While academics are a major factor in deciding which university to go to, there is so much more to student life when you step outside the classroom or library.
It’s the lunches with friends, group study sessions at a cafe, weekend adventures and letting loose in the evenings that you look back on and remember the most.
Each university town offers something unique to its students. But how do you know which one suits you if you’ve never been a student there?
Here’s the ultimate rundown of the main university towns in South Africa, with everything you need to get a taste of student life. You’ll get all the details on the student culture, accommodation, transport situation, hotspots, and nightlife.
Welcome to South Africa Student Life 101. Let class begin.
Stellenbosch is the quintessential student town. With a strong res culture and active campus, there are endless ways to find your tribe at Stellenbosch University (Maties). Stepping onto the Rooiplein for the first time, you can feel the buzz of student life which spills out into the town day and night.
Days are lively with every sports club you can think of, including running and cycling clubs, and Coetzenberg trail runs. Not to mention student-led activities everywhere. By night, you’ll find many students making the most of De Lapa’s fishbowls, cheap student specials at Java, or even a cheeky cone at Kristen’s Kick-Ass Ice Cream.
Find out more in our full Stellenbosch student accommodation guide.
Most of Stellenbosch is walkable, and you’ll likely live within a 20-minute radius of campus, cafés, and the mountains. While walking is generally safe during the day, it's best to avoid it at night.
Parking is a nightmare unless you have a designated spot. Traffic officers are unforgiving, so don’t even try to get creative with your parking spots.
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If you play your cards right, you can find a discount every day of the week. Check out our guide to Stellenbosch restaurants on a student budget.
Klein Saterdag (Wednesday) is legendary, but weekends are packed too. Popular spots include Bohemia (“Boho’s”), Dorp, Centraal, Fool’s Gold, De Akker, Penthouse, Aanklaas, and De Lapa.
Big Digs host their own house parties. Just follow the booming bass along Banghoek Road and you’re sure to find one.
Cape Town is the triple threat. UCT students work hard with a world-class academic system, play hard in the buzzing cityscape, and then chill hard with the breathtaking mountains and stunning beaches at their disposal.
Cape Town’s multicultural and politically progressive landscape is a standout. Since the Rhodes Must Fall student movement in 2015, the university has made a continuous, conscious effort to decolonise its curriculum.
Get the lowdown in our full Cape Town student accommodation guide.
UCT spans multiple campuses, so getting around isn’t always easy. Parking discs are essential (and expensive), though first-years aren’t allowed to park on campus.
Many take the Jammie bus, an iconic blue student shuttle running from Rondebosch into Cape Town. Students also use it to catch a free ride into town for some evening fun.
Tip: If you don’t have your own transport, try to find student accommodation near a Jammie stop for quick and easy access.
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Options are spread across the city.
Johannesburg students are hustlers and creatives. Its diverse urban landscape acts as a pressure cooker for young creatives, bubbling up a strong art, theatre, and music scene.
At the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and Wits University, you’ll often find students juggling intense academics, internships, and side projects. This can make having a buzzing student life tough at times.
Read everything there is to know in our full Johannesburg student accommodation guide.
Lucky students who’ve scored accommodation close to Wits or UJ have the luxury of walking to campus, but many choose to drive in.
Students have access to free intercampus buses and other forms of public transport, including the Gautrain and the Rea Vaya BRT system.
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Joburg’s nightlife is centred around these popular haunts:
The University of Pretoria (Tuks) students' vibe is as bright as the jacaranda bloom in spring. First-years find their groove quickly and are welcomed into tightly knit communities. And of course, no one forgets Spring Day, which is Pretoria’s unofficial “welcome to summer” celebration.
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Sport is also huge here. Whether you’re training at the High Performance Centre or running loops around LC de Villiers at sunset, you’ll feel the active culture everywhere.
Find out more in our full Pretoria student accommodation guide.
UP runs free student shuttles between campuses and residences. It’s a preferable choice for students, as all you have to do is show your student card.
The Hatfield and Pretoria Gautrain stations, as well as Gautrain bus stops, are located close to UP’s Hatfield campus and nearby student areas.
At the epicentre of the student stomping grounds, you’ll find Jolly’s, famous for its Thursday Student Night Special (5 drinks for R100).
The Social Club in Hatfield is another hotspot, loved for its themed nights, affordable drinks, and live DJs.
If you’re looking for a wild ride, check out Stoetbul Kraal in Parkview, a cowboy-themed Afrikaans bar with a mechanical bull.
Durban’s student scene is shaped by its sun-soaked, laid-back coastal vibe. Everything moves a little slower, the sun shines a little brighter, and students are never more than 15 minutes away from a beach towel.
Life at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) tends to be more spread out, so students build their community through societies, sports clubs, res events, and mandatory weekend beach missions. As one of South Africa's more culturally diverse cities, you’ll find a mix of influences in everyday student life.
Explore all your options in our Durban student accommodation guide.
Walking is easy for students living close to campus, but most rely on private transport. Though, take into account that paid parking discs and limited spaces make campus driving tricky.
Some residences offer shuttles, while others get around with Uber and Bolt.
The few inter-campus shuttles are limited, but helpful for students living slightly further away.
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Durban’s nightlife isn’t the most comprehensive compared to other student scenes, but there are some goodies if you’re looking for a jol.
Florida Road comes alive at night, bustling with packed restaurants and pubs. Other popular spots include Joe Cools right on the beach, Tiger Tiger a bit further north, and Origin if you’re looking for a proper club.
Makhanda (Grahamstown) has the real student-town charm. It’s small, it’s historic, and it has a tight-knit student community, which means that everyone knows everyone.
Rhodes University brings together the humanities, arts, and activism. Students organise everything from spoken word evenings in the Makana Botanical Gardens to community outreach projects in neighbouring townships. It’s iconic National Arts Festival leaves its mark, creating an environment where student creativity flourishes.
Read more about your options in our Grahamstown student accommodation guide.
As another small student town, walking is the main mode of transport for Rhodes students. While there’s no official transport system at Rhodes yet, one is in the works.
For now, Oppidians (students who don’t live in a residence) use the free Oppi bus. Running daily from 17:00 and leaving on the hour, off-campus students can get free transport from the library to the door of the digs.
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This quiet, sleepy town awakens as soon as the sun goes down. The artsy, intimate vibe means you’ll find a host of live music, open-mics, karaoke, student deals, and house parties.
Student go-tos include Rat & Parrot, Champs Action Bar, SSS Top Bar, and Lowlander.
Bloemfontein’s student life is very chilled at the University of Free State (UFS or “Kovsies”). The pace here is slower compared to Cape Town or Johannesburg, but it’s also far more affordable. It’s the kind of university experience where you can walk home from class, stop for coffee or go for a run, and always run into someone you know.
Despite having a limited nightlife scene, Kovsies make up for it with res parties, society events, and sport-club socials.
When exams hit, Kovsies students know how to hit the books. You’ll find study areas packed with people revising together and trauma-bonding through the late-night library runs.
Find out more in our full Bloemfontein student accommodation guide.
Bloem is very walkable. Student areas contain everything within reach, including campus, cafés, restaurants, and shops. Cycling is also popular for quick trips.
On-campus parking is generally easy, so students with cars are well-accommodated.
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Bloemfontein’s nightlife scene is certainly more low-key than other student towns.
If you’re looking for a bit of evening fun, 2nd Avenue is the place to start. That’s where you’ll find several bars and clubs. Some student favourites include Route 66, Chicago Lounge and Bar, and Clubhouse.
Once you're all set on your uni town, we’re here to help you plan the practical side of your move. Start with our complete student moving guide. Here you'll find everything you need to know, from choosing accommodation and timing your lease to holiday storage tips and how to book budget-friendly student movers across South Africa. Our vetted moving teams will get you there with ease, so you can focus on settling into student life in no time.
