Are you about to start your academic journey at Rhodes University and need to find the best accommodation in Grahamstown? Well, then you’ve come to the right place!
Similar to the change from Port Elizabeth to Gqeberha, Grahamstown was recently renamed to Makhanda. But while the name has changed, this small town has remained a centre of academic excellence as home to one of South Africa’s top universities, Rhodes University. Ranked 10th in the country, Rhodes University brings in over 7 000 students from across South Africa.
But with 7 000 students trying to find accommodation in a small town like Grahamstown, securing the best accommodation can be a bit tricky and competitive, especially moving out of home for the first time. That’s why we’re here to tell you everything you need to know to find the perfect student accommodation for you! Let’s dive in.
In Grahamstown, you’ll find a variety of student accommodation. Each with its own pros and cons, you’re guaranteed to find the one that suits you, your lifestyle and your budget.
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A popular accommodation option for students is the on-campus residences hosted by Rhodes University. Similar to boarding houses, university residences are dorm-style rooms. This involves a lot of sharing, including communal bathrooms, common lounge areas and shared bedrooms if you have a double or triple room. But you may get lucky with a single.
Dorms in university residences also come fully furnished with a bed, mattress, desk and cupboards, However, they usually don’t come with any kitchen appliances, so you’ll likely have to get an additional meal plan which gives you access to the on-campus dining halls. You’re also guaranteed to be right on campus, making your daily commute to class only a few minutes at most.
While residence halls often come with more restrictions and responsibilities, they also come with a built-in community, making it so much easier to make new friends and socialise — perfect for social butterflies. But also bear in mind that this means that they can also be a bit noisy and busy, making it difficult to get some privacy and peace and quiet.
Here’s a list of the university residence halls at Rhodes University:
Miriam Makeba Hall
Mandela Hall
Jan Smuts Hall
Lillian Ngoyi Hall
Courtenay-Latimer Hall
Kimberley Hall
Allan Webb Hall
St Mary Hall
Hobson Hall
Desmond Tutu Hall
Drostdy Hall
Founders Hall
Hugh Masekela Hall
Private residences act as a middle ground between university residences and apartments. Often slightly off-campus, they also provide more of a dormitory-style living space, but with a bit more space and privacy.
Private residences typically come in singles, doubles or triples so that you can choose how much privacy you want. Bathrooms are also usually shared but only between the people in your dorm and not the entire floor as with university residences. While meal plans are not an option, each dorm comes fully furnished with its own kitchenette so that you can prepare your daily meals. They also come with a bed, mattress, desk and cupboards so you don’t have to worry about supplying your own.
You can also expect private residences to come with some extra amenities, such as:
DSTV in common lounges
Secure parking
Laundry services
Security
If you’re looking for independent living, then a house or apartment may be the best option for you.
While houses and apartments can be a bit further away from campus, they also have a lot more variety, making it easier to find exactly what you’re looking for. And with the extra freedom and independence that comes with it, this is often the preferred option for older and postgraduate students.
If living with your friends has always been a dream of yours, you and your friends can rent out an apartment or house together. Alternatively, if you’re looking to make some new friends, you can rent out a room in a house or apartment and share the space with people you’ve never met before.
A house or apartment offers your own space and a lot more privacy than the other options, often including a fully-equipped kitchen, lounge, dining room and sometimes even a pretty garden. But bear in mind that they also often come unfurnished, meaning you’ll have to supply all the furniture.
Fortunately, because Grahamstown is such a small town, no matter where you stay, you’ll never be too far from campus. With that being said, there are definitely some areas preferred by students for student accommodation.
The biggest perk of student accommodation in Central is in the name — it’s super central! You really can’t get closer Rhodes University campus. Plus, you’re right in the centre of all the action with shops, restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs to enjoy on the weekends (when you’re not in the library studying).
Sunnyside is a residential area just next to Central, offering a bit of a quieter environment while still being super close to campus and student life. You’ll find a lot of houses, gated communities and apartments in this area. However, this is one of the pricier areas in Grahamstown.
West Hill sits on the other side of Central, hugging the side of Rhodes University, giving you access to everything you need as a student within a 15-minute walk. Sitting on the banks of a hill, you may even be lucky enough to get a view of Grahamstown.
As another popular area for students, Oatlands is another pretty residential area that draws in many students due to its proximity to campus. Here you’ll find mostly houses and gated communities with a few apartment blocks here and there.
Kingswood may be a bit further away from campus with the 30-minute walk, but this green and luscious suburb provides a bit more peace away from the hustle and bustle of the town and campus while giving access to more nature and outdoor activities. Another perk is that it’s one of the more affordable neighbourhoods in Grahamstown.
Student accommodation in Grahamstown is relatively very affordable compared to the rest of South Africa. However, the cost will vary depending on the type of student accommodation you choose.
The annual cost of on-campus university residences:
Undergraduate residences: R78 488 - R82 403
Graduate residences: R93 009
While university residences are typically one of the cheaper options, because off-campus accommodation in Grahamstown is so cheap, university residences are actually one of the most expensive options.
Private residences are typically a bit cheaper, depending on whether it’s a single, double or triple. You can expect prices of private residences in Grahamstown to range between R1 900 - R3 600.
Apartment and house prices tend to vary the most, so while some are quite expensive, you can also find some of the cheapest options. These can range between R1 800 - R5 500.
NSFAS stands for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme which provides financial aid for over a million students across South Africa. Their financial aid covers students’ tuition, rent as well as a monthly allowance for living expenses. However, for students living off-campus, they only provide R45 000 per year for accommodation and only for student accommodation that is NSFAS-accredited.
So if you are covered by NSFAS and would prefer to live off-campus, you must make sure your chosen student accommodation is accredited by NSFAS.
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With so many students vying for student accommodation, securing the right one for you can be a challenge if you don’t know the right places to look. Most students start looking around August/September the year before, so it’s best to start looking for student accommodation around July to get ahead of the pack.
Here are some tips on where to look, depending on what you’re looking for:
For a university residence hall: The best place to look is on the Rhodes University website. Usually, you apply for on-campus accommodation during the application process.
For a private residence: You can check out the different private residences’ websites online with a quick Google search, for example, The Grand Residence and The Greens
For apartments and houses: There are quite a few places you can look, for example
Student accommodation sites such as Student Accommodation and Anazi
Gumtree
Facebook groups such as Grahamstown Student Accommodation and Rhodes University - flatmates, flats, digsmates, digs
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