Students have pitched tents in Athens’ Syntagma Square, directly outside the Greek Parliament, to protest soaring rents and the rising cost of university education, warning that housing costs are making it increasingly difficult for young people to begin or continue their studies.
Around twenty camping tents have been set up in Syntagma Square in central Athens on Tuesday by university students demanding affordable student housing and measures to tackle the rising cost of living. A rally is planned for later.
— Daphne Tolis (@daphnetoli) October 13, 2026
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Despite heavy rain and difficult weather conditions, students from dozens of university associations have maintained their protest, turning the central square into an overnight demonstration against Greece’s worsening student housing crisis.
The mobilisation on Tuesday, October 13, includes a march to the Ministry of Finance, where students plan to present their demands, followed by an overnight stay in the square and a concert featuring Greek artists.
The students say high rents, limited university accommodation, rising food prices, transport costs and expensive educational materials are placing mounting pressure on them and their families.
Students Face Rents of €600 for a Studio
Nina Nifakou, president of the Student Association of the School of Administrative, Economic and Social Sciences at the University of West Attica, says the cost of studying has reached an unsustainable level.
Speaking to Orange Press Agency, she explains that students established the protest camp after repeated attempts to draw attention to their financial difficulties.
“Today, being a student has become a struggle for survival,” Nifakou says.
She argues that the housing shortage is particularly severe for students who move to Athens from other parts of Greece and cannot live with their families.
Nifakou claims existing student accommodation meets less than four per cent of demand. She also points to the University of West Attica, one of Greece’s largest universities, as an example of the shortage, saying students there have no dedicated student residence.
As a result, she says, some students face rents of around €600 for a studio apartment.
The expense comes on top of everyday costs, including groceries, petrol, energy, meals and the materials required for university courses.
Housing Costs Threaten Access to Higher Education
The protesters argue that the housing crisis is no longer simply a financial burden for families. They say it threatens students’ ability to access higher education and complete their degrees.
For young people who must relocate to attend university, accommodation can represent one of their largest expenses. When rent consumes a substantial share of a household’s income, some families struggle to support their children’s studies away from home.
Nifakou also claims that hundreds of students do not enrol in their chosen university programmes because of the financial pressures associated with studying.
The demonstration seeks greater public support for student accommodation and measures to reduce the overall cost of university life.
Student Housing Protests Spread Across Europe
The Athens demonstration comes amid wider disputes over housing affordability across Europe.
Spain has experienced repeated demonstrations over rising rents, shortages of affordable housing and the impact of short-term tourist accommodation on local housing markets. Portugal has also seen protests demanding greater protection for tenants and measures to make housing more affordable.
Although conditions vary between countries, housing costs have become a major concern for younger generations seeking financial independence.
In Greece, students say the combination of high rents and limited university accommodation is placing their education and future prospects at risk.
Students Warn of Further Protests
The protesters have vowed to continue their campaign, arguing that immediate measures are needed to improve access to affordable housing and provide greater financial support for students.
Nifakou criticises government spending priorities, arguing that resources must also be directed towards meeting social needs.
She says the student associations intend to escalate their mobilisation, with another rally planned for Syntagma Square the following Wednesday, October 21.
The students are calling on others to join the overnight protest and support their demands through further demonstrations organised by university associations.
With tents set up outside Parliament, the protesters are making their position clear: for many students, the cost of accommodation has become a barrier to university life itself.
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