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UCD remains the Irish college with the most expensive accommodation. Law and Politics Editor Johnny Lumley discusses the rise in cost again in 2026
UCD has once again been found to offer the most expensive option for on-campus accommodation in Ireland, with the price of an en-suite bathroom in Village 3 rising to 11,990 euros. This follows an increase in rent across most Irish universities. This is the second year that UCD has ranked as the most expensive option for on-campus accommodation, with the same room costing 11,888 euros last year.
The rising costs of accommodation have continually led to housing being one of the biggest concerns reported by students, seeming to only worsen year on year, as demonstrated above. While there are controls in place that prevent rent from increasing by more than 2% per year, loopholes still allow landlords to increase costs beyond that rate. This is done via the service charges related to utilities, which are not subject to the same controls. Within DCU for the academic year of 2024-2025, there was an increase of 6.7% in overall rent, well above what the control is. This has resulted in scrutiny from the Minister for Higher Education, James Lawless, arguing that such increases are not in the spirit of the law.
While there is legislation in the works in order to address this loophole, students will still feel the pressure of increasingly expensive accommodation. This is paired with the fact that fees are going to be 500 euros more expensive than they have been since 2023. This is due to the 1000 euro cost of living stimulus being replaced by a permanent 500-euro reduction in student contribution fees. The government contends that the stimulus was always intended to be a temporary measure, and according to James Lawless, there are plans to continue these reductions in an effort to make third-level education more affordable. While this is a positive development towards making third-level education more accessible to future students, the lack of the stimulus for the coming year will certainly be a factor worsening affordability for current students.
On a positive note, the government has released its strategy for student accommodation, with the promise of providing 42,000 beds by 2035. They recognise a current deficit of 15,000 beds, and promise that 30% of the beds will be provided at a discounted rate to support affordability. The state has also recognised that the scale of the project exceeds its capabilities and will require private funding and development.
While these efforts from the government inspire hope for future generations of students, many current students in the midst of a worsening affordability crisis feel unsupported. The effects of this crisis are known, with many students being forced to commute large distances every day as the costs associated with moving out are too vast. This can mean that many are forced to miss out on a typical college experience, not being able to attend society social events or other extracurricular activities as a result of the long commutes. In light of this, many students look forward to Budget 2027 in the hope for measures that will ease the burden of affordability.