Shortage of University of Cyprus accommodation

University of Cyprus dormitories are clearly cheaper than the offerings in the private sector, but demand for dorm rooms are double the availability, the head of the university’s student care service Menelaos Menelaou said on Wednesday.

Prices for dorm rooms range from €120 to €160 per month according to what they offer and University of Cyprus currently has 208 dormitory rooms, Menelaou added.

“Of these, 59 were given to first-year students, 105 to current students, eight to international and two are designated as Covid-19 rooms. The remaining 15 will be used for clearance students,” Menelaou told CNA.

“We have had about 80 applications from freshmen,” Menelaou added.

He reckons, however, that in addition to the 59 who were provided for, a significant percentage of those who applied will receive a room within the first weeks of the classes commencing due to cancellations, as students often ultimately decide to study elsewhere mainly, in Greece.

Menelaou said that another problem on the rise related to the university’s accommodation capacity is the university’s efforts to attract international students, either in its study programmes or in its research projects or through exchange programmes.

To alleviate the problem, the university is planning the construction of the second phase of student residencies which will add approximately 700 more rooms.

“It is estimated that these will be ready within the next four to five years. In the meantime, the university through its student welfare association, financially supports its students who are facing the biggest financial problems, while trying to inform about reliable and affordable accommodation opportunities from the private sector through the Housing Office and a relevant list of private apartments,” Menelaou said.