by Sian Napiersnapier@thekmgroup.co.uk

A huge demand for places across the country has led to a shortage of accommodation on the University of Kent campus for first year students.

the university’s Kent Union has said about 500 students who had been offered places were not going to have somewhere to stay on campus.

Samantha Kennedy, Kent Union’s vice-president for welfare, said the problem had been caused by an unprecedented demand for places across the country and by fewer students living at home while they study.

“We are looking at how we can help the students by trying, for example, to persuade them that it is not the end of the world to go off campus in their first year,” she said.

“But we do not think everyone will find a room in Canterbury.

“This year the problem with accommodation is hugely worse than normal.

"The university has said it normally expects 15-18 per cent of students to live at home while they study but this year it is 11 per cent.”

Ms Kennedy said until last week it had been assured that accommodation at Canterbury was unlikely to be too problematic, with only about 50 students likely to miss out on a place on campus.

“We believe there will be students who will not come to Canterbury because they have nowhere to stay,” she said.

“We are also providing information to students thinking of deferring a place until next year.”

Ms Kennedy said the problem would be helped next year because Kent was building 500 more rooms on campus.

Gary Hughes, from the university, said despite this year’s unprecedented demand for places, Kent had been able to offer on-campus accommodation to all students who chose the university as their first choice and who applied for accommodation by July 31.

“However, this year, we are unable to extend this offer to all those who selected Kent as an insurance choice and to those who applied through clearing,” he said.

“This is in line with the university’s accommodation policy. Those still looking for accommodation have been placed on a waiting list.

“We have written to the students affected to explain the situation and are doing everything we can to help them find accommodation near the university,” Mr Hughes said.

"We are also offering on-campus accommodation at Canterbury to those students who wish to defer entry until 2011 and have assured them that they will remain on the current tuition fee regime.”