Yes, because the government backed student loans worked out so well (they didn't, they massively inflated education costs and hurt poor people because you can't write them off via bankruptcy).

If I'm moving to a new city/country for a job (or university), I don't want to buy a place on day 1. I want to rent for a year or so to see if this is a place I actually want to live. This is even more true if I'm moving there on a shorter term contract.