UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN
DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
STUDENT HOUSING AND RESIDENCE LIFE
LIVING AT UCT
A Guide to UCT’s Third Tier Residences
Handbook 2.3
STUDENTS ARE ADVISED TO RETAIN THIS LEAFLET FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
Dear Prospective Student
This leaflet serves to inform you how our second tier residences function and operate. Along with this leaflet you
will have received an offer of a place in a UCT second tier residence. Please read this information together with
that in the Undergraduate Prospectus and the Student Accommodation General Application Information Handbook
1 which was previously sent to you. It also seeks to familiarise you with the dynamics of third tier residence life
in general. Student Housing and Residence Life at the University of Cape Town strives to ensure that a living and
learning environment is the foundation of our residence culture.
Should you have any queries or concerns about the specific residence to which you have been allocated, please do
not hesitate to contact your residence coordinator on the telephone numbers provided for the appropriate residence.
It is the express wish of Student Housing and the residences management structures that your residence life
experience will be as rich and rewarding as you have anticipated.
UCT'S Residence System
UCT has a three-tier residence system that provides different services, governance and management at each tier.
The policy and criteria for admission to UCT student housing assume that a student will initially enter a first tier
(catering) residence and subsequently move to a second tier (senior catering or self-catering) residence or into third
tier (semi-autonomous self-catering) accommodation.
All residences have strict access control and most are covered by closed circuit television.
Third tier residences provide accommodation for senior postgraduate students. All rooms in Second Tier
residences are single. Most of the Tier 2 residences are composed of houses and 2 – 4 bedroom flats.
Some Third Tier residences also provide self-operating laundries, and all residents has an easy access to UCT sport
facilities and pools.
What to Bring to Residence
All student rooms in residences, houses and flats are equipped with basic furniture - a bed, mattress, cupboard,
desk, chair, bookcase, wastepaper bin, curtains and notice board and kitchens are equipped with fridges, stoves and
cupboards. No sheets, blankets, pillows or towels are provided.
On arrival please bring one passport photographs, which is needed for your card with personal details.
Do not bring extra furniture, but do bring your own bedding (duvet, duvet cover, sheet, pillow, pillow case) and
towels. You must also bring a strong padlock for your door (a 40 mm Viro or Cisa with at least two keys is
recommended). In addition, you may like to bring personal computer, a desk lamp (essential), rug, kitchen utensils
e.g. pots, plates, kettle, toaster ect. Other items such as buckets, brooms, dust pans, dusters, dishcloths, ect. are not
provided.
Students may not keep pets in any University residence, house or flat."
Please note the rules that apply to the use of electrical appliances in residences (see details in the General
Application Booklet and also in Handbook 3, General Rules & Policies).
You are expected to read the third tier on arrival booklet section on rules. Ignorance of these rules is no excuse if
they are broken. You are also advised to bring a torch in case of a power cut. Candles are not permitted as they
pose a serious fire hazard.
Important to note the following:
You may not use an electrical appliance which draws more than 1 kilo watt of power.
You may only use a microwave oven in the kitchen.
The limited storage space means that you will only be allowed to store a limited number of boxes. You are also
required to clear your room of all your possessions at the end of the year.
Late arrival in residence
Late arrival in residence i.e. once the residence opens for the term is generally discouraged. If you are
in the precarious position of having accepted housing, and you are unable to take up that place within
the designated time, you will have to request an extension via the Student Accommodation Office
How Residences are Organised
all third tier residences are managed by the third tier supervisor, she has a responsibility to see that the rules of the
university are observed and there is a good community life in houses and flats.
Each third tier residence has a residence coordinator who are students appointed by UCT to assist the third tier
supervisor. They ensure that the houses and flats are properly maintained and that key, furniture, laundries, and
other essentials for comfortable living are available and in working order.
Third Tier students operate more independently. Students will have access to student health and student counseling
services provided by University should need arise for such services.
This sector therefore operates without the involvement of the warden or a House Committee. Third tier Students
can establish a Voluntary Tenants Association.
THIRD TIER ACCOMMODATION
Third Tier Supervisor: Tel: 021 685 0550
Tier 3 accommodation is run on a ‘landlord-tenant’ basis. There is no student governance, unless a residents’
association is formed, and no warden. A co-ordinator handles all maintenance and personal queries. Basic furniture
is provided. Students in Tier 3 are all senior or postgraduate. Most units are within walking distance of Upper
Campus or close to the shuttle, and all are easily accessible to shops and public transport.
RONDEBERG
Situated opposite Baxter Theatre off Rondebosch Main Road, this block consists of 18 flats housing 30 students in
12 bachelor flats and 6 flats housing 3 students each. A laundry is shared with T.B. Davie Court next door.
T.B. DAVIE COURT
Located opposite Baxter Theatre on Main Road, Rondebosch, this block consists of 19 flats housing 27 students in
11 bachelor flats, 6 flats with 2 and 1 flat with 3 students. Facilities are the same as Rondeberg.
F BLOCK (FOREST HILL)
Broad Road, Mowbray, next to the N2 Freeway. 42 students are accommodated in 14 3-bedroomed flats. Laundry
facilities are available.
J.P. DUMINY COURT
Main Road, Rosebank. These 43 flats provide family accommodation for students with families. There are 3 flats
with 3 rooms, 11 with 2 rooms, 24 bachelor flats and 6 small bachelor flats. There are laundry facilities, garages
and a playground for the children.
UNIVERSITY HOUSE COTTAGES
Rhodes Avenue, Mowbray, adjacent to the catering residence. Five cottages house 2 students each, who share a
kitchen, bathroom and lounge. There is no laundry facility and no TV lounge.
INGLEWOOD
5 Matopo Road, Mowbray, opposite Varietas. Accommodates 5 students who share a kitchen and a bathroom.
There are no laundry or TV facilities.
CADBOLL
Situated on Avenue Road, Mowbray, this house accommodates 9 students who share a kitchen and two full
bathrooms. There are no laundry or TV facilities.
8 AVENUE ROAD, MOWBRAY
Accommodates 6 students who share the kitchen and bathroom. No laundry or TV are provided.
WOODBINE ROAD, RONDEBOSCH
This house accommodates 6 students. Laundry facilities are available, but there is no TV. The house is a short
walk to the subway linking the upper and middle campuses. Shops and public transport are ten minutes walk.
LINKOPING
Situated in Lovers Walk opposite the Bremner Building, Rondebosch, this stately home accommodates 6 students
who share a common kitchen and ablutions. There is no laundry or TV facilities.
NORTH GRANGE
Broad Road, Mowbray, next to the N2 Freeway. 49 students are accommodated in 2- and 3-bedroomed flats.
Laundry facilities are available.
Self Catering Residence
Third Tier residences give students opportunity to manage their own grocery budget. There is a number of grocery
shops located very close to self catering residences most of them open until late evening. All residences are located
at a walking distance to the transport to big Cape Town malls.
Students will be sharing kitchen cupboards and a fridge between 2-5 students, therefore one is expected to take this
into consideration when purchasing their groceries. (make use of budget and cooking workshops in your
residences )
Students are expected to share the stove provided by the university, and time management where cooking is
concerned is vital (see UCT cooking booklet for more tips on cooking and cleaning).
Students are expected to keep the stove, oven and entire kitchen clean after you are done cooking is important as it
will enable your fellow students to utilize a clean space.
Energy Conservation
It is in the student’s best interest to minimize unnecessary usage of electricity. Students are encouraged to reduce
the use of electricity. Some recommendations are:

Switch off the lights as you leave your room.

Turn off computers when not in use.

Switch off TVs/radios not being used.

Switch off all appliances, unless in use
SHUTTLE SERVICE
The Jammie Shuttle service is available free to all UCT students. A fleet of buses operates between all residences,
campuses and public bus, train and parking facilities in the local vicinity. A scheduled service is available on
weekdays, weekends and holidays, both during term times and vacation, as well as a late night service.
PC AND INTRANET/INTERNET ACCESS FOR RESIDENCE STUDENTS
As coursework and research has increasingly required students to have access to PC’s and the intranet/internet, so
we have attempted to accommodate this requirement where it has been practically possible. With the co-operation
of the Department of Information and Communication Technology, we have provided a combination of network
points in individual rooms in residences and residence-based computer labs in the more remote sites.
PARKING FACILITIES FOR STUDENTS THIRD TIER RESIDENCES:
All students are to register their cars with the University traffic department. Please note: some houses has limited
parking space.
ADVISORY ON IMMUNISATIONS
Vaccinations are an important preventative measure to reduce the risk of disease to individuals and to prevent the
spread of infections in communities e.g. students in Residence. Should you become ill with a preventable
infectious disease this may have an impact on your academic performance especially if it occurs just prior to or
during examinations.
For these reasons we encourage all students to reduce your risk of infection and therefore recommend the
following immunisation before you come to Residence.

Tetanus booster

Measles, Mumps and Rubella


Hepatitis A and B
Influenza vaccine which must be given annually before end of May.
Many students have received their basic childhood vaccinations (BCG, Polio. DPT and Measles) but booster doses
may well be required.
Please consult your Health Care Professional for additional advice or contraindications to vaccinations. You may
also contact the clinical staff of the Student Wellness Service for advice on (021) 650-3000 during office hours.
Please note that in terms of current University policy such immunisations are entirely voluntary.
ON ARRIVAL
On arrival in January you will obtain a Welcome pack that would include Handbook 3.3 which explains to you in
more detail the programmes and support structures available to you in the residences.
Disclaimer
We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information in this handbook and other
information sent from the Student Housing office. We reserve the right at any time, if circumstances
require, to amend any of the published details to ensure the policy objectives adequately met.