The University of Galway has sent out 40,000 fliers asking people in the city to make accommodation available for students ahead of the new semester.
Students' unions say this year the accommodation crisis is worse than ever before.
In Galway city, where there are over 30,000 students, the scramble is on for student accommodation.
But hard-pressed students are finding major obstacles and difficulties - such as the growing scarcity of accommodation, competition with Airbnbs and spiralling costs.
The latest Daft.ie Rental Report for Galway shows there were fewer than 200 homes available on 1 May, down 35% year-on-year.
Rents range from €600 to €1,200 per month, depending on location.
A recent survey from the college’s students union found 80% of those attending the institute struggled to find accommodation for the last academic year.
Half of all students say they were working part-time to afford their studies.
Mark, from Co Offaly, faces the prospect of a four-hour daily commute because he cannot find suitable accommodation.
"There is no accommodation available before it was like how expensive it was, but in the past couple of years, it has got to the point where there isn’t anything at all," he said on RTÉ’s This Week programme.
"I’ve been searching all year for accommodation and it's just impossible," he said.
"At this point, as a final year student I’m going to be commuting a four-hour round trip every day," he added.
Paddy Marnane, Student Welfare Officer with University of Galway's Students Union, said landlords are favouring Airbnb over student lets.
"The Rental Tenancies Board brought in new legislation that students have protection for six months, but it also means landlords are favouring Airbnb tenants rather than students," Mr Marnane, from Co Carlow, said.
"I’m also searching for accommodation and making up to 10 calls per day, but I’ve nothing secured yet," he added.
Colm O’Donnellan, Managing Director of O’Donnellan Joyce Estate Agents in Galway city, said the office is inundated with calls from students looking for accommodation.
"This is an annual problem, but it is worse this year than ever before," he said, adding "it’s always difficult to get accommodation".
Mr O’Donnellan said there is "a huge shortage".
"Students are going around from agents to agents seeking accommodation," he said.
"What we’re finding now is that quite a lot of parents are buying properties for their sons or daughters, so they have security for the future," he said, adding "it’s a huge financial commitment".
Sage L Alloway, a PhD student, has been served with a notice to quit her rental property.
"We found a place we thought was surprisingly affordable, so that’s when we should have known it was a scam," she said.
"As we went to send the money in, we noticed it wasn’t going to the landlord, but instead to Spain. Fortunately, we got it stopped," she added.
Hannah said she got a job and found a house through her work, but it was in a bad state of repair.
"There was a hole in the door and everything, a stained mattress, they never replaced and no heating whatsoever," she said.
"I’ve fallen on my feet. I’m in a nice house now, with lovely people but there are eight of us living in it," she added.
