Student Accommodation | Careers Portal

Cape Town is home to many amazing colleges and universities. Because of this there are many student accommodation options in Cape Town.

TVET Colleges in the city include the College of Cape Town, Northlink College and False Bay College which all have multiple campuses around the city.

Then there’s also the University of Cape Town, University of the Western Cape and Cape Peninsula University of Technology, which also have a number of campuses,

As we as the university residences and college residences that are available there are also a growing number of private residences like, for example Campuskey, MyDomain, The Nest, Student and Life, and others.

Because there are so many students around the city there are also many people who have catered for them by making private accommodation available to rent for students.

If you are one of the many students who will be moving away from home for the first time then choosing where to stay is a very important decision. It’s probably almost as important as making sure you choose the right course to study!

The simplest choice is usually to choose to stay at a residence run by the university or college that you will be studying at – if that is an option.

The advantages of living at on campus residences include that fact that it is convenient, gives you easy access to university resources and save time traveling each day. However bear in mind that some schools have built residences away from their campuses – although they will usually allocate those to more senior students.

Where you can find Student Accommodation in Cape Town:

Things to Consider When Choosing Your Student Accommodation

How Far Is The Accommodation From Your Studies?

If you can live close to your chosen campus that has many advantages. The downside of course is that this can be more expensive. But if you are close it will save you a lot of time with commuting and with live in SA you never know when lectures will be cancelled for load-shedding, protests or any other reason so you don’t want to spend a long time traveling only to find you wasted the trip.

Choose Accommodation Recommended By Other Students

Check with your University or College whether they have onsite or off-campus accommodation that they recommend. Then check with the SRC if there is a student housing section and if they can give you advice. This is one way to be sure that you will be getting great recommendations.

Check Whether The Location Is Safe And Secure

Safety and security as a student is of vital importance. There may be times where you would need to have classes until late and then travel home. Speak to other students and research in the local media

Check That There Is Internet Connectivity Or WIFI

Wifi at home is an essential and you don’t want to be relying on data. So consider if there is wifi available and if there isn’t you’ll have to fact the cost of getting that yourself into your calculations.

Weigh Up What You Get for Money

Look for accommodation which is fully kitted out with all of the conveniences of home. The last thing you want is to struggle buying extra furniture after already paying a huge monthly fee.

Get Your ID and Documents in Order

If you are going to sign a lease you will need to show your ID card, proof of current residence and possibly some other documents. If you don’t have a Smart ID Card you should apply for one straight away so it does not delay your application.

Make Sure The Place Is Clean And Comfortable

Being in a clean and comfortable environment makes studying more productive and spending time at the digs more home-like. Find out how often your place will be cleaned and what the options are regarding that. Also, when looking at the accommodation for the first time, note the cleanliness and the state that the place is in and ask yourself, do you see yourself staying here, before signing on the dotted line.

How To Choose The Bests Off Campus Student Accommodation

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Most student accommodation options usually has the standard furniture like a bed, desk, chair and cupboard for your clothing however everything else is up to you to bring.

What you should bring:

– Bring a desk lamp for late night studying.

– Pin board for notes and pictures.

– Pictures of your family to remind you of home and make your space feel a bit more comfortable during your stay.

– Two sets of bedding so that you can alternate when you do washing (Make sure you know what size bed you are going to be getting so that you can cater for the appropriate bedding size).

– Rug for the winter months.

– Do not bring all your clothing from home. Most of the time your cupboard space is limited and then you left with items that cannot be put away.

– A laundry bag to put all your dirty laundry in.

– Ironing board with an iron (ironing board is optional as you can always iron on your bed).

– Fridge (not a necessity however it is good to have a bar fridge in your room to store a few items you don’ want to share).

– A small dinner set that consists of the basics (cutlery, dinner plates, bowls) these are for days where you want to eat in your room or you’ve bought takeaways and you need to warm things up.

– A Kettle for late night tea/coffee making.

– Small storage containers for organisation and to put any additional items in (Example your study material).

– Bring Tupperware (You will also need Tupperware for storage of your food).

Interesting Read: Your Student Accommodation Checklist

Meal Plans:

Some student accommodation offer catering included. This takes the pressure off you from having to cook everyday. However, you might not always be able to eat throughout the day.

We recommend that you take at least two of the meals you are offered and fit it in around your timetable. Example: If you need to be in class at 12pm only, then consider taking breakfast and dinner the evening. If your classes start very early you might need to skip breakfast and walk back to your student accommodation to opt for lunch and dinner.

Always make sure you have snacks in your room to grab or nibble on in the event that you do get hungry.

Student Accommodation In South Africa

Living independently and room mates:

Most first years have a room mate or room mates. Have an open mind and no expectations when meeting your room mate for the first time. It is rare that you’ll hit it off the first time with your room mate and then things will just be bliss the rest of the year, but be open and understand that everyone is different. You might need to get use to their snoring or tolerate their bed not being made up or the late night partying that might happen, this is all part of the experience.

Always just have mutual respect and lay down rules from the beginning.

If you have a room mate that you can’t stand, it is OK. You don’t spend much of your time in your room anyway and when yo are there it might just be only to sleep.

Having people you can turn to at your student accommodation is also very important because they are your family away from home (besides your friends at uni). If you have an emergency or just need someone to talk to it is always good to have friends at your accommodation.

Living away from home can be a very scary and overwhelming experience at first. It is important to remember to keep things around you that will remind you of home. And if you are someone to call home everyday then that is also okay. Always ensure that you make the living experience pleasurable for yourself.

You’ll also need to remember that you will now have a lot of freedom, which comes with a lot of responsibilities. Things like budgeting, keeping your room clean, being disciplined and doing assignments. You are now accountable for and responsible for.

Side note: Make sure you thoroughly read through your student accommodation handbook to ensure you understand all the rules and regulations and also to make sure you understand what is on offer and what you need to cater for.