Wits University student accommodation: the complete guide
The University of the Witwatersrand offers both catered and self-catering residences across its Braamfontein and Parktown campuses, alongside one of Johannesburg's most active private student accommodation markets. This guide covers Wits's own residence fees hall by hall, how NSFAS funding works for Wits students, and the private, trusted residences near campus worth shortlisting. Whether you're searching for "Wits fees", "Wits residence fees 2026", or "University of the Witwatersrand accommodation fees", this page covers the actual published numbers. Details in this guide are accurate as of the time of writing in 2026; residence fees, application dates and NSFAS accreditation status change year to year, so always confirm current details directly with Wits or the residence in question.
Catered residence fees
All Wits catered halls charge R70,400/year for a single room (R66,000 for a double), before meals. Meal plans are billed on top, with an initial payment of R5,000 and the balance due later in the year. Figures below are per Wits's own published fee schedule.
- Meal Plan 10A (10 meals/week): R86,034 total/year
- Meal Plan 10B (10 meals/week): R88,819 total/year
- Meal Plan 15C (15 meals/week): R95,771 total/year
- Meal Plan 14D (14 meals/week): R92,625 total/year
- Meal Plan 14E (14 meals/week): R95,316 total/year
- Meal Plan 19F (19 meals/week): R102,354 total/year
Self-catering residence fees
Self-catering residences require a R5,000 initial payment with the balance due by 30 June. Figures below are the total annual fee (including the R5,000 initial payment) by hall and room type, as published by Wits.
- Barnato Hall — Single: R71,638 / Single (New Wing): R88,494 / Double (New Wing): R77,056
- Braamfontein Centre — Shared (4-bed flat): R55,685 / Single (4-bed flat): R58,695
- Campus Lodge — Studio: R89,693 / Single (2-bed apt): R80,270 / Single (Communal): R67,357
- Ernest Oppenheimer Hall — Single: R71,939 / Double: R61,103
- International House — Studio: R117,962
- Knockando Halls — Single: R72,842 / Double: R62,006
- Noswal Hall — Studio: R83,979 / 2-bed (Single): R74,347 / 3-bed (Single): R68,628 / 4-bed (Single): R65,919
- Medhurst / Girton / Reith — Single: R71,939 / Double: R61,103
- Wits Junction — Studio: R112,176 / 2-bed: R105,184 / 3–4-bed: R99,104 / 12-bed: R93,632
- West Campus Village — Studio (renovated): R117,962 / Studio (unrenovated): R85,855
Other residence costs
- Residence deposit: R990
- Orientation levy (first-years): R680
- Appliance levy: R350 (microwave); R3,160–R4,600 (refrigerators)
- Replacement keys: R200–R750
NSFAS and funding at Wits
NSFAS-funded Wits students receive an accommodation allowance, but coverage depends on accreditation and your specific funding agreement. Confirm directly with Wits's residence office and NSFAS before signing anywhere, since accredited-provider lists are reviewed each year.
Wits's off-campus accommodation list and NSFAS-accredited providers
If you don't get a Wits residence offer, Wits's residence office maintains guidance on off-campus accommodation and NSFAS accreditation for private providers — contact them directly to check a specific property's status before signing anything.
Searching for a "Wits off-campus accommodation list" or "Wits NSFAS accredited accommodation list" will get you to the right university department, but for trusted, bookable listings with direct landlord contact, DigsConnect's own listings near Wits are a faster starting point.
Our top picks: trusted private residences near Wits
Braamfontein has the densest concentration of private student accommodation near Wits, with Parktown also serving the Education and Medical campuses. Based on our own research into location and amenities, here are trusted options worth shortlisting:
Thrive Crescent Studios — about a 1-minute walk to the Wits main campus, effectively on its doorstep.
Respublica Yale Village — roughly 20 metres from the Wits main campus entrance on Empire Road.
Rise Units on Jorissen — directly across from the Wits Theatre Complex, roughly 160m from Senate House.
Thrive Apex Studios — about a 5-minute walk to the Wits main campus.
Thrive Arteria Parktown — about a 7-minute walk to the Wits Education and Medical (Parktown) campuses.
Rise Units on Blackwood — a new Parktown development (opening 2027) marketed as minutes from Wits.
Compare current prices, room types and availability for all of these — and more trusted options — on DigsConnect, free for students.
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Browse trusted Wits listingsFrequently asked questions
How much does a Wits residence cost?
Self-catering rooms range from about R55,685 (a shared room at Braamfontein Centre) up to R117,962 (a renovated studio at West Campus Village or International House). Catered residences charge R70,400/year for a single room before meals, with meal plans adding roughly R15,600–R32,000 on top.
What's the difference between Wits catered and self-catering residences?
Catered halls charge a flat R70,400 (single) or R66,000 (double) room rate plus a separate meal plan (six meal plan tiers are available, from R15,634 to R31,954). Self-catering residences have no meal plan; their room fee varies by hall and room type, from about R55,685 to R117,962.
Does NSFAS cover Wits accommodation?
NSFAS-funded Wits students receive an accommodation allowance, but coverage depends on accreditation and your individual funding agreement — confirm directly with Wits's residence office and NSFAS before signing anywhere.
What's the best private accommodation near Wits if I don't get a residence offer?
It depends on budget and campus — Crescent Studios and Yale Village are both essentially on the Wits main campus doorstep in Braamfontein, while Arteria Parktown suits students at the Education or Medical campuses. Compare trusted listings on DigsConnect for current prices and availability.