August 19, 2025
RED FM News Desk
With the start of the school year just weeks away, many post-secondary students in Calgary are still struggling to secure housing. Once again, Calgary’s ongoing housing crisis is impacting university campuses.
At Mount Royal University, all 950 residence rooms are expected to be filled for the third year in a row, according to Mark Keller, Director of Resident Services.
“It’s been a tough few years in Calgary’s rental market,” Keller said. “We’re doing everything we can to accommodate as many students as possible.”
As of Tuesday, MRU has fewer than 40 students on its residence waitlist. “We’re optimistic we’ll be able to move through the list,” Keller added.
The University of Calgary has also reached full capacity, with all 3,000 dorm spaces claimed. This marks the fifth consecutive year with no vacancy.
However, the current waitlist of just over 30 students is significantly smaller than last year’s, which saw about 1,000 students waiting.
“Students may be turning to off-campus housing earlier, knowing that residence spots have been full in recent years,” said Julia Law from the UCalgary Students’ Union. “We’re also seeing a dip in enrolment numbers.”
Law noted that most of those still on the waitlist are third- and fourth-year students, as first- and second-year students are guaranteed housing.
“After that, students either have to find off-campus housing or enter a lottery system for residence,” she explained. “It’s a major challenge—affordability is already tough for students, who are trying to manage living expenses on top of tuition.”
Both Mount Royal University and the University of Calgary say the situation remains fluid, and they are still accepting applications for residence.
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