By Christina Stavrinou
More than 2,500 new students are preparing to take their first step into higher education when the new academic year begins on 7 September. The University of Cyprus (UCY) is expected to welcome around 1,300 undergraduate students, while the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) will admit more than 1,200.
At the same time, student housing continues to be a significant challenge.
CUT
Around 200 first-year students secured rooms in CUT student residences in Limassol and Paphos, according to Vasilis Protopapas, Head of Studies and Student Welfare.
In total, the university offers 525 rooms across the two districts. Of these:
- 150 rooms are located in CUT's own residence, the Veregaria Student Residence.
- The remaining rooms are provided through residences operated in partnership with the university.
Once the Veregaria project is completed, capacity is expected to increase to 500 rooms.
CUT has partially introduced a policy this year aimed at offering accommodation to all first-year students living more than 25 kilometres from the city centre, without the use of a points-based system.
Protopapas said full implementation was not possible this year because demand exceeded available rooms. However, the situation is expected to improve significantly after the completion of the new residence facilities.
According to the university, almost all incoming students attempted to secure accommodation through CUT.
Students who did not obtain a room and rent privately are entitled to a rental allowance of €250 per month for 10 months.
First-year students qualify automatically and do not need to submit an application. The allowance is also available to students in later years who meet specific social criteria listed on the university's website.
The annual budget for the scheme is €80,000.
CUT offers rooms under two rental categories:
- Social rent: €350 per month
- Standard rent: €550 per month
All first-year students are eligible for the social-rent rate.
University of Cyprus
The allocation process for University of Cyprus student housing has not yet been completed, as applications under special criteria and second-round admissions from Cyprus and Greece are still pending.
Kleanthis Pissarides, Head of Studies and Student Welfare, told Politis that demand remains high, but the strict points-based selection system limits the number of successful applicants.
According to data published by the University's Student Welfare Service, only 208 residence rooms are available for a total student population of 7,132 undergraduate and postgraduate students.
This translates into a ratio of approximately 34 students for every available room.
Monthly residence fees range from €120 to €160, depending on room type.
For the academic year from September to May, the total cost ranges between:
- €1,080
- €1,440
Asked about the second phase of the university's residence expansion project, Pissarides said he was unaware of the construction timetable because responsibility for the project no longer lies with the university.
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens campus
The Nicosia branch of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) will add approximately 200 new students in its second year of operation.
Rector Gerasimos Siasos told Politis that, with the launch of five new departments, the campus's total student population will reach around 300.
Accommodation is being provided through partnerships with the Municipality of Nicosia and the Archbishopric, while private student residences also help meet housing demand.
Admissions are expected to be completed by late August or early September.
According to Siasos, the academic year will begin:
- Late September for the Medical School
- Early October for all other departments
