Accommodation Beyond Infrastructure: Student Satisfaction with Facilities and Management in NSFAS-Accredited Housing under Massification and Post-Fees Must Fall Transformation

Abstract

Background: Student accommodation has emerged as a critical determinant of student success, well-being, and retention in higher education institutions globally. In South Africa, the challenge of providing adequate student housing has intensified due to massification, enrolment expansion, infrastructural constraints, and persistent socio-economic inequalities. The #FeesMustFall movement further exposed inadequacies in student housing and amplified demands for affordable, safe, and quality accommodation.

Objectives: This study examined students' accommodation experiences, preferences, and the relationship between accommodation-related experiences, personal well-being, and academic success at a South African university.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed among 178 students residing in university residences and NSFAS-accredited off-campus accommodation. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, reliability testing, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis using IBM SPSS Version 31.

Results: Accommodation-related experiences significantly predicted personal well-being (R² = 0.541; p < 0.001) and academic success (R² = 0.161; p < 0.001). Students reported positive satisfaction with accommodation infrastructure, with ceiling quality (58.0%) and floor quality (57.0%) receiving the highest satisfaction ratings, while sanitary systems (37.4%) and water pressure (38.4%) received the lowest. However, significant governance concerns emerged: 43.9% of students reported that management ignores bullying and assaults, 34.4% experienced poor responses to building defects, and 26.2% faced difficulty contacting management. Well-being partially mediated the relationship between accommodation experiences and academic success (indirect effect = 0.221; 33.6% mediated).

Conclusion: While physical infrastructure demonstrates strong to moderate alignment with NSFAS standards, governance domains particularly management responsiveness and student protection reveal significant weaknesses. The study concludes that accommodation quality constitutes a critical component of student success and recommends strengthening NSFAS accreditation processes to include binding governance indicators, increasing investment  in  student  housing  infrastructure,  and  enhancing institutional oversight mechanisms