How to apply for accommodation

Accommodation: when and how to apply

UCT residences (2027)Closed

Opened Wed, 01 Apr 2026 · Closed Fri, 31 Jul 2026

Closed on 31 July 2026 and UCT says no late applications are considered. Housing is a separate application from admission.

Off-campus private accommodation (OCSAS listings)Dates unknownNot fully confirmed

Landlords advertise on UCT's off-campus site. Listings are not vetted by UCT. No common dates.

Off-Campus Student Accommodation Services (OCSAS) ocsas@uct.ac.za. A listing site for private rooms and flats. UCT does not vet or endorse landlords.
UCT general housing information handbook 2026 (PDF)

CampusKey Rosebank and NEST (46 Durban Road, Rosebank) Private student residences near UCT. Not vetted by UCT; UCT says not all advertised properties are accredited.

Residence applications are closed for 2027. UCT advises not depending on the waiting list: make alternative arrangements through OCSAS.
Rondebosch fills fastest. Observatory is cheaper, Mowbray is on the UCT Shuttle route, and Claremont is quieter.
Apply for residence AND line up a private backup. Residence places are limited, and being waitlisted is common.
Our advice: apply and pay a deposit on your first-choice private place by the end of November, so you still have time for a second choice before registration in January.
NSFAS-funded students: only sign a lease with a provider your university lists as accredited. NSFAS has capped unaccredited housing at R25,000 a year, and accreditation is renewed every year, so check it for 2027 before you sign.
Get the lease in writing, check what the rent includes (water, wifi, electricity), and ask for the accreditation number.

Things we could not find. Do you know?

Are CampusKey, South Point and Nest Res taking 2027 applications, and what are their closing dates?
Which Cape Town landlords are NSFAS-accredited for 2027, and where is that list published?