Pretoria — the illustrious home of the University of Pretoria, otherwise known as Tuks or Tukkies and ranked as the 5th best university in the country. And while they might not be as big or well-known as UP, you can also find the Tshwane University of Technology and 6 other private institutions in these Jacaranda-filled streets.
For most students, it’s their first time moving out of the house and aren’t sure what to expect or what to consider. This is especially tough if you’re like most students who are making a long-distance move from across the country. (Though it is a lot easier when you have some of the best movers in Pretoria helping you).
With over 50 000 students in attendance at Tuks, and even more attending other colleges and institutions, good student accommodation is in high demand. So how do you find the best student accommodation in Pretoria? It’s pretty simple if you know the right place to look. Here’s the ultimate guide to student accommodation in Pretoria.
Like most universities, students have the choice between 3 different types of student accommodation. Each comes with its own perks and disadvantages. It just depends on what you’re looking for and which one best suits your needs best.
Looking at the main tertiary institution in Pretoria, the University of Pretoria offers a wide range of on-campus residences for students. However, out of their 56 000 total students, they only have accommodation available for 10 000 students, working on a first-come-first-serve basis. So if this is the type of student accommodation you want, you better act quickly!
Tuks has a total of 7 different campuses sprinkled across Pretoria, each with its own set of residences.
Hatfield Campus is the main campus of Tuks
Hillcrest Campus is home to its high-performance centre and sports facilities
Groenkloof holds the Faculty of Education
Prinshof is designated for the Faculty of Health Sciences
Onderstepoort Campus is where you find the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences
Mamelodi Campus hosts the flagship BSc and BCom Extended Curriculum Programmes
The Gordon Institute of Business Science is found in Johannesburg.
Across these campuses, the University of Pretoria has a total of 28 university residences. Here’s a breakdown of each residence found on each campus.
Hatfield Residences |
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| Women's residences | Men's residences | Mixed residences |
|
Asterhof Azalea Erica House Khutso House Mags House Nala Madelief Nerina |
College House TAU Mopane Morula Legae The Tower Tuks Ekhaya |
TuksVillage Varsity Lodge |
Groenkloof Residences |
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| Women's residences | Men's residences | Mixed residences |
|
Hayani Ikageng Zinnia |
Tirisano |
|
Prinshof Residences: Faculty of Health Sciences |
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| Women's residences | Men's residences | Mixed residences |
|
Curelitzia |
House Ukuthula |
Tuks Bophelong Hippokrates |
Onderstepoort Residences: Faculty of Veterinary Sciences |
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| Women's residences | Men's residences | Mixed residences |
|
OP Village |
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Post Graduate: Hatfield Campus |
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| Women's residences | Men's residences | Mixed residences |
|
Jakaranda Protea Mbalenhle Tuksdorp |
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*Over the years there have been a few name changes to the residences, so if you're looking for the one your mom or dad resided in, here are the UP Residence name changes: Kollege - College. Maroela - Morula Legae. Mopanie - Mopane. Olienhout - Tuks Ekhaya. For a full list of name changes, check out the University Website.
University residences are perfect for students looking for an immediate community that sits directly on campus. They are especially helpful for social students who aren’t from Pretoria and don’t know that many people in the city. You’re not only guaranteed to make lots of friends, but university residences often host many activities, events, sports teams, dances and more.
Students in residences also don’t need to worry about things like electricity, water, wifi, cleaning and sometimes even meals if they’re on a meal plan, making it a great option for those not ready to do everything on their own just yet.
Private residences are the perfect mix between university residences and private housing like apartments and houses — you get some much-needed freedom but also have a lot of things sorted out for you. However, this great deal does often come with a high price tag.
Private residences resemble university residences in that they usually offer small dorm rooms, either shared with a roommate or single. They also often provide furnishings, water, electricity, WIFI, cleaning, parking, gyms, security and sometimes even pools. There will also be a common lounge with things like a TV, pool tables, foosball and darts where residents can hang out.
What separates private residences from the university’s residences is that each unit has its own kitchen and bathroom, which means you can not only make your own meal without having to fight for kitchen space, but you also don’t have to deal with communal bathrooms and fighting for a shower at rush hour.
Hatfield Square
Urban Nest
Eastwood Village
South Point
Campus Key
Festival’s Edge
Hatfield Studios
IQ
TMM Lofts
Rise
Private residences can vary quite a lot depending on the area they’re located in, the management, the amenities and the price. So if this sounds like the right type of student accommodation for you, make sure to do a thorough scope of all the different ones to find the perfect one for you and your needs.
Student apartments and houses are considered complete independent, off-campus accommodations. Here, you get complete freedom, privacy, more space and also lots and lots of variety.
You can find a student apartment in Pretoria with the right amount of rooms, space, location, amenities and often for a better price. You can even get your own student house with a bunch of friends or even strangers, known informally as a digs, offering a small, close community, a great environment and often a lot more space.
But it also means you have to do all the work in searching for the right student accommodation, finding roommates if necessary, furnishing the space, paying utilities and more.
Unlike private residences where the whole building is under the same management, usually, each apartment or house has its own landlord that you have to work with. This can be stressful at times because you never know what kind of landlord you get. But it also means you can work directly with the landlord to negotiate and cater to your specific needs.
Apartments on William
Cum Laude
Reitz Edge
Northwards
Duncan Court
Brooklyn
Because there are so many options to choose from, the key for this type of student accommodation is knowing where to look which requires quite a lot of research in the different areas and properties around UP. This means knowing your areas around Pretoria pretty well.
Hatfield is the official hotspot of the UP campus, as it’s not only the home of the university’s main campus but also holds most of its residences.
It’s buzzing with student life, especially with all its restaurants, bars and cafes. You’ll also find Hatfield Plaza and a Gautrain station, making it super convenient for students.
However, all these perks do come with a price, as Hatfield is one of the most expensive areas for student accommodation.
Distance from campus: <1 km
Main accommodation types: University residences, private residences and student apartments
Brooklyn is one of the more luxurious suburbs and is in high demand due to its proximity to campus. Plus, it has many attractions that give it the trendy vibe that students live for, including the Brooklyn Mall, lots of hip coffee shops, top-rated restaurants, art houses and more!
While it is quite pricey, Brooklyn has a lot to offer students, especially with its abundance of student accommodation.
Distance from campus: 1,5 km
Main accommodation types: Private residences, student apartments and student housing
This tree-lined suburb sits just next to Brooklyn to the right but is still perfectly close to campus. This area is a bit more peaceful than the others, thus ideal for students looking for a bit more quiet and a lot more green.
And with its wide range of shopping centres, entertainment and sporting venues, it remains one of the most popular spots for students in Pretoria.
Distance from campus: 3,6 km
Main accommodation types: Student apartments and student housing
Located just to the left of campus, Sunnyside’s variety of student accommodation options and its myriad of flats has made this neighbourhood home to many, many students.
It’s right next to Hatfield to be close enough to the action, but it has the added bonus of being much more affordable with properties being a bit older and less developed than Hatfield and Brooklyn.
Distance from campus: 3,1 km
Main accommodation types: Private residences, student apartments and student housing
Sharing a similar fate to Sunnyside, Arcadia has become a popular place for student accommodation not only because of its affordability but also because it’s sandwiched so perfectly between campus and Pretoria Central.
It’s also a historically fascinating area, home to the iconic Union Buildings. On the other hand, it’s home to popular shopping malls, trendy bars and nightclubs, plus other entertainment facilities.
Distance from campus: 3,5 km
Main accommodation types: Private residences, student apartments and student housing
Menlo Park has drawn a lot of interest as one of the fastest-growing areas. Even as one of the areas a bit further away from campus, Menlo Park is a great option for many students and is known for its many sets of apartment blocks and student housing.
More bonuses of Menlo Park include its accessibility to the N1, and its proximity to major shopping malls while being within reach of Pretoria CBD.
Distance from campus: 3,7 km
Main accommodation types: Student apartments and student housing
As the only popular area found north of campus, here you enter the world of suburbia. While it only really supplies student housing, this area is a fabulous option for students who want a more chilled, comfortable and spacious lifestyle. Queenswood and its surrounds are especially popular among post-graduate students who tend to stay just outside of town.
Distance from campus: 3,9 km
Accommodation types: Student housing
Now we know Equestria is quite far, but it’s becoming a favoured area for students looking for low-cost student accommodation outside the hustle and bustle of campus life. Students looking in Equestria will mostly find houses, townhouses and estates.
Equestria’s new-found student attention stems from its affordability, plus its safe and peaceful suburban lifestyle.
Plus, it has situated right next to a main highway that’ll take you directly to campus.
Distance from campus: 13 km
Main accommodation types: Student apartments and student housing
Here’s the big question — How much does Pretoria student accommodation cost? Well, it can vary quite a lot depending on the type of accommodation, the area, the amenities and the quality. Fortunately for UP students, student accommodation is much more affordable in Pretoria than in most other cities.
Tuks’ university residences depend on which residence you choose and whether you choose a single or a double, ranging between R52 700 - R90 700 for the whole year or around R4 400 - R7 550 per month.
You can find a range of private residences at a range of prices, typically around R4 300 and R10 167 per month. It depends on whether you’re looking for a luxury private residence or just looking for the basics in a more modest private residence.
You find the most variety in both price and property when it comes to student apartments and houses. The cost of student accommodation greatly depends on the area. For example:
With more upmarket areas like Hatfield and Brooklyn which sit right on top of campus, you can expect student accommodation to cost between R3 000 and 10 000 per month.
In less-refurbished suburbs a bit further from campus like Arcadia and Sunnyside, monthly prices range more around R1 850 - R9 500.
If you go even further from campus to areas like Queenswood and Equestria, you can find student accommodation as low as R1 500 per month.
NSFAS stands for National Student Financial Aid Scheme and provides thousands of students across South Africa with scholarships and financial assistance during university. It covers tuition, accommodation costs and a monthly allowance.
At Tuks, NSFAS provides NSFAS students with an average of R6 000 per month to cover accommodation. However, students have to stay in NSFAS-accredited student accommodation. This includes on-campus university residences as well as selected off-campus accommodation.
Make sure you look at the latest list of NSFAS-accredited accommodations in Pretoria on the University's website.
The great search for the best student accommodation in Pretoria is quite tricky, with so many different options. So it’s very helpful to narrow down your search based on the top 5 factors you should consider when choosing your new home.
One of the biggest factors is the location of the student accommodation, and more specifically its proximity to campus. Being close to campus is a major bonus, especially for those 8 am lectures.
You also want to look at its proximity to other important places like shops, restaurants, gyms, parks, etc. The last thing you want is to carry your weekly shopping for 20 minutes. And if you plan on getting a student job, you can focus on areas that have lots of opportunities for student jobs, such as restaurants, cafés, stores or more specific jobs.
Lastly, you want to look at its proximity to transport, particularly if you don’t have transport of your own. Fortunately, Pretoria has a range of public transport options if walking is a bit too far:
The University of Pretoria provides bus services which shuttle students between campuses and residences which are free for all registered students — all you have to do is flash your student card and you’re good to go.
The Gautrain is also accessible to students with the Hatfield and Pretoria stations being near Tuk’s Hatfield and Prinshof campuses respectively with bus routes stopping near each campus.
Next, you want to access the level of security at your accommodation. While both university and private residences tend to have comprehensive security measures, it isn’t always guaranteed for student apartments and houses.
So make sure to check which safety and security measures are in place at your chosen student accommodation, such as security alarms, guards, gates, trellis, cameras and armed response. You should also research the area and get a sense of its safety.
You also want to go over which amenities and facilities are included with your student accommodation and whether they match your needs.
This could include:
WiFi
Electricity
Water
DSTV
Cleaning services
Gardening services
Gym
Pool
You also want to check which amenities are included in the rent and which ones you will have to pay extra for. For example, electricity, water and WIFI aren’t always included and can be an additional cost that you must take into account for your budget.
You’ll find that different areas and types of student accommodation will create different environments. For example, university residences will often be much more social and loud than a house or student apartment. Additionally, different areas in Pretoria will have different energies and activities.
If you’re someone that plans to take advantage of the nightlife and aren’t a light sleeper, the busier parts of town will probably suit you better. However, if you prefer an early night with some peace and quiet, then it’s best to find accommodation in quieter and possibly more suburban areas.
So before you decide on your student accommodation in Pretoria, make sure to first figure out the kind of environment you’d thrive in and assess if the accommodation will provide that.
The question isn’t simply do you want a roommate or not, but how many roommates, which roommates, must you know your roommates, and how much do you want to share with your roommates? The list goes on.
When it comes to roommates, you have quite a few options:
If you like your own space and peace and quiet, you can choose to go roommate-free.
This can be either in a residence’s single dorm or a bachelor's flat.
However, these do tend to be much more expensive.
Alternatively, you can choose to share and split the costs.
With university residences, you usually don’t have a choice of roommate.
With private residences, student apartments and houses, you can either coordinate your student accommodation with a group of friends or you can choose to go into your student accommodation with strangers.
Going in with strangers is definitely a gamble, with a long list of horror stories, but if you’re lucky, it’s also a great way to make new friends.
Whether it’s strangers or lifelong friends, there are a few things to consider when choosing your roommates if you want to increase the chances of it being a hit. You want to make sure that your lifestyles are compatible. This helps when you have similar routines, eating habits, social habits, cleaning habits, and budgets.
And of course, it’s important to remember that communication is key!
Most importantly, you have to ask yourself what you can afford. Most student budgets are pretty tight, so there are many options that cater to a smaller budget. However, if you can afford more, a comfortable and high-quality living space can make a big difference in your academic and student life.
So check out those bank statements and decide on a realistic budget. If your parents are helping to support you, ask them how much they are able to contribute. If you’re with NSFAS, check to see how much they will give you and which student accommodation options are NSFAS-accredited. And if you still need extra, consider getting a part-time student job to cover the difference or even the whole rent.
With over 50 000 students shooting for the best student accommodation in Pretoria, if you want to ensure you score the best accommodation, you want to act fast.
As most leases end at the beginning of December, most students start looking for their next year’s accommodation around August into September. However, if you want to be an early bird and catch the worm, you can start looking in July.
If those months are long gone and you’re only starting your search in December and January, no worries — there are always new spots popping up, it just requires a bit more digging and persistence.
It’s important that you take all the above information and figure out exactly what kind of student accommodation you’re looking for in Pretoria. This will make the search substantially easier and quicker.
You want to decide:
The type of student accommodation
The area of student accommodation
Your budget
Required amenities
One of the keys to finding the best student accommodation in Pretoria is knowing where to look. This will depend on your chosen type of accommodation.
If you’re keen to live in a university residence, the best place to start is on the University of Pretoria’s website which will have all the information you need to get started on that process.
When it comes to private residences, student apartments and houses, you’re going to have to do a bit more googling. For private residences, the best thing to do is look up the popular residences mentioned above and assess your options.
For student apartments and housing, a good option is to go to a local estate agent or browse the top property websites for accommodation in Pretoria. However, this won’t always be specific to student housing.
There are many helpful student accommodation platforms that advertise apartments, houses, private residences and even individual rooms:
Gumtree or Junk Mail
You can even check out the student-run Tuks Instagram account where students post ads for accommodation — @Life_at_tuks.
View this post on Instagram
With so many options to choose from, you want to make sure you’re getting the best deal. So before you jump at the first thing you find, try to get a handful of options and weigh out the pros and cons for each one. This way, when you finally decide on your student accommodation, you know you’re getting the best deal that suits you and your needs.
The best thing about student accommodation is that you don’t have to have just one for your university career. You can try different options each year and get the full experience.
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