Morocco faces 400,000-bed student housing shortage as rents strain university families

Morocco faces a shortage of nearly 400,000 student accommodation beds, according to documents accompanying the 2027 Finance Bill, exposing the scale of a housing crisis that has pushed students into expensive private rentals, long commutes and protests over access to university residences.

In Rabat, students at Mohammed V University staged an overnight sit-in outside the Souissi 1 residence on October 6, protesting delays in its reopening after the academic year had begun.

Some reported sleeping in bus stations or on the streets, while others said they had returned to their hometowns and missed classes because they could not secure accommodation.

In Rabat, property adviser Khalid Sadiq told Hespress earlier this month that small studios cost between MAD 3,500 and 4,000 monthly, with rents rising an estimated 15% to 20%.

Some students have moved farther from campus to find cheaper accommodation, accepting commutes of 45 to 60 minutes each way. 

Government projects cover less than 3% of shortage

The 2027 budget documents estimate Morocco’s total student housing capacity at approximately 130,000 beds, including around 60,000 in the public sector.

Public university residences provided 56,226 beds across 25 facilities during the 2025-2026 academic year, against a higher education population of approximately 1.26 million students.

The nearly 400,000-bed shortfall reflects estimated potential demand rather than the number of students formally refused accommodation.

The government is seeking private investment to expand capacity, with projects selected through an investment solicitation process expected to provide 11,000 additional beds, equivalent to less than 3% of the estimated deficit.

Four residences offering 5,426 beds are scheduled for completion in 2027 in Fez, Mohammedia, Agadir and Al Hoceima. Another 4,500 beds are planned for 2028 in Beni Mellal, Safi and Taroudant. 

 Higher Education Minister Azzedine El Midaoui acknowledged the shortage before parliament in June, arguing that the state could not meet demand alone and calling for greater participation from local authorities and private investors.