Student absenteeism at higher education institutions (HEIs) is a cause for concern as it has implications for students' academic performance and therefore graduation rates. Graduation rates to some extent influence funding to which universities are entitled. This study aimed to establish the contextual factors that influenced student absenteeism at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), South Africa. A cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted amongst 140 students in a single discipline in the management cluster. First-year students were found to have a greater tendency to be late for the first period (08:00) than second-year or third-year students. Furthermore, the students chose to absent themselves from class to study for tests; complete assignments; or engage in group work. The majority of the students absented themselves from classes on the day before a test as well as on the day of the test. The recommendations that emanated include the need to dedicate time for testing, during which no lectures are scheduled and to plan the timetable so that first-year lectures start in the second period (09:00).