Looking for student accommodation is part of the tertiary education journey of many students, particularly those who don't live close to their preferred place of learning.
There are few things you need to take into consideration before deciding. For example, what type of security does the building have, costs, and most importantly location.
There are various types of housing options available from living on campus residence to private accommodation.
Below is a list of Student Accommodation options you should consider:
University Residence (On-Campus Accommodation)
Most South African universities provide furnished accommodation that comes with numerous facilities. These types of accommodation are very common and popular because of their convenience, as they are located within walking distance from the university.
On campus accommodation is managed by university management and prices are fairly reasonably but they do vary on whether you would like to have your own room or live in a shared room.
Residences are usually focused on students at a particular stage of their studies. First and second year students might be in certain residences, while more senior students will be in other residences. There might be some residences that are for post-grad students only.
One big difference between university residences is whether they are catered or self-catering. The residences for younger students are usually catered so you don't have to worry about cooking meals in your first years at varsity. More established students usually prefer the flexibility to do their own thing when it comes to food.
Private Student Residences
In recent years, to overcome the shortage of student beds available a number of private residences have been built in university towns across the country. These might be individual buildings in one town, or part of a national chain.
As these private residences are usually new, or at least have been recently re-furbished, they will be more modern than your average university-owned residence. They will also usually have better facilities as well. Have this usually will also come at a greater cost. However there are also private residences that are targeted at supported students who are funded by NSFAS so they will endeavour to keep their costs down to the NSFAS-approved rates, or not too much higher.
Interesting Read: How NSFAS Allowances For Private Accommodation Works
NSFAS-funded students must always ensure that the private accommodation they are staying in has been accredited by NSFAS.
Here Are Links To Some Of The Popular Private Residence Groups
Campuskey | Southpoint | Respublica | MyDomain | Peak Studios | Urban Einstein | Isa Carstens Ladies Residence | Thrive Student Living | Rise Student Living | Brooklyn Studios | Varsity Village |
Private Student Accommodation
If you’re the type of student who values privacy, then you might want to opt for private student accommodation. Private housing is using situated off-campus and may include private apartment or shared student houses.
These spaces are usually owned by families who live close to universities, or at least on local transport routes to campuses. Depending on the facilities provided these types of living spaces can cost a lot more than typical student accommodation.
Click on one of the links below to look for student accommodation in the town or city you will be studying in:
| Bellville | Bloemfontein | Cape Town | Durban | Gqeberha | Joburg | Kimberly | KuGompo | Makhanda | Mpumalanga | Pietermaritzburg | Polokwane | Pretoria | Richards Bay | Stellenbosch | Tlokwe |
