Housing shortage worsens in Finland’s largest student city Vaasa

Vaasa is facing a severe housing shortage as the number of higher education students continues to rise, reports Yle.

The city, Finland’s largest university hub per capita, saw a record 16,000 students begin their studies last autumn, with numbers expected to grow further this year. Over the past six years, the student population has increased by 4,000, now totaling 20,000 in a city of 70,000 residents.

Construction has stalled in recent years, exacerbating the crisis. The Vaasa Student Housing Foundation (Voas) currently has 700 students waiting for housing, with no available units. Voas provides only 20% of student housing, leaving 70% to rely on the private market, where competition is fierce.

“The situation looks worse than last year,” said Voas CEO Marko Ylimäki. City housing chief Jonas Nylén admitted, “We’re in a bit of a bind. Housing has been a bottleneck for years, and it’s only getting worse.”

Vaasa University has secured hotel quotas for emergency student housing this autumn. Two years ago, the university reduced intake due to the shortage, but student numbers have still grown annually for six years.

University rector Minna Martikainen and Novia University of Applied Sciences rector Örjan Andersson defended the increase in student numbers, citing labor market demand and government pressure to produce more degree holders.