Double rooms with modern equipment will be used primarily for new students arriving at MU from this September. “The plumbing has been replaced and each room now has its own shower, washbasin and toilet. The bathrooms have also been tiled and new ventilation systems have been installed,” says Marcela Dvořáková from the Infrastructure Development Office of the MU Rector’s Office, adding that the rooms will now all be double rooms. The refurbishment is almost complete – the linoleum flooring has been laid and the new electrical wiring and air conditioning have been installed. At the beginning of the year, the delivery and installation of the interior furnishings – wardrobes, beds, tables, chairs and shelves – began.
The second phase of the refurbishment, which is currently underway, includes the construction of two new lifts, including an evacuation lift, the reconstruction of the entrance areas, including staff offices, and the refurbishment of the interior. On the first floor of the dormitory, two blocks with two double rooms, an accessible bathroom and other interior fittings will be created for students from the Support Centre for Students with Special Needs.
First year students have priority
One of Masaryk University's top priorities at the moment is to provide as many beds as possible for new students. Already this academic year, the number of beds has increased from 750 last year to more than 1,200, and the completion of the modernisation of the Kounicova dormitories will bring a further increase of 600 beds. At its meeting last November, the MU Accommodation Board agreed to allocate all of this capacity to new students.
“The refurbishment of Kounicova dormitories part of our commitment to providing students with the quality and modern facilities they need to succeed in their studies. With increased bed capacity across MU dormitories, we are focusing on new first year students,” said MU Bursar David Póč.
Renovation of the high-rise building near the MU Faculty of Law began in October 2023. The total cost of the project is CZK 200 million, with the first phase covered by a CZK 119 million grant from the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.
Masaryk University is also planning to build more student dormitories at the Bohunice University Campus and in the next five years also at the Vinařská complex.