Full university residences, many prospective students on waiting lists

University of Canterbury halls of residence.
Photo: Supplied/ University of Canterbury

Many universities are reporting an increase in applications for residence halls next year.

Students said competition from RNZ for accommodation at the University of Canterbury was especially fierce and many were on waiting lists.

Other universities are also expected to have full or oversubscriptions in 2025.

It’s a sharp turnaround from this year, when most universities had empty spaces in their residence halls.

Canterbury said it had received 4,097 applications for 2,800 accommodation places next year, while Otago said it had 4,700 applications for 3,755 places and Victoria 4,424 for 2,741 places.

Universities said the figures included students who applied to other universities and might not take a place offered, as well as students who might not be able to get into university and would be forced to withdraw their application.

Victoria University said that because of these factors it expects to offer accommodation to all first-year applicants, although it has the highest level of oversubscription.

But students on waiting lists for Canterbury halls of residence told RNZ they had little hope of securing a place.

One woman told RNZ her daughter lost a university residence in Canterbury and it turned her plans upside down because the degree she wanted to study was not offered elsewhere.

“Ah, there were a lot of tears. You know, you have a dream of doing a specific course that can only be done at a university and then they don’t offer you a hall, it could be her whole future at stake… she might have to rethink your entire academic future now,” she said.

She said her daughter was on a waiting list, but she knew many other people had also been left out and it was unlikely her daughter would get a place.

She said flatting was an option, but it would be a last resort.

“Kids coming into university are all different ages, some of them are very, very young and flatting might not be an option for younger people, but I think if we have to look at it then we do it, but it’s not ideal , you don’t have the same social interaction and absorption in college life that we do when we go to the halls,” she said.

A head boy and girl from different secondary schools told RNZ they were also unable to secure a place in a hall in Canterbury for next year.

They asked to remain anonymous because they were on waitlists, although they had been accepted into residence halls at other universities and would likely accept those offers.

They said they would rather stay in a residence hall somewhere than in an apartment at their first-choice university.

“A big part of university is connecting with other like-minded students and young people and if you’re not in a ballroom environment it’s very difficult to do that,” said the head boy, adding that it would be difficult to get a apartment. in a city he didn’t know yet.

“I would like to have that first year experience in a university hall, so yes, for me, I would rather go to my second choice university and stay in a hall than in an apartment at my first choice university,” said the prefect -boss.

Victoria University said it has seen a small increase in room applications compared to last year.

“Students often apply to and receive offers of accommodation from more than one university. Applications are also received before students get their NCEA results in January. Because of this, some offers of accommodation are declined up until the day of change of our corridors, in February.

“We currently anticipate being able to offer accommodation to all of our first year students from 2025 and it is not too late to apply,” he said.

Victoria said it was investigating options for another residence that would provide independent living for second-year and above students in 2025.

The University of Auckland said its 4,418 beds were 99.8% occupied at the start of this year and there was a waiting list for its independent residences.

It was unable to provide figures for 2025 applications and said it would delay its previously set target of increasing its accommodation supply to 7,500 beds by 2026.

Victoria University is investigating options for another residence hall for second-year and above students.
Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

AUT said it had vacancies in its 901 beds in two homes but expected them to be fully occupied next year.

The University of Waikato said its accommodation in Hamilton and Tauranga was “close to capacity” this year.

It said it would have 1,231 beds available next year.

Applications for 2025 were higher than the same period last year due to growing demand from domestic and international students, he said.

“The University is currently exploring additional accommodation options to meet demand at the Hamilton and Tauranga campuses.”

Massey University said accommodation at all three campuses was undersubscribed this year, but it expected its accommodation in Manawatū and Wellington to be full next year.

It would have 292 beds in Auckland next year, 668 in Manawatū and 427 beds in Wellington, the latter number being lower than in 2024.

“There are a variety of factors that may be affecting the current number of applications for student accommodation, including easing pressure on rental markets and more students choosing to continue to live at home,” the university said.

Victoria University said its accommodation was undersubscribed this year but had 4,424 applications for 2,741 places next year. although it was “exploring options to provide more beds in 2025 for our independent living offering”.

Lincoln University said it had 665 beds and expected full occupancy in 2025.

The University of Canterbury said it received 4,097 applications for halls of residence, up from 3,451 last year.

He said there were 2,800 places available in University of Canterbury-affiliated rooms and he was in weekly contact with those on his waiting list.

“We recommend that those on the waitlist explore other options, such as accommodation or private boarding,” he said.

“UC offers the UniLife program year-round to help first-year students who are not in classes connect and make friends.”

He said domestic students were the main factor in the increase in applications this year.

The University of Otago said its halls were slightly below capacity this year.

“For 2025 we are recruiting to our colleges a pool of school leavers that is considerably larger than this year and at this stage we are seeing an increase in university demand consistent with this.” he said.

It had 3,755 places available next year and received more than 4,700 applications by the September 30 deadline, meaning it was well placed to start 2025 with full faculties.