Race For A Room
As the new semester is about to begin at the University of Luxembourg, many incoming students are still looking for a place to live. Last year, the university counted 8'560 students on its various campuses, with 56.5% coming from abroad.
This year, the university expects over 7'200 students, many of whom must not only prepare academically but also navigate the difficult task of securing long-term accommodation, something that remains a major hurdle in Luxembourg's housing market. Students from around 150 different countries studied in Luxembourg last year.
Master's student Emad Vosoughi received his admission letter only to learn that the university could not guarantee him a place to live, a fact that had already been mentioned during his application process. The University of Luxembourg does provide its own student residences, but demand far outstrips supply.
The university also points students toward alternatives such as WeConnect, a platform that promotes intergenerational living. This initiative matches students with older residents or private individuals who can offer rooms at reasonable prices. However, WeConnect itself is also under pressure, with demand consistently exceeding supply. Around a year ago, the platform had about one hundred hosts. Now, the organisation is urgently seeking around fifty more.
Clémentine Offner from WeConnect explained that now is the critical moment for people to come forward and host students. Every year, some students have to give up their studies in Luxembourg because they cannot find accommodation, she said. Many potential hosts would like to help, but encounter administrative hurdles.
Beyond university residences and WeConnect, some private landlords also rent out rooms or convert family homes into shared student accommodation. For Master's students, demand spikes just before March and September, while for PhD students, demand is steady throughout the year.