The University of KwaZulu-Natal runs residence and private-accommodation offices on its three Durban campuses: Howard College and the Medical School, Westville and Edgewood. UKZN’s pages list no residence prices, so I have not quoted any. This guide sets out what the university says and what you will need to ask it.
Details come from UKZN’s residence enquiries page and its 2027 residence acceptance-of-offer form, checked on 30 October 2026. I found no UKZN figures in recent press coverage either, and I could not verify private rents in Durban.
Durban campuses and who to contact
- Howard College and Medical School: residence and private accommodation enquiries are handled by that campus’s student housing office.
- Westville and Edgewood: each has its own private accommodation contact, listed on UKZN’s residence enquiries page.
- General line: +27 31 260 1111 for the Durban campuses.
UKZN’s page covers on-campus, off-campus and private accommodation, and links to a separate private accommodation process for bursary students.
Accepting a residence offer
- Campus-specific: a residence offer is for a specific college and campus and cannot be transferred.
- Allocation: the 2027 form says rooms are allocated by the Student Housing Offices after 25 January 2027.
- Advance payment: the form asks for proof of an advance payment, quoting R2,750 and labelling it a 2025 amount. Confirm the current figure with the housing office.
- Keys: you need proof of a financial aid package, external funding or the advance payment before you get your keys.
- Liability: you are liable for residence fees once you accept, and withdrawing mid-semester does not entitle you to a refund for that semester.
- International students: the form provides a foreign deposit account for electronic transfers; ask the housing office for current bank details before paying.
Private rooms near the campuses
I have not ranked suburbs or listed landlords, because I could not verify prices or safety details against reliable sources. If you rent privately, check with UKZN’s private accommodation office first, view the room in person or on a live video call, get a written lease and never pay before you have one.
FAQs about student accommodation in Durban
How much is a UKZN residence?
I could not find a published figure. Ask the housing office on your campus for the current fee schedule.
Can I move to a residence on another campus?
No. UKZN’s form says the offer is for a specific college and campus and cannot be transferred.
Sources
All checked 30 October 2026.
