The construction of a new student housing complex in Crete, with a capacity of 200 beds, is one step closer after the Hellenic Mediterranean University (ELMEPA) gave the green light for the building’s design study.
The project is part of a 737 million euro government program aimed at providing student housing through public-private partnerships (PPPs) at six universities: the University of Crete, the University of Thessaly, the University of Western Macedonia, the University of West Attica, the Democritus University of Thrace, and the National Technical University of Athens.
In Heraklion, the contract for the preparation of the study was signed between ELMEPA, represented by its Rector, Professor Nikolaos Katsarakis, and the contractor consortium. The new student housing complex is planned to be developed within the ELMEPA campus, in the Stavromenos area of Heraklion, to meet the increased housing needs of the institution’s students.
Student housing is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the real estate market, attracting strong interest from the country’s construction groups.
In the tender for the construction of student housing at the University of West Attica with 1,100 beds, six investment groups expressed initial interest, including Metlen, GEK Terna, and Avax.
Binding bids for the project are expected in the fourth quarter of this year, and it is estimated that a provisional contractor will be selected in the first few months of 2027.
Significant Shortages
According to data from the National Student Housing Strategy (2026–2035) of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports (YPAITHA), public student dormitories offer 9,200 operational beds, covering a very small percentage of students studying away from home (200,000 out of a total of 351,000 students), compared to the European average of 15–18%.
In terms of geographic distribution, there is a shortage of student housing in cities such as Volos, Lamia, Alexandroupoli, Kastoria, and Ptolemaida, as well as a shortage of available spots in existing housing facilities in Heraklion, Rethymno, Komotini, Kozani, and Florina.
Under the government program, with a budget of 737 million euros, the new dormitories will be ready for use starting in 2029.