MU dormitories: from the newly renovated to the vintage

While the newly renovated Kounicova dormitories now offer a standard comparable to those abroad, older dormitory buildings can offer community spirit and an almost family-like atmosphere. “The university has a wide range of dormitories – from modern buildings to those with a touch of history. I see this as our wealth, but also as a commitment to give each building a meaningful role. Dormitories are just as important to us as classrooms or laboratories. It is where students spend a large part of their lives, and it is only fair that they live in an environment that reflects both their needs and the times we live in. These regular dormitory tours are not only a way of checking on our investments: most importantly, they give us an opportunity to think about what else our students need,” says Martin Bareš, rector of Masaryk University.

Kounicova dormitories: modern student facilities  

The highlight of this year’s summer visit was the renovated Kounicova dormitories. The refurbished interior now offers exclusively double rooms with private bathrooms, including two wheelchair-accessible rooms on the first floor for students supported by Teiresias, the university’s support centre for students with special needs. First-year students, for whom the dormitories are primarily intended in the upcoming academic year 2025/26, will move into the modernised spaces on 13 September.

“The renovation of Kounicova dormitories is part of our long-term strategy to provide students with high-quality, modern accommodation. Our goal is to reach the standards common at universities abroad, and Kounicova is a project that fulfils this vision,” explains MU bursar David Póč.

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Náměstí Míru: a strong community

The older dormitory building on Náměstí Míru, located in the popular area near Kraví hora, has 64 rooms, 58 of which are four-bed rooms. In recent years, the roof has been insulated and the doors to student rooms replaced. Students appreciate the friendly atmosphere and the personal approach of the staff – the dormitory officer Ivana Nagyová knows most of them by name.

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Klácelova: a villa with a spirit of place

The listed early 20th century villa on Klácelova street in the Masarykova čtvrť area was completed in 1923 by the Sušil Association, based on a design by architect Rudolf Hlavinka, and was called Sušil Dormitory until WWII. It originally served Catholic students and on 17 November 1939, the Gestapo seized more than 50 students who lived here and sent them to concentration camps. From 1941 the building served as an office of the German criminal police.

Today, Klácelova dormitory offers 100 rooms with a total of 313 beds. This year part of the roof, which had been leaking for a long time, was repaired, and the rooms were repainted. 

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Tvrdého: a stone’s throw to the city centre

The dormitories below the Špilberk castle offer 298 places, mostly in shared rooms; only three are singles. Tvrdého is popular among students thanks to its lively community and proximity to the city centre. However, the roof is in poor condition and the interior still relies on shared bathrooms on each floor, which need to be removed.

“With older dormitories, our options for major structural or technical improvements are quite limited. But even in those buildings, we can raise the quality of living step by step, such as by replacing furniture or refurbishing communal areas,” noted the bursar.

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Veveří: a listed building

With only 29 rooms, the Veveří dormitory is the smallest residence at MU. It is housed in a listed two-storey building designed by Johann Zoufal, with a neo-Renaissance façade that makes it a valuable architectural landmark on Veveří street. Although future plans may see the building put to different use, for now it remains a dormitory. Students living there value the fact that everyone knows each other well, and the dormitory council works very effectively.

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Masaryk University currently has a total capacity of 4,034 beds across 11 dormitory buildings. One of the main priorities of the current leadership is the gradual repair and modernisation of older dormitories. In recent years, for instance, the gas boiler and doors to student rooms at Náměstí Míru have been replaced, and the roof at Klácelova dormitory, which was structurally unsound, has been repaired.

“We in the Student Chamber are pleased that the university leadership recognises student housing as a priority and that services in this area are gradually being improved. I also see it as important that comfort comes not only from the quality of the facilities but also from building a sense of community, particularly in the smaller dormitories,” said Dominik Levíček, chair of the Student Chamber of the MU Academic Senate.

The university’s biggest investments are still to come: its plans include expanding the dormitories with two or three new blocks at the Vinařská site and building entirely new dormitories in the Bohunice University Campus. In both cases, the buildings will feature double rooms with private bathrooms, study spaces and other facilities.

“Investing in dormitories is not just about comfort. It is a matter of strategy, because we recognise that offering quality accommodation at an affordable price is one of the key factors in presenting Masaryk University and Brno as the best place to study in the Czech Republic. The Covid pandemic slowed some planned investments down and some projects were put on the back burner, but they are now again becoming the focus of attentions and we are working on completing them,” emphasised the bursar.

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