IRDP | Campus Life

Accomodation Service

IRDP offers both on-campus and off-campus accommodation, with on-campus spaces limited and in high demand. All hostels provide essential amenities, including furniture, electricity, water, and security. Special arrangements are available for postgraduate students upon request.

Accommodation is allocated only after full payment via a control number issued at the start of the academic year.

Priority for on-campus accommodation is given to:

Students with disabilities
International students
Female students
First-year students residing outside Dodoma City

At IRDP, we are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive residential experience that supports academic success and personal well-being.

Health Services

The Institute of Rural Development Planning Dispensary provides health services to staff, students and the community around the institute. The IRDP dispensary operates eight hours a day. Currently, the following are the services offered: outpatient clinic, laboratory services, reproductive and child health services, counselling and testing HIV and providing antiretroviral drugs for pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS.

IRDP dispensary is accredited to serve the National Insurance Fund (NHIF) beneficiaries. All students must join NHIF by paying the NHIF contribution fee (Tshs 50,400) to the NHIF during the registration period. Students who fulfil the NHIF conditions will be provided with a membership number, which will be used to access health services at the IRDP dispensary and other accredited health facilities country-wide.

Counselling Service

Student experience many challenges in both their academics and personal lives. Many new and important decisions are made these days. Change is constant, and stress often accompanies these new experiences.
The Office of Directors of Students Services provides a place for students to discuss these multifaceted changes in a private and confidential setting. Counselling helps students cope with various challenges and make sound decisions. Students experiencing serious emotional difficulties or requiring specialized or long-term treatment can receive referrals to professional services where an interactive session between students and professional counsellors can be conducted to share their day-to-day challenges.
IRDP periodically organize counselling workshops at campuses where students get a chance to interact and share their journeys to mentor and guide fellow students who may be going through the same
Counselling services are free of charge. Issues addressed in counselling include but are not restricted to:

Relationships
Family issues
Stress management
Behavior change
Financial issues
Grief (death of loved ones)
Sexuality and family life planning
Career guidance and counselling
Life skills
Managing peer pressure
Loss of self-esteem
Conflict management
Emotional and psychosocial problems
Study skills and examination-taking techniques
Drug and substance

The staff follows strict professional codes of confidentiality. Counselling records are not part of the institute's records

Catering Services

The Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) provides a commercialized cafeteria system where students are required to make separate payments for meals, independent of their general tuition and accommodation fees. This arrangement ensures that food services are efficiently managed and tailored to individual student needs.

Due to the absence of cooking facilities in campus hostels, students are strictly prohibited from preparing meals within their accommodations. This policy is in place to maintain safety, hygiene, and the overall well-being of all residents on campus.

IRDP operates four well-maintained cafeterias—three located at the main campus in Dodoma and one at the Mwanza campus, which serves students in that region. These cafeterias offer a full range of daily meals at subsidized rates, ensuring affordability. All meals are paid for directly at the cafeteria counters, allowing students flexibility and access to nutritious food throughout their academic journey.

Campus Activities

Sports and Recreation Activities

Student life at the Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) goes beyond academics, with a variety of well-organized extracurricular activities and annual events designed to enrich the student experience, build leadership skills, and support holistic development. These initiatives play a key role in fostering personal, social, and professional growth while promoting active engagement within the campus community.

Key events such as Mr. and Miss Talent provide a platform for students to showcase their creativity, confidence, and cultural expression, while the Fresher’s Party warmly welcomes new students, fostering interaction, social integration, and a strong sense of community within IRDP.

IRDP also takes pride in its active participation in the SHIMIVUTA competitions—renowned inter-institutional sporting and cultural festivals that unite students from higher learning institutions across the country. These competitions promote teamwork, sportsmanship, and intellectual engagement through a wide array of activities, including sports, debates, and cultural performances. Through such events, IRDP reinforces its commitment to cultivating a dynamic and inclusive student environment where academic excellence is complemented by co-curricular achievement.

Games and sports play a vital role in fostering strong and focused minds—an essential foundation for academic success. These activities not only bring excitement and enjoyment but also promote discipline and well-being through structured, rule-based competitions. Active participation in sports enables students to develop both physical fitness and important social skills, contributing to their overall personal development.

IRDP offers excellent sports facilities and actively promotes student participation in various competitions, from interdepartmental to international levels, including the annual SHIMIVUTA games. In addition to sports, the Institute hosts key social events like Mr. and Miss Talent and the Fresher’s Party, enriching student life and fostering a strong sense of community.

The Institute is deeply committed to nurturing a culture of well-being in an inclusive environment that values and celebrates individual diversity. This commitment is reflected in the IRDP sports slogan, “Michezo ni Afya, Starehe, na Ajira”, which highlights the multifaceted benefits of sports—promoting health, providing enjoyment, and creating employment opportunities.

Campus Life

Ms. Jane Said Mchakama