LAST UPDATE | 3 Sep 2025

THE FIRST ROUND of CAO offers have been issued to the class of 2025, less than a week after they received their Leaving Cert results. 

But for many looking to go to college in Ireland this year, getting enough points for their preferred course is not the only hurdle they face. The ongoing accommodation shortage means that every year, students have to scramble to find somewhere to live for the academic year.

The lack of student accommodation often leads to students being faced with high rents (the average open-market rent nationwide between April and June was €2,055 per month), substandard conditions and long commuting distances to and from college.

They also have to be wary of scams, with Gardaí this week warning of a rise in accommodation fraud in the first six months of the year. 

With this in mind, we want to hear from students (or parents of students) about their experiences trying to find accommodation for college. Some of the things we would like to find out include:

• How hard is it trying to find somewhere to stay?
• What kind of accommodation is on offer (on campus, digs, etc) and what quality is it? 
• How much rent are you being asked to play? Are you being asked to pay extra to stay at the weekend? 
• What kind of commute are you facing?
• Has the accommodation shortage impacted your decision in terms of what college you’re going to attend?

Please share your experiences by emailing a paragraph or two (around 200-250 words max) to answers@thejournal.ie or by clicking the button below. 

Please include your name, county and where you’ll be going to college, or tell us if you would like to remain anonymous.