SINGAPORE: Local universities are expected to admit a bumper crop of freshmen in 2008 and for Nanyang Technological University (NTU), it may face a shortage of hostel rooms.

To meet the higher demand, NTU is planning to convert up to a third of its double rooms to house three instead of two students.

About half of NTU's students are housed in its 16 residential halls.

In fact, NTU is the only university here to guarantee all first-year students a place in its hostel.

However, this has become quite a challenge with more students coming in next year and the delay in the construction of new hostel blocks.

So NTU has come up with alternative plans. It aims to convert some double rooms to accommodate up to three students.

NTU has declined to reveal details, but campus paper Nanyang Chronicle has reported that the move is expected to create more space for 900 students.

Room rates are also still being discussed.

By adding one more person in the room, it would be quite a squeeze. When contacted, NTU said it is still at the proposal stage, and is currently getting feedback from students.

NTU has also created mock-ups in two of its residential halls to give students an idea of what these ‘new’ rooms may look like.

Channel NewsAsia understands that at least one in three double rooms may be converted to accommodate an additional student.

Some students recognise that this may be the best immediate solution to increase supply. But this doesn't mean that they're happy with it.

One student said: "One day, we just read it on the Nanyang Chronicle that they're going to have triple-sharing rooms. It came to us all of a sudden, we didn't have much warning."

"Too many people staying in the room, there would... be conflict," said another student.

Meanwhile, under the so-called ‘legal squatting’ arrangement, the student simply has to pay the university S$7 a day.

Some students have also discussed the issue online such as setting up a group page on popular social networking site, Facebook.

NTU's Student Affairs Office said a decision can be expected at the end of March. - CNA/vm