University of La Laguna Approves Land Transfer to Ease Tenerife Traffic Congestion
The University of La Laguna is transferring land to the Cabildo to help expand the TF-5 motorway, while simultaneously updating student housing policies and standardizing pay regulations for research staff.
The University of La Laguna (ULL) is set to reorganize its property assets in a move that will help ease traffic in Tenerife’s metropolitan area. The university’s Governing Council has approved the transfer of a 2,429-square-meter plot near the Faculty of Fine Arts to the Island Council (Cabildo). This land will be used to extend the bus lane on the TF-5 motorway, a vital project for reducing congestion heading north.
The transfer, which still requires final approval from the ULL Social Council, involves reclassifying land currently designated as a green zone. While the university will not receive direct payment for the land, the Cabildo has agreed to provide several improvements in return. These include building an emergency exit at the Faculty of Fine Arts and installing solar protection at the Guajara Campus—both long-standing requests from the university community. The proposal was led by management under Lidia Pereira and received full technical and legal support before its approval.
In the same meeting, the university addressed the high demand for student housing. For the 2026-2027 academic year, fees for halls of residence will increase by 2.8%, matching the Canary Islands’ Consumer Price Index (CPI). While the university will continue to offer four pricing tiers based on family income, it is changing its eligibility rules: students in European exchange programs will no longer be eligible for these spots, as priority will now be given to non-EU students. Additionally, residency rules have been tightened; students may now only stay for the official duration of their degree, with a maximum extension of two years to finish their studies or complete a master’s degree.
Finally, the university has established new regulations for researchers working on externally funded projects. This framework standardizes pay for predoctoral and postdoctoral staff hired under the Science Law. The agreement covers both regional talent programs—such as Catalina Ruiz, Viera y Clavijo, Talentum, and Initium—and competitive national grants like the FPU, FPI, Ramón y Cajal, Beatriz Galindo, and Juan de la Cierva, ensuring more consistent working conditions for scientific staff.