Novi Sad students demand summer housing, cite impracticality and festival's move

More than 1,500 students at the University of Novi Sad are demanding the right to remain in their dormitories throughout the summer months, pushing back against a policy that requires them to vacate their rooms. The students have launched a petition advocating for continued subsidized housing, arguing that the current requirement to leave and then reapply for accommodation in the fall is both illogical and impractical, particularly for those who live far from the city.

The Novi Sad Student Center, however, states that it is not the decision-making body for summer housing policies. Instead, they point to the Ministry of Education as the authority responsible for setting the terms and prices. This bureaucratic deflection leaves students in a difficult position, facing the prospect of paying over 20,000 dinars for summer accommodation, a significant increase from their usual monthly rent of up to 3,000 dinars, or being forced to find alternative housing.

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The very act of students leaving the dormitory is quite illogical and very impractical for students, especially those who live somewhere far away. They are obliged to leave the dorms during the summer, for a period of a month to a month and a half, and then return to live again from September to November.

Students emphasize that the mandatory eviction practice, previously justified by the need to accommodate visitors for the Exit festival, is now baseless. Since the festival's relocation from Novi Sad starting in 2026, they argue there is no longer a valid reason for the mass exodus from dormitories. Furthermore, many students face postponed exam deadlines during the summer period, making it essential for them to have continued access to their study spaces and residences.

Recalling a period when faculties were blockaded, student Boris noted that students were allowed to remain in their dorms without price increases or issues. This precedent, he believes, demonstrates that alternative arrangements are possible. The high number of petition signatures, representing more than half of the students living in Novi Sad dormitories, underscores the widespread concern and the urgent need for a resolution from the relevant authorities.

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The Ministry and the management of the student center in Novi Sad made that decision, and students lived in the dormitory throughout the year.