The first students of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) are expected to move into the new student halls at Vereggaria in September, with 150 beds set to be delivered this year and the total capacity projected to reach 500 within the next two years.
The development is directly linked to the acute housing crisis and soaring rental costs faced by students in Limassol.
The update was provided during the discussion of CUT’s 2026 budget at the House Education Committee. Rector Panayiotis Zaphiris outlined the university’s priorities and development plans. CUT’s 2026 budget is balanced at €126.2 million, covering operating expenses, student welfare, infrastructure and development projects.
Rents out of control
Housing was described as one of the most pressing challenges facing CUT students in Limassol, where rents have risen sharply in recent years.
MPs noted that some students who secured a university place ultimately chose not to enrol due to high accommodation costs. Others reportedly opted to study abroad instead.
What CUT is doing
Rector Zaphiris acknowledged that the housing problem in Limassol is particularly severe, noting that student numbers have grown significantly over the past five years.
- In 2020, CUT had around 2,000 students. Today the figure is approaching 3,000, including approximately 500 students enrolled at the university’s School in Paphos.
- In Limassol, CUT has introduced a rent subsidy scheme for 270 students, providing €250 per month for ten months through its own budget allocation.
- The university is also utilising 200 student housing units provided by the Archbishopric. With the completion of the Vereggaria halls, total capacity in Limassol is expected to reach 500 beds.
- In Paphos, 200 student rooms are already in operation. According to the rector, no student who applied for accommodation there has been left without a place.
Based on the figures presented, once the Vereggaria project is completed, around 1,000 students, roughly 30 percent of CUT’s student population, will either live in student halls or receive subsidised rent.
Growth backed by borrowing
Beyond student housing, the budget discussion highlighted CUT’s broader development plans, which rely heavily on borrowing.
The university has secured a €125 million loan for infrastructure and student housing projects, along with a separate loan for the construction of a new multimedia building. Tenders for the latter are expected to be announced by the end of the year.
At the same time, the expansion of activities has created increased staffing needs. New academic programmes are operating without corresponding increases in academic personnel, with current staff covering additional demands. Gaps have also been identified in both academic and administrative roles.
New programmes and employment outcomes
New study programmes such as Occupational Therapy and Data Science were also discussed, while there is reported interest in launching food-related programmes.
According to data presented to the committee, between 80 and 85 percent of CUT graduates secure employment within six months of completing their studies. The average starting salary stands at €1,400, and all programmes include mandatory practical training.
Expansion to Larnaca from 2027
Regarding CUT’s School in Larnaca, it was stated that the Department of Sustainable Development is expected to begin operating in 2027. The Department of Marine Biology has been postponed to 2028.
The delay was attributed mainly to building and infrastructure requirements, as well as the need to ensure the department launches with appropriate facilities and sufficient academic staff.