, offering 65k+ verified properties, and supporting over 12 million students with over 18 million nights booked.
 
Educationspeak: How does the platform work?
 
Saurabh Arora: University Living is a global student managed marketplace designed to simplify the process of finding and securing accommodation near universities worldwide. Here’s how it works:
 
Search and Compare: Students can browse a vast selection of over 65,000 verified properties across more than 640 cities globally. The platform offers various accommodation types, including Purpose-Built Student Accommodations (PBSAs), private apartments, and shared rooms, catering to diverse preferences and budgets.
 
Personalized Assistance: University Living provides 24/7 support through a team of accommodation experts who assist students in finding options that match their specific needs, such as budget, location, and amenities.

Virtual Tours and Booking: Students can request virtual tours of shortlisted properties to make informed decisions. Once satisfied, they can proceed to book their accommodation directly through the platform.
 
Additional Services: Beyond accommodation, University Living offers value-added services to ease the student journey, including assistance with visa documentation, airport pickups, international SIM cards, and more
 
Educationspeak: Which countries are covered by University Living?
 
Saurabh Arora: University Living operates in numerous countries, providing student accommodation options in key study destinations such as:​ United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria and Singapore. The platform’s extensive network ensures that students can find suitable and secure accommodation options near their chosen universities across these countries.​
 
Educationspeak: What is your opinion on India’s study abroad market – given the volatility of the global market at the moment, do you think it will lead to a dip in numbers of students going forward?

Saurabh Arora: India’s study abroad market is built on deep-rooted aspiration and structural necessity, only 28% of the students get enrolled in undergrad courses between the ages of 18 to 24. With over 4 crores students enrolled in higher education and only around 1,100 universities, 54,000 institutions across the country, the math is simple: there just isn’t enough capacity to meet the demand.
 
Each year, millions of students graduate from school and look for quality education that aligns with their global career goals. Studying abroad offers more than just degrees, it opens doors to cultural exposure, independent thinking, research opportunities, and global networks. While countries may introduce policy shifts, students with genuine intent to study will always find a way, especially with more destinations like Europe, New Zealand, UAE, and parts of Asia becoming attractive alternatives alongside the UK, US, Canada, and Australia. It’s not about students going abroad, it’s about expanding opportunities both within India and globally, so every student finds the right fit for their aspirations. So, according to me, this is a market that will weather any storm.
 
Educationspeak: Future plans/initiatives in the pipeline?
 
Saurabh Arora: At University Living, innovation that meaningfully impacts students and partners globally is at the heart of our future plans. We are building stronger student-first solutions across technology, community, and content:
 
Our platform SABIE (StudyAbroadBuddy.com) is a completely independent, community-driven initiative that supports Indian and international students with verified, unbiased information about studying abroad. SABIE’s AI-powered conversational buddy helps bridge the information gap that often leads to misconceptions, empowering students and easing the journey for study abroad counsellors alike. We’ve already launched the industry’s first VoiceBot

Conversational Chatbot, offering 24/7 intelligent support to students, making the journey of finding and booking accommodation faster, simpler, and more transparent.
  
UniLiv Connect: our fast-growing international student community of over 200,000 students will be able to connect directly with fellow students, Alumni, UL Student Ambassadors, and Accommodation Experts. It’s designed to foster real relationships, mentorship, and support networks beyond just accommodation.

We continue to invest in knowledge-building for the sector through our flagship reports like the Indian Student Mobility Report (ISMR), as well as detailed insights into markets like Australia, Europe, and New Zealand, helping students, universities, and partners make smarter, data-led decisions. We’re also expanding conversations through The Living Pod with Saurabh, our original podcast series, which brings authentic, unfiltered discussions with industry leaders across education, entrepreneurship, and technology to the forefront.
 
In short, the future for University Living is all about smarter innovation, stronger communities, better information, and deeper conversations – keeping students at the centre of everything we do.