The Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ residential mobility and future housing expectations: A comparative case study of Albania, Poland, Portugal, and Ukraine

The aim of the study was to assess the housing situation of students through their self-evaluation of living conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their expectations regarding potential changes in the student housing market triggered by the crisis, across four countries. The research used a survey questionnaire, and analyses employed structural equation modeling. Pandemic consequences were similar across countries but resulted in different housing decisions. Students combining education with paid employment were less likely to leave their residence in the academic city during the pandemic. The study provides empirical evidence of differences depending on the dominant housing market type and contributes to the international debate on housing conditions of vulnerable groups and their impact on student well-being.