The opening of the first phase of DCU's Postgraduate Centre, last week, highlights the investment the university is making in postgraduate education. The lack of affordable, good quality accommodation for postgraduates has become a major issue for the universities in recent times. DCU hopes that the provision of such accommodation will entice more postgraduates to the college.

"The centre will enable DCU to compete for graduate students by offering high quality accommodation at an affordable cost," says Dr Conor Long, DCU's dean of research. Already, the demand among DCU's 1,900 postgraduates (400 engaged in research and 1,500 on taught programmes) is huge and the two, three and four-bedroomed flats are booked out. When the second phase of the £8 million development is completed next month, the centre will house up to 105 postgraduates and their families. The building, designed by architects Anthony Reddy and Associates, comprises a common room, games room, function rooms and seminar and quiet study space at ground level. The second, third and penthouse floors are given over to accommodation.

All bedrooms are en-suite and double as study areas, complete with telephone, television and data points. While some postgraduates will share flats with other students, some students will need space for spouses, partners and children. "It's a unique facility in that it is custom-built for postgraduates and their particular needs have been taken into account in the design," Long says.