The closure of universities as a response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affects all students and has a far-reaching economic and psychosocial impact, especially for those students who come from marginalized and impoverished contexts. International research reports that students have struggled to cope with learning under unprecedented conditions, including not attending classes on campus. This study aimed to investigate the psychological burden of COVID-19 among students at a university of technology in the KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa. A mixed-method approach was used to collect data from participants. The results revealed that several students struggled to cope, both mentally and academically, with the burden of COVID-19. Negative psychological experiences emerged among students as they faced numerous challenges. Therefore, it is recommended that students must be provided with resources that would enable them to thrive and recover from these negative experiences.