5 Things Every South African Uni Student Can Relate To

5 Things Every South African Uni Student Can Relate To

University life in South Africa is a wild mix of highs and lows—filled with laughter, pressure, learning, and loads of improvising. Whether you’re studying at Wits, UCT, UKZN, Sol Plaatje, or any of the country’s institutions, some student struggles and moments are just universally relatable. These experiences connect us all, no matter the course or campus.

1. The Never-Ending Load Shedding Struggle

If there’s one thing that has shaped the South African student experience in recent years, it’s load shedding. Imagine preparing for a test, grinding through a 12-page reading, or editing your final essay—and boom, the lights go out. Just like that, your momentum is gone.

Load shedding has taught students to adapt quickly. We charge our laptops and phones like our lives depend on it, download important resources in advance, and light up our rooms with candles, fairy lights, or emergency lamps when studying into the night. Group chats are filled with people asking for power schedules, and some students have even mapped out study spots on campus that have backup generators.

It’s frustrating, sure, but it’s also a strangely unifying struggle—everyone is in the dark, literally and figuratively.

2. Budgeting Like a Finance Expert (But Still Broke)

There’s no better crash course in budgeting than university life. For many students, managing a limited allowance or NSFAS payment is a monthly puzzle. After paying for essentials like rent, data, and food, there’s usually not much left. That’s when the budgeting wizardry begins.

You start identifying the cheapest spots for kota or vetkoek, stretch groceries for as long as possible, and prioritize airtime over luxuries. Free campus events that offer food quickly become a top attraction. And when things really get tight, a call home for that "small top-up" becomes necessary.

Despite the planning and effort, the wallet is usually empty by week three. Still, the budgeting journey teaches resilience, resourcefulness, and how to celebrate the small wins—like having enough money for takeaways at month-end.

3. The WiFi Struggle Is Real

Campus WiFi is like that one friend who’s amazing when things are chill but lets you down when it really matters. You can stream TikToks, scroll Instagram, and download music just fine—until the moment you try to submit your assignment or join an online class. Suddenly, the WiFi cuts out or slows to a crawl.

This frustrating inconsistency has turned students into master troubleshooters. We have backup mobile hotspots, saved PowerPoint slides offline, and even walk around campus looking for the strongest signal spots (usually outside the library or in weird corners of the building).

And when there’s a deadline and the WiFi just refuses to cooperate? That panic is universal.

4. Res Life: A Whole Different Universe

Staying in student residence is a rite of passage. It’s chaotic, hilarious, and sometimes dramatic—but it’s also where some of the best memories are made. Whether you’re in traditional res or student digs, you learn a lot about people—and yourself.

Sharing space with others means borrowing toothpaste at 11 PM, waking up to someone playing Amapiano at full volume, and occasionally dealing with noisy neighbours during exam week. There are always debates about dishes, laundry queues, and someone hogging the microwave.

But there’s a special bond in res life. You find family in strangers, form study groups on short notice, and navigate adulting together. From birthday braais in the quad to all-night convos in the hallway, res is a story of its own.

5. The All-Nighter Before Exam Day

Every semester begins with good intentions. You plan to study early, keep up with your notes, and avoid last-minute stress. But somehow, the night before the exam always turns into a frantic, coffee-fueled session of cramming everything you’ve learned over the past three months.

Notes are spread across your desk (or bed), you’re reading slides at double speed, and everyone in the group chat is panicking together. There’s always that one friend who’s suspiciously calm—or suspiciously silent—and the rest of you are just trying to stay awake until sunrise.

It’s stressful, it’s exhausting, and yes—you’ll probably say, “Next semester I’m doing better.” Spoiler: you probably won’t. But that’s okay. You’re not alone in the madness.

South African university life is chaotic, hilarious, and character-building. It’s a shared experience of navigating system glitches, power cuts, tight budgets, and last-minute assignments. Yet, through all the ups and downs, you grow, laugh, and collect stories that you’ll tell for years. No matter the city or course, the struggle—and the joy—is real.