The only South African student-accommodation brand nominated on the world stage
CampusKey has officially marked a milestone moment in its journey toward redefining student living in South Africa. This year, we were nominated for the Best Student Community & Wellbeing Programme at the prestigious Best in Class Awards 2025, global recognition from The Class Foundation, one of the world’s leading institutions in student and shared living.
As the only South African student accommodation brand nominated, this achievement places CampusKey shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the most innovative operators across Europe, the UK, and beyond. It is a nod to the commitment, creativity and care that underpin the CampusKey experience.
A Nomination That Signals Something Bigger
The Best in Class Awards celebrate organisations shaping the future of living, working, and learning. To be shortlisted is to be recognised not just for operational excellence, but for impact, for contributing meaningfully to the wellbeing, community culture and lived experiences of students.
For CampusKey, the nomination acknowledges our unique approach:
that student accommodation is not only a place to stay, but a place to belong.
While we did not take home the award this year, our nomination stands as global confirmation that the work happening in South Africa is not just competitive, it is world-class.
Representing South Africa on a Global Stage
CampusKey’s Managing Director, Leon Howel, attended the awards ceremony in Lisbon, where international leaders in student living and real-estate innovation gathered to honour the industry’s most forward-thinking projects. Here CampusKey represented something powerful:
that African student accommodation belongs in the global conversation.
Our nomination placed South Africa on the map in a category dominated by European institutions, highlighting the scale and quality of the community-building and wellbeing work happening at CampusKey.
What We Were Recognised For
Our shortlist nomination was driven by the strength of the CampusKey community and wellbeing offering, a programme designed not as an add-on, but as the heart of the CampusKey experience.
This includes:
- weekly events that foster authentic connection
- wellbeing initiatives that support students mentally, socially and physically
- thoughtfully designed spaces that encourage interaction and improve overall quality of life
- community-led activities shaped around inclusivity, purpose and belonging
These elements blend into a model that is more than accommodation. It is lifestyle, support system, social ecosystem and home, all at once.
A Proud Moment, and a Motivating One
Awards matter. Recognition matters. But what matters most is what happens next.
This nomination fuels our commitment to continue elevating the CampusKey experience, to extend our wellbeing programmes, strengthen community engagement, and lead the student-living sector in South Africa with intention and innovation. CampusKey will continue to push the industry forward, not for the sake of accolades, but for the sake of our students.
