NSFAS-accredited accommodation for UJ students
The University of Johannesburg runs four campuses across the city, and the accommodation market around each one is different. Auckland Park is the busiest and the most competitive; Doornfontein and Soweto have their own dynamics entirely. Details in this guide are accurate as of the time of writing in 2026; NSFAS allowances, accredited-provider lists and application dates change year to year, so always confirm current details on nsfas.org.za or with UJ's financial aid office.
What NSFAS accreditation actually means
NSFAS is explicit about this: a funded student who lives in unaccredited accommodation without permission from both NSFAS and their institution will not be paid an accommodation allowance, and the provider will not be paid either. Accreditation is not a marketing badge. It is the condition on which the money moves.
Accommodation providers register their properties on the NSFAS accommodation portal. NSFAS then sends a panel to inspect, accredit and grade the property against its living standards. A landlord who says they are accredited should be able to tell you their accreditation details, and your institution can confirm them.
UJ campuses and the suburbs around them
Which campus you attend should decide where you look. UJ runs a shuttle between campuses, but building your year around it is a poor plan when lectures clash.
- Auckland Park Kingsway (APK) — Auckland Park itself, Melville, Westdene and Brixton
- Auckland Park Bunting Road (APB) — the same suburbs, with Bunting Road and Cottesloe closest
- Doornfontein (DFC) — Doornfontein, Maboneng and the eastern city centre
- Soweto Campus — the surrounding Soweto neighbourhoods
- Check the walk in daylight and again after dark before you commit, and ask what the building does about security and load-shedding.
What to confirm before you sign
Ask these before committing to a room:
- Is the property accredited by NSFAS for this academic year?
- Exact rent, and whether water, electricity and WiFi are included
- Who covers the gap if rent exceeds your allowance
- Whether UJ pays the provider directly or releases the allowance to you
- Deposit amount and the conditions for getting it back
- Get it in writing.
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See accommodation near UJFrequently asked questions
Which UJ campus should I search near?
Search the campus you attend, not the one nearest your family. UJ has a shuttle between campuses, but travelling APK to Doornfontein daily costs you time and money you probably have not budgeted for.
What happens if I move into a place that is not accredited?
NSFAS will not pay an accommodation allowance for unaccredited accommodation unless both NSFAS and your institution have given permission, and the provider will not be paid. You would be covering the rent yourself. Confirm accreditation with your financial aid office before you sign anything.
Does NSFAS pay my landlord or me?
It depends on your institution. Some pay accredited providers directly; others release the allowance to the student, who then pays the landlord. Your financial aid office will tell you which applies to you.
How do I check a landlord is really accredited?
Ask for their accreditation details and check them with your institution. A DigsConnect listing showing the NSFAS badge has been checked by our team, but your institution is the final word, because accreditation can lapse between academic years.