Students’ Governance and Judicatory Services

This unit supervises all students’ activities within various student organizations under the auspices of the office of the Dean of Students.

These activities are conducted in accordance with the law of the land and Student By-Laws. In other words, the Student Government Affairs is one of the units in the office of the Dean of Students that offers guidance to the Dar es Salaam University Students Organization (DARUSO) as well as leaders of Student Associations and their members.

Core Functions

  1. Strengthening leadership in student organizations
  2. Encouraging female students to participate in student leadership
  3. Overseeing students’ constitutional affairs
  4. Facilitating student-level disciplinary meetings
  5. Supervising DARUSO elections and power transition
  6. Registering all student associations
  7. Reviewing students' association’s constitutions and activeness in their operations in the University

Accommodation Services

The University offers a range of quality accommodations in the Halls of Residence both on and off-campus. This is handled by a semi-independent unit known as the University Student Accommodation Bureau (USAB), whose offices are located near Hall V at the main campus. There are 7 Halls on campus and are charged at the rate of TZS 800/= per day per bed for undergraduate students. Other accommodation facilities are Mabibo Hostels located 4 km from the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Mlimani Campus, and the Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli Hostels located relatively nearer the campus, both of which are charged at the rate of TZS 500/=, TZS 2000, and $3/- per day per bed for undergraduate, postgraduate, and international students respectively. Transport from the University to Mabibo Hostel is available 14 hours a day. Residential places for Mlimani Main Campus and DUCE students are also available at Kijitonyama and Ubungo Hostels. Apart from these, both the Dar es Salaam University College of Education and Mkwawa University College of Education campuses have their own student accommodation facilities.

In summary, accommodation facilities for Mlimani Main Campus students include the following:
  1. Mwalimu JK Nyerere Campus Halls of Residence
  2. Hon. Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli Hostels
  3. Mabibo Hostels
  4. Mikocheni Hostels
  5. CoICT Hostels
  6. Ubungo Hostels

Students’ Activities

Most of the students’ activities are organized by DARUSO, the students’ union. The students’ organization is concerned with all students’ academic, political, social and recreational activities. Students are encouraged to form academic/professional organizations. They are also encouraged to form and join social organizations that have been registered. New social and academic organizations are registered with the Dean of Students’ office.

Games and Sports

The University’s main campus has some of the best sporting facilities in the country, including an international-size track field, a swimming pool, tennis courts, soccer pitches, netball and basketball courts, and hockey and cricket fields. However, most of these facilities require intensive rehabilitation. There is a gymnasium where badminton, squash and weight lifting can be held is in place. Students can therefore participate in athletics, swimming, lawn tennis, table tennis, football, basketball, netball, hockey, badminton, cricket, handball, and boxing.

Religious Activities

Students and staff of the University of Dar es Salaam have complete freedom of worship based on their spiritual beliefs, within the limitations of the laws of the country and Student By-Laws. At the Mwalimu Nyerere Campus, there is a Mosque for Muslims, whereas Christian worship services are conducted at the Joint Christian Chapel. Both facilities are situated near Hall No. 4 along Biafra and Kilimahewa Roads.

Healthcare

The Dean of Students Office (DoSO) works closely with UDSM Hospital on medical related issues as one of the integral parts of students’ health. The Unit also follows up on sick students hospitalized at different facilities including the UH, Mwananyamala Hospital, Muhimbili National Hospital and Mikocheni Mission Hospital, and informs their respective schools/colleges for academic purposes.,

Other health related issues handled by the Unit include:

  • To provide interventions for students with psychiatric problems, on behalf of parents or guardians, to enable them to receive medical treatment;
  • To respond to all medical related problems that affect students in different ways such as postponement of studies on medical grounds;
  • To assist sick students to attend medical appointments as prescribed by their doctors;
  • To offer hospitality services, for instance, providing a balanced diet to sick students hospitalized in various medical facilities like Muhimbili National Hospital, Mikocheni Mission Hospital, etc.
  • To provide counselling services to students regarding issues such as family planning and reproductive health;
  • To organise seminars and workshops on HIV, family planning and reproductive health to wardens, DARUSO leaders and staff members at the office of the Dean of Students; and in the event of the occurrence of a student’s death, to facilitate burial arrangements and present condolences from UDSM to the bereaved family.

      • Catering Services

      There are seven cafeterias that provide catering services to our students.

      • Cafeteria One
      • Cafeteria Two
      • Yombo Cafeteria
      • Magufuli Hostel Cafeteria
      • Mabibo Cafeteria
      • CoICT Cafeteria
      • Kunduchi Cafeteria

      These cafeterias are privately run, but DoSO monitors the quality of services offered to ensure that they meet the agreed standards, particularly in terms of the food quality, environment under which the food is prepared and served to students, varieties of food on the menu, and food prices.

Medical Services

The University of Dar es Salaam Hospital (UH) provides health services to students, staff members, staff families, and the general public. The Hospital is located within the Mwl. Julius K. Nyerere Mlimani Campus. The Hospital also runs dispensaries located at Mabibo Students’ Hostels and IMS (Zanzibar), as well as a dispensing room at SJMC (Kijitonyama).

UHC operates on a twenty-four hour basis. Currently, the following are the services offered: Outpatient clinic (treatment of various disease conditions); Inpatient services (hospitalization); a wide range of laboratory services; Specialized clinics in skin and sexually transmitted infections, eye and optical services, obstetrics and gynaecology, diabetes, paediatrics, and psychiatry and mental health; Counselling and testing for HIV and providing antiretroviral drugs to people living with HIV/AIDS; Reproductive and child health services; Treatment of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis; and Health education, communication and counselling students on reproductive health.

The UH operates on a twenty-four-hour basis. Currently, the following are the services offered: Outpatient clinic (treatment of various disease conditions); Inpatient services (hospitalization); a wide range of laboratory services; Specialized clinics in the skin and sexually transmitted infections, eye and optical services, obstetrics and gynaecology, diabetes, paediatrics, and psychiatry and mental health; Counselling and testing for HIV and providing antiretroviral drugs to people living with HIV/AIDS; Reproductive and child health services; Treatment of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis; and Health education, communication and giving counselling to students on reproductive health.

The UH is accredited to offer services to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) beneficiaries. All students are required to join NHIF by filling in special forms after contributing some specified amount of money to the NHIF during the registration period. Students who fulfil the above are provided with NHIF membership cards, which are used to access treatment at the Hospital and other accredited health facilities countrywide.

University Library

The University of Dar es Salaam Library is an academic unit which is fully involved in teaching, research, and consultancy. The primary role of the Library is to provide information services to support the teaching, learning, and research functions of the University. It has three departments, namely: Reader Services, Technical Services, and Research and Special Collection. Each department is headed by an academic member of staff who is answerable to the Director. Senior staff members of the Library are involved in teaching, research, and consultancy services. The University Library is a national repository, which collects materials published in Tanzania and are housed in the East Africana Section. These include books, journals, research reports, as well as government and university publications. It also includes materials on the former East African Community, the Liberation Movement, and SADC publications.

The Library has six major sections: Arts and Social Sciences, Law, Science and Engineering, Reference, East Africana, and ICT. These collections consist of books, journals, and other materials in their respective subject areas, both in print and electronic versions. They are self-sustaining service units which provide specialized services to users undertaking research and courses in various subject areas. In addition, the Library has an Information Studies Programme, which is a training wing that offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programmes in Library and Information Studies.

The Library provides both print and electronic information services to its users. The services provided include; Lending Services, Document Delivery, E-mail and Internet, Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI), Current Awareness Services, and photocopying services. Being a national repository library and the largest collection of research materials, its services are also extended to researchers and scholars, both within and outside the country.

Library Opening Hours

  • Monday – Saturday8.00 a.m. – 06.30 p.m. / 7.30 p.m. – 10.30 p.m.
     
  • Public Holidays2.00 p.m.– 06.30 p.m
     
  • Sundays1.30 p.m. – 10.30 p.m
     

Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Outreach

The University of Dar es Salaam offers innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship training as well as skills development through the University of Dar es Salaam’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (UDIEC) and other relevant units that are based in its Colleges, Schools, and Institutes. The mission of the Centre is to promote the development of knowledge, skills and technologies that are geared towards solving societal problems through innovations. Our aim is to produce graduates who are job creators rather than job seekers. Students are urged to get involved in the activities of the Centre..

Transport Services

Transport services for students residing off-campus are available at reasonable prices. The transport services are provided by three shuttle buses that were donated to the University by the CRDB Bank. There are also privately owned mini-buses for students residing at Mabibo Hostel. The services run from 06.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. during the semester, and from 06.00 a.m. to 08.00 p.m. during vacations.

Security and Safety Management Systems

The University of Dar es Salaam Security and Safety Management Systems consist of a Police Station, the University Auxiliary Police Unit and Private Security Companies which have security contracts with the University Management. All students are cautioned to secure themselves and their colleagues by instilling in their minds the attitude of being always alert with a security consciousness spirit and self-awareness against unpredicted crimes. Whenever Police assistance is needed, you are advised to report immediately by using the following telephone numbers:
No. Office Contact Telephone Numbers
1. UDSM Auxiliary Police Station +255 652 097 852
2. UDSM Police Station +255 22 2410279
3. Hall 1 - 5 and Extension for International Students +255 712 850 450
4. Hall 6 and 7 Postgraduate Hostel +255 688 668 434
5. Library and Lecture Halls +255 652 097 856

Shopping Facilities

The University has basic shopping facilities at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Mlimani Campus, Mabibo Hostel, as well as at the DUCE Campus. There is a major shopping mall at Mlimani City, which is located within the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Mlimani Campus, along Sam Nujoma Road. Major Banks, a Bureau de Change, Travel Agents and mobile telephone service providers are located in the mall.

Bookshop and Publishing Services

The University has a Bookshop, which is currently operated by the Dar es Salaam University Press (DUP). It is located at the Mwalimu Nyerere Mlimani Campus near Cafeteria 1 and 2. UDSM staff and students, as well as alumni and visitors, can access a wide range of textbooks, University apparel, and gifts from the University Bookshop. Students can also buy books from the Mlimani City Bookshop. Anyone in need of books may contact DUP at dup@udsm.ac.tz

Stationeries, Printing and Photocopying

There are a number of University operating photocopying services situated in the University Library and the College of Engineering and Technology (CoET), which offer the said services at a reasonable price to UDSM staff and students. Almost all major academic units and offices have photocopying facilities, which are dedicated to staff members; other printing, photocopy and stationery service centres are operated by private enterprises and are located on campus and in the University’s neighbourhood.