Johannesburg hosts students at multiple colleges and universities including the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), the University of Johannesburg and the University of South Africa (UNISA). As the country’s financial hub, this is a great place for students of economics and business to learn and, if they’re lucky, find apprenticeships. Asiancorrespondent.com raves about studying near Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton City, Montecasino and the “constant city buzz” in Johannesburg.
Accra is the home of the University of Ghana, a well-reputed college that draws in students from around the world. For that reason, it’s also very appealing to Ghanaian students hoping to broaden their horizons but who don’t have the budget to study internationally. Accra has a vibrant nightlife and every type of cuisine imaginable. A Nairaland.com discussion board talks about how affordable even private schools are in Accra.
Students in Cairo—many of whom attend the American University in Cairo, Cairo University or Ain Shams University—will never be far from historical or cultural landmarks. One of the busiest cities on the continent, Cairo is a remarkable intersection of the past and the future—making it a great place for study. Egyptians in Cairo are generally welcoming to international students, an exchange student told Yourmiddleeast.com.
Addis Ababa is more of a college city than a university city, hosting institutions like the Addis Ababa Medical College and the Africa Beza University College. It is full of students and an unrivaled live music scene. The city is also quickly becoming a hot spot for electronic music, providing fun and possible employment for students.
Home of the University of Cape Town and University, the Western Cape and others, Cape Town combines the charms of one of the country’s top tourist destinations, with the liveliness of a student town. You’ll find plenty of funky cafes and shops, run and enjoyed by the local students, and, of course, stunning beaches (a good, budget friendly activity). When students need to escape the campus, they can cruise to Robben Island, climb Table Mountain, or walk around Kirstenbosch Gardens, according to Asiancorrespondent.com.
Tunis is the home of over a dozen colleges and universities, including the reputable University of Carthage. CNN.com recently named it a top city of opportunity in Africa—and opportunity is something every college graduate needs in a continent of high youth unemployment.
Pretoria is where you’ll find the University of South Africa Muckleneuk Campus and the University of Pretoria. Pretoria is relatively safe student town with plenty of suburbs, and it is the seat of administrative offices, embassies and trade offices, making it a rich learning environment. Living here is affordable, with one person being able to get by on about $400 a month without rent, according to Numbeo.com.
Kampala is the site of Makerere University, Cavendish University and Uganda Technology and Management University, to name a few. Between campuses, students never run out of things to do, speakers to hear and parties to attend. The architecture, culture, customs and gastronomy all ranked four out of four for students at Kampala universities, according to a post on Erasmusu.com.
Casablanca is a culturally diverse place that hosts several international schools, including the French Toulouse Business School and the International Academy Mohammed VI of Civil Aviation. CNN listed Casablanca on its top 10 cities of opportunity on the continent, referencing its great transport and energy infrastructure—two essential things for getting students around and helping them meet their goals.
Students craving big city life love Durban, third-largest city in South Africa. Being No. 3 does, however, make it hard for graduates to get a job here, but they can console themselves with the breathtaking beaches. The architecture is inspiring to design students. Durban is one of the most affordable cities in the country, according to Asiancorrespondent.com.
Bloemfontein’s student population, mostly from the University of the Free State, makes up nearly 7 percent of the population. You’d be hard-pressed not to find a student around every corner. Many describe the city as having a close-knit community feeling, which can be nice for students who are far from home. Sastudy.co.za mentions the city’s strategic location “on the main road, rail and air links between north and south, east and west.”
Nairobi has been described as one of the most livable cities in Africa, with its dynamic cultural activities and fun nightlife. The city also has a lot of part-time employment, which is perfect for students. Students in this city make friends from every demographic, and life is never the same one day to the next, a student writer observed on American.edu.
