Many universities in South Africa offer student housing on campus for both local and international students. They come as shared residences, dormitories, student halls, lofts or private rooms and are offered ordinarily throughout the semester.
These housing options oftentimes are accompanied by meal options and dormitory canteens or cafeteria which are provided by the universities as an added fee along with their dormitory fee. The food services are usually top-notch and students get the best treatment when it comes to the variety of options available.
Student accommodation on campus is very advisable for new students, especially foreign students who wish to get involved with university activities on campus.
Students can primarily opt for whichever options suit their budgets and they are sure to have value-added services like Cable TV, internet access, dry cleaning, and security.
Also, on-campus housing is also very pocket-friendly in South Africa as the rooms come furnished and they do not get to spend money on transportation to and from the university premises.
International students also utilize the opportunity to meet and mingle with other students, both indigenous and foreign and there is close access to all the university’s facilities which is a useful positive for students who wish to make good use of their academic avenues in university.
The other main option for student housing in South Africa is the off-campus accommodation option which comes as communes which are basically shared houses with other students renting a room in an apartment. The kitchen and bathroom are sometimes shared and some rooms come with the bathroom en-suite.
There are also private dormitories for students off-campus that are mostly run by private bodies that offer luxurious or upscale services like wireless internet, laundry rooms, kitchen spaces with microwaves, refrigerators and other modern furnishings.
Private housing off-campus is also advantageous for students who prefer privacy and want to experience other parts of life in South Africa outside of their academics. Also, with shared housing or communes students split the living and utility costs evenly, therefore they can save money as well.
With on-campus accommodation, it is very contingent to apply as early as possible to get a placement as they are very competitive spaces. The accommodation is usually in tiers depending on factors like the student year, the student program or if they are married or have kids accompanying them.
On-campus accommodation usually costs somewhere between R30,000 to R60,000 for one year (subject to changes per year).
Similarly, off-campus accommodation is available but not always the case as locations close to the university go fast and students might have to seek out housing in locations a bit farther than their university. The prices depend mostly on the area, the amenities they offer and the building, but students can expect to pay a range of R20,00 to R70,000 per year.
