At one time a traveller will experience hardships in fi nding
accommodation away from home. Exchange programme
students are no exception. Finding accommodation
is one of the most important assignments in
the preparation for studies abroad. The right place for you to stay
during your stay away from home can make your studies much
more enjoyable.
A variety of accommodation options, ranging from students
halls of residence to rental houses or units, are available to exchange
programme students coming to East Africa. The choice of
accommodation depends on their purchasing power.
University accommodation for exchange programme students
may be onsite hostels, or houses and units situated offsite in
convenient locations. Many of these are self contained, so that a
student has their own bathroom and kitchen. The places are for
sharing or individual accommodation. University accommodation
can be social and lively, students adhere to university policies for
behaviour and when organizing social events.
Where a student is accommodated in University halls of residence
meals are sold on a pay-as-you-eat basis at cafeterias conveniently
located next to such halls. One can also opt to take their
meals in restaurants and other eating places in the vicinity of the
respective University campuses. Cooking is not allowed in the
halls of residence.
Privately run houses or units are often rented by universities
exclusively to exchange students. The houses often have several
private bedrooms, which are individually rented to students. Students
will usually share bathroom and kitchen facilities. In some
of them, at least breakfast provisions are included- in some other
meals are provided. Others have a live-in caretaker. It is common
to fi nd these houses rented to students of one sex, or for particular
nationality. Students staying in these house or units may not be
under any strict behaviour codes, but a level of maturity and consideration
is expected of students.
Students may decide to rent a house or unit from a private landlord,
maybe as part of a group with other students. Rooms may be
individual or for sharing, and students are usually responsible for
all of their own meals, or as part of a share agreement with their
housemates. These share houses can often be noisy places, with
lots going on, depending on students housemates. This type of
residence is most suited to social, lively students.
Privately owned boarding houses, small hotels and others may
offer possibilities for student accommodation. These are probably
more suited to quiet, studious persons, who do not want to have
too much socialising at their place of residence. Bathrooms are
often shared, but some meals are usually available. These are the
kinds of accommodation, such as the YMCA and YWCA in Kenya;
as well as other approved guest houses. Students are advised to
seek assistance regarding such accommodation from the university
in which admission is sought.
Home stays - many families in East Africa welcome international
exchange students into their homes. Various organisations coordinate
these arrangements, at varying expenses to the student.
Some families are paid to provide accommodation, some do it as
volunteers.
The Internet is helpful in locating families offering student accommodation
and students looking for accommodation. It is important
for exchange students to check on the safety issues for
themselves.
Many host families
usually provide meals
or at least some to
the student. The student
is provided with
a bed; they may have
a room to themselves,
or may share with a
family member (of
the same sex); and
an area to study. The
bathroom facilities
may be shared. The
student is usually required
to live as part
of the family, helping
out with household
chores and abiding by
household rules. Most
families probably
don't mind a friend or
two dropping by, with
prior consultation,
but wouldn't be happy
with frequent or loud
social occasions in
their home.
At one time a traveller will experience hardships in finding accommodation away from home. Exchange programme students are no exception. Finding accommodation is one of the most important assignments in the preparation for studies abroad. The right place for you to stay during your stay away from home can make your studies much more enjoyable.
A variety of accommodation options, ranging from students halls of residence to rental houses or units, are available to exchange programme students coming to East Africa. The choice of accommodation depends on their purchasing power. University accommodation for exchange programme students may be onsite hostels, or houses and units situated offsite in convenient locations. Many of these are self contained, so that a student has their own bathroom and kitchen. The places are for sharing or individual accommodation. University accommodation can be social and lively, students adhere to university policies for behaviour and when organizing social events.
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Written by EI Team | 
