Residences

NWU university students outside a residence on the grass

2026 Prospective first-year student applications for university residence accommodation

Applications by prospective First-year students for university residence accommodation in 2026 must be made when you apply to study at the NWU.
Therefore, you are not required to submit a separate application for university residence accommodation.

For more information on the application process, visit the following webpage: Applications 2026

2-Step application process for residence accommodation

 

Mahikeng Campus Residences

 

The Residences are the heartbeat of student life on the NWU Mahikeng Campus.

Residences plays an enormous part of student life. For our students, residences are the heartbeat of student life. Here's where friendships are formed and strengthened, cultural differences discovered and enjoyed. Here residents also bond in formal and informal activities and sports competitions.

The various ladies’ and men’s residences on campus are all situated within walking distance from the academic and administrative buildings.

The campus offers 16 residences all situated on the grounds of the NWU. 

Each residence is managed by a house parent, a residence officer,  together with a house committee.

All the residences are self-catering; however, students can also make use of the Cafeteria, Coffee Shop and various kiosks on campus.
 

Facilities:

The following facilities are available at the residences:

  • Single & Double rooms fully furnished
  • Laundries fitted with washing machines and tumble dryers
  • Communal living-room areas for socializing, watching TV or just hanging out
  • Kitchen (including 2 or 4-plate stoves)
  • Bathroom facilities
  • Internet access & Wi-Fi
  • 24/7 Security to ensure the safety of the residents

 

Male & Female Residences

Biko House

Sol Plaatjie

 

Potchefstroom Campus Residences

 

Potchefstroom Campus Day Houses

Day Houses doesn't offer accommodation, but gives students who make use of private accommodation the opportunity to still enjoy the unique NWU student life experience. Join any of these Day Houses:

Ladies

Bellatrix

Dinki

LaVaria

 

Men

Heimat

Villagers

Vanderbijlpark Campus Residences

The Residences are the heartbeat of student life on the NWU Vanderbijlpark Campus (NWU Vaal). On-campus residences are situated in a proclaimed nature reserve. Residences plays an enormous part of student life. For our students, residences are the heartbeat of student life. Here's where friendships are formed and strengthened, cultural differences discovered and enjoyed. Here residents also bond in formal and informal activities and sports competitions.

The various ladies’ and men’s residences on campus are all situated within walking distance from the academic and administrative buildings. The campus offers twelve residences of which five are situated within the grounds of the Campus and five are situated in Vanderbijlpark area. The two day residences are for day students, staying at home but travelling to campus each day.

Each residence is managed by a house parent together with a house committee. All the residences are self-catering; however, students can also make use of the cafeteria on campus.
 

The following facilities are available at the residences:

  • Single & Double rooms fully furnished
  • Laundries fitted with washing machines and tumble dryers
  • Communal living-room areas for socialising, watching TV or just hanging out
  • Kitchen (including 2 or 4-plate stoves)
  • Bathroom facilities
  • Internet access & Wi-Fi
  • 24/7 Security to ensure the safety of the residents
  • Bus transport for students living in off-campus residences

Residences:

 

 

Updates on NWU StarRez Residence Management System implementation

The NWU is busy implementing a strategic project set to transform the management of university residences and the Residence Life programme. To learn more about the exciting developments on the NWU StarRez platform, click on the button below. 

IMPORTANT! All applications for university residence accommodation for prospective and current students are still made through the NWU application portal or other processes communicated by the university. Once the NWU StarRez platform goes live, prospective and current students will be informed accordingly. 

NWU StarRez developments

 

Accredited student accommodation facilities

Zero tolerance to fraud

The North-West University (NWU) recognises the important role that private individuals and entities play in availing their accommodation facilities to students. It is crucial for students to live in environments that are safe and conducive for learning and growth. Therefore, a sound relationship/partnership between the NWU and private accommodation providers in undoubtedly crucial. This relationship must be based on transparency, openness, and trust. 

Over the past few years, the NWU had to deal with unfortunate incidents that were caused by a few unscrupulous private accommodation providers. Some of these have been reported to law enforcement agencies and investigations are underway. The NWU has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to dishonest accommodation providers who collude with some students and staff to defraud the university and South African taxpayers.

We urge all private accommodation providers to continue offering a much-needed service for students and protect the integrity of their business. Suspicious acts of collusion and dishonesty can be reported to nwu@whistleblowing.co.za. More information about our whistleblowing platform.

Guidelines for accrediting private student accommodation providers and payments to accredited providers

The purpose of the guideline is to provide clarity, equal opportunity and consistent treatment, of all the service providers of privately owned accommodation facilities across all three campuses of the North-West University and to ensure that the university addresses the critical areas of risk associated with the provision of accommodation. Read more
 

 

Complaints Register for Accredited Student Accommodation

To submit any complaints regarding the accredited student accommodation facilities, please CLICK HERE to fill in the complaints form.

Your complaint will be received by the Business Enterprise and Development department and actioned as soon as possible.