Queen's University Belfast has launched an incentive worth £1,500 for students not to take up on-site accommodation.
QUB say this is due to an "unprecedented demand" for student accommodation this year which "is now over subscribed".
The university is offering £1,250 cash, an off peak sports membership at Queen's and £150 student card credit in return for students to find alternative accommodation.
It says there has been a 12% increase in the number of first year applications for Queen's student accommodation from last year. An email from the university adds that the current situation is not unique to Queen's.
It says: "We have made strenuous efforts to source a variety of alternative accommodation options but this has proved exceptionally challenging this year.
"This letter, therefore, is to help explain the situation at Queen's and to set out some of the options we have in order to address this issue.
"In order to reduce the number of students who still need accommodation and help prioritise those most in need, we are launching a £1,500 financial offer to eligible students as an alternative to taking a room in Queen's accommodation this incoming academic year."
According to the BBC, one factor in the oversubscription is that students feel it would be easier to alter their contracts with universities rather than private providers.
A Queen's University spokesperson told Belfast Live: “Due to unprecedented demand, the University’s student accommodation is currently over subscribed for the coming academic year.
"This is largely because Belfast is attracting a higher number of students who wish to live in the city and demand has been further heightened as a result of the pandemic. In particular, Queen’s offered extensive support to students, and flexible terms and conditions during lockdowns which has resulted in more students wanting to live in University accommodation for the 2021-22 year.
"In order to reduce the number of students still awaiting accommodation, the University is offering some students the opportunity to accept a financial alternative instead of an accommodation place for the incoming academic year. The University is also moving proactively to secure a range of additional accommodation.”
The offer is open to all eligible first year students from NI, GB and ROI who have applied to student accommodation at Queen's in 2021-22 and who meet the criteria for guaranteed accommodation.
It is also open to those returning and who have accepted an offer of a room in Queen's accommodation for the 2021-22 academic year.
The email adds: "This offer is time bound and limited in the numbers we can offer. Please confirm your decision by completing the form by midnight on Sunday 12 September."
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