The business of universities: A case study of halls of residence

In this article, we discuss the changing modes of provision of English Universities' halls of residence from University provision to a complex marketplace in which private provision dominates. We frame our analysis around five themes familiar to discussions of privatisations of public sector institutions: financialisation, affordability, infrastructure, regulation, and partnerships. We draw on our original research, which comprises a survey of 50 universities, readings of the corporate reports of the leading providers, and seven key stakeholder interviews. This data enables us to illustrate concerns about the effects on students and the University sector in England as a result of the shift in mode of provision.