Why should I live in the GSAS Residence Halls instead of living off-campus?
One of the most important reasons is that it allows first-year students and continuing students the opportunity to interact with other graduate students from a variety of disciplines and schools. Living in the residence halls allows for a smooth transition into Harvard and the Graduate School community. Access to Resident Advisors gives first-year residents the opportunity to speak candidly with experienced graduate students about graduate school. Another consideration is proximity to the campus, including libraries, laboratories, and classrooms. Also, the cost of living in the residence halls is relatively inexpensive compared to the high cost of apartment living in the Cambridge/Boston area.

Are all students guaranteed housing in the GSAS Residence Halls?
Only first-year GSAS students whose complete applications and all supporting materials are received by the application deadline are guaranteed a room. All others are assigned on a space-available basis or as cancellations are received. After the initial assignment process, students are placed on a waiting list and are offered a room when they reach the top of the list. Typically, approximately one-half of students who remain on the waiting list are offered a room by academic registration in mid-September. However, it is impossible to predict in any given year what will happen.

Are there other housing options?
Housing is available through a number of resources. Harvard Affiliated Housing is available through Harvard Real Estate Services (HRES). The Harvard Housing office, run by HRES, also provides listings of available rooms, apartments, and homes for rent in the Cambridge and Boston area, as well as a roommate service (1-800-252-5020, 7 Holyoke Street, Cambridge). Finally, you can visit our off-campus housing resources page for other resources.

Who is eligible for GSAS Residence Halls and who gets priority?
All full-time, registered Harvard graduate students are eligible to apply for a room in the GSAS residence halls. Please note: Most of the 411 rooms are assigned to first-year degree candidates in GSAS. Furthermore, students in the Kennedy School of Government, the Graduate School of Design, and the Graduate School of Education are given higher priority than are students in other graduate and professional schools at Harvard University. In addition to those students in degree programs, Visiting Fellows, and Special Students who have been admitted through the GSAS Special Students and Visiting Fellows Office are eligible to apply, as are Exchange Scholars who are admitted through the Office of the Dean in GSAS. Part-time graduate students and graduate students in the Extension School are not eligible to apply.
 

What is the procedure for applying for housing?
All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply for GSAS Housing online at a link to be determined in late March, 2008.  After completing and submitting the online application, applicants must also mail the following items to GSAS Housing Services: (All of the following documents must be received by May 1, 2008 in order to be considered on time)

The Academic Year 2008-09 Housing Contract downloaded from the final page of the application, which requires your signature in multiple locations.
One passport-sized photograph or a digital photograph in jpeg (.jpg) or bitmap (.bmp) format to be emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
The online application fee of $55.00 US (In the form of a check or money order made payable to "Harvard University".)

Online applications will not be considered complete until the above items are received by GSAS Housing Services. Any applications that are INCOMPLETE, FAXED, EMAILED OR LATE will not be included in the lottery and will be placed on the waiting list.  (including incoming graduate students)

If you cannot complete the online application, please contact the Housing Services office at 617-495-5060 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to express your concern.

Please Note: Any student who knowingly falsifies an application will automatically lose the room s/he may have already been assigned, and may not be considered for an assignment in the future.


What are the Important Dates?
Early March
Application information sent to incoming students with admission packets.
Admitted students are encouraged to apply online at a link to be determined at the end of March, 2008.

May 1, 2008
Deadline for applications to be included in the initial housing lottery for the 2008-09 academic year. All application materials must be received by GSAS Housing Services by this date in order to be included in the lottery.  

June 15, 2008
Housing assignment information for academic year e-mailed to students assigned rooms in the first round of the housing lottery.

June 20, 2008
Waiting list notification e-mailed to applicants who did not receive housing in the first round of assignments.

June 25, 2008
Room confirmations due at GSAS Housing Services.

Ongoing
Rooms assigned on a rolling basis as cancellations are received. Waiting list updates e-mailed at least once each month.
 

What is the duration of the housing contract?
The room contract for the residence halls typically extends from late August or early September through the end of May (specific dates for beginning and end of contract are determined annually). Occupants who will be receiving a degree at Commencement in June may remain in occupancy until 12:00 Noon on the day after Commencement. However, GSAS Housing Services reserves the right to move the occupant to a different room for the interim period, which runs from the end of the contract until the day after Commencement. Please refer to the room contract for specific dates.
 

What does it cost to live in the residence halls?
Room fees vary. The fees for the current academic year can be found on the "GSAS Residence Halls" web page.   The room fee does not include the meal plan.

 
When will I hear about my room assignment?
Incoming first-year graduate students should receive their room assignments by mid June. Students on the waiting list will hear as soon as GSAS Housing Services can assign them a room. It is very important for students on the waiting list to keep in touch with GSAS Housing Services throughout the summer. These assignments can occur throughout the summer and sometimes even through the beginning of the academic year. Information will be e-mailed to students.
 

Where will my housing information be sent?
ALL information will be e-mailed. No information is sent via USPS mail.  It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that she or he receives and follows up on information provided by GSAS Housing Services. GSAS Housing Services cannot be responsible for missed deadlines or cancelled rooms caused by problems with an applicant not receiving e-mail.
 

Is it possible to request a particular hall?
It is possible to request a particular hall and room type by using the room preference chart on the application, but GSAS Housing Services cannot guarantee that every request will be granted.
 

If I do not get my room preference, what can I do?
There are two courses of action. First, you may decline your room assignment and be placed at the bottom of the waiting list. However, you are still not guaranteed your room preference when your name comes up on the waiting list again. Furthermore, if you go to the bottom of the waiting list, there is no guarantee that you will be offered another room.
Second, after moving in, you may post signs in the residence halls to see if another resident is willing to switch rooms with you. If you find someone who is interested in doing this, written information must be submitted to GSAS Housing Services prior to the move, so that the housing officers can rewrite the room contracts. 
 

Are single rooms available?
The majority of the rooms are single rooms. Only a very limited number of two-room accommodations is available.
 

Are there any two-room accommodations for a roommate and me?
The two-room suites in Child and Richards halls consist of two small connecting rooms. Students may live in these rooms alone or with a roommate. Both residents must be eligible for the GSAS residence halls. Spouses or partners who are not students are not eligible to live in the GSAS residence halls.
If you prefer to live in a two-room accommodation with a roommate, you must indicate on your online application the name of the student with whom you are interested in sharing the suite. This information should be included in the box reserved for other factors that should be taken into consideration when assigning you a room. This box is located at the end of the online application. Students will not be assigned to share a suite unless both applicants indicate on the application their desire to do so.

 
What if my housing plans change after I sign up?
If you need to cancel a housing assignment in a GSAS residence hall, you must submit a notice in writing to GSAS Housing Services. There is a short period during which students are allowed to cancel an assignment without penalty. After this grace period, students who cancel an assignment are charged a cancellation fee. In some cases, however, you will be charged both a cancellation fee and be held financially responsible for the room. More specific information about the cancellation schedule is outlined in the room assignment e-mail.
 

Is it possible to get an assignment for half of the year? Are there any exceptions?
No. The contract for a room in the GSAS residence halls is for the entire academic year. Residents who leave mid-year are financially responsible for their room and meal plan fees for the duration of the contract. If GSAS Housing Services can reassign the room, the original resident will be released from financial responsibility when the new student moves into the room. If you decide to move out of the residence hall before the contract ends, you will need to contact the GSAS Housing Coordinator to discuss procedures for vacating and your financial responsibility.

Only pre-approved visiting fellows  may be offered one-term housing contracts.

I need a place to live immediately. Is it possible to get a room in the middle of the semester?
Rooms often become available in late December and throughout the month of January. Occasionally rooms will become available in the middle of the semester. A student desiring housing at this time should contact GSAS Housing Services for room availability. Students can be placed on a waiting list for rooms that become available during the academic year.
 

Can I move to a different room later?
GSAS Housing Services does not make changes in room assignments once a student is assigned a room. If you are interested in switching rooms, however, you may post a flyer in the residence halls at the beginning of the academic year. If another student agrees to switch rooms, both students must submit written notification must be turned into GSAS Housing Services, so that new housing contracts may be written .
 

How can I reserve my same room or a different room in my hall for next year?
Unfortunately, this is not possible, as rooms are assigned on an annual basis and according to lottery results. All incoming GSAS students who meet the deadline are guaranteed a room; remaining rooms are assigned to others on the waiting list.
 

Can I move in sooner than the beginning date of the housing contract?
Students are only allowed to move in prior to the start of the contract for academic reasons. GSAS Housing Services refers to this practice as "Early Arrival." Written approval from the student's department must be submitted to the GSAS Housing Office.  An additional fee will be charged for each day prior to the start date of the contract. In some cases, residents who are granted early arrival may not be able to reside in the room to which they have been assigned for the academic year. Requests for early arrival must be made in writing to GSAS Housing Services no later than July 20, 2008.  Early arrival is not necessarily guaranteed.
 

Are tours of the residence halls available, and how can I arrange for one?
Tours of the residence halls are usually arranged by GSAS academic departmental administrators for group tours.  Group tours are generally only available in the spring and are not usually available during the summer, fall, and winter.  Due to the busy workload in the summer, tours are not available from May to September.  Any other tours are based on the availability of staff.

Leaving the residence halls

What if I need to vacate my room in the middle of the academic year?
Occasionally students need to leave the residence halls in the middle of the year (leave of absence, traveling for a semester, personal reasons). In this case, a resident is asked to fill out a room vacate form, located in the GSAS Housing Services Office (Dudley House B2), or on-line. The form must be returned in person to the office. Once Housing Services is aware of a resident's departure, our office will begin the process of finding someone to take over the room. The resident is financially responsible* for the remainder of the contract unless GSAS Housing Services is able to reassign the room. If you have any further questions, please contact our office.
*If a student is taking a leave of absence or is withdrawing from school, then the student is not financially responsible for the remainder of the contract. We do ask, though, that the student informs the office as soon as possible so that the room can be made available to another student.

 

When leaving the Residence Halls, did you remember to...?
change your mailing address with the Mail Forwarding Center.  The link to forward mail can be found by going to the University Operations Services website (www.uos.harvard.edu) and clicking on CAMPUS SERVICES, then on MAIL SERVICES.

change your mailing address with the Student Data Office by submitting, in writing, your name, new address, and ID number to 358 Holyoke Center and all other departments with whom you interact.

GSAS Students Only - change your mailing address with the Registrar's Office, 617-495-1519.
 

Computer related issues

Are the GSAS Residence Halls networked?
All GSAS Residence Halls are  equipped with wireless Internet accesss.   In addition, all rooms in the GSAS Residence Halls are equipped with data jacks through which personal computers can access the campus network, which in turn connects to the Internet. To connect a personal computer to the network, an internal Ethernet board or card is needed.
 

Is there a computer room in the residence halls or on campus?
A computer room containing both PC and Macintosh computers is located in the basement of Child Hall. Only students who live in the GSAS Residence Halls have access to this lab. The computer room is networked to provide access to all of the applications provided by the FAS Computer Services. Residents who are not GSAS students must register with GSAS Housing Services to create an FAS account in order to use this lab. In addition to the Child Hall computer lab, there are extensive computer facilities located in the Science Center and a small computer room in Dudley House (the Graduate Student Center).
 

Facilities

Is smoking permitted in the GSAS Residence Halls?
No. GSAS residence halls are smoke-free environments, and, smoking is strictly prohibited in all areas, including common areas and in individual rooms on all floors.
 

Are the rooms wired for cable TV?
Cable TV is not available in individual rooms in GSAS residence halls. Cable TV is available, however, in at least one lounge in each building.
 

What type of linen/size of sheets should I get?
Linen is not provided by the University. Students can either rent linen from Harvard Student Agencies (617-496-3412) or bring their own from home. The sheet size is 36"x80" (extra-long twin.)

Macy's and Marshall's departments stores at the Downtown Crossing stop on the T's Red Line are easily reachable from campus and sell linens and blankets at quite reasonable prices.  

What do I need to bring if I live in the Residence Halls?
Students must provide their own telephone, and must also purchase their own personal hygiene items. Linens are not provided, but may be rented through Harvard Student Agencies (617-496-3412). Kitchens are equipped with a refrigerator, oven and stove, sink, a microwave, a toaster, tea kettle, and dish rack. Kitchen supplies such as pots, pans, dishes, glasses, and utensils are not supplied; however, many floors jointly purchase many necessary kitchen supplies. Students should purchase or lease their own small refrigerator for their room. Cooking appliances (including Microfridges, microwaves, toasters, coffeemakers, rice cookers and hot pots) are not permitted in student rooms.
 

What furniture will be in my room when I arrive?
Rooms are furnished with an extra-long twin bed, desk and chair, bookcase, bureau (except in Child and Richards rooms, which have shelves in the closets), and wardrobe or closet. Furniture provided by the University cannot be removed from rooms. Beds may be removed for medical reasons only and written documentation from your physician is necessary.
 

Can I have a guest in my room or is there a guestroom?
Guests are allowed to stay in residents' rooms up to three days without prior approval of GSAS Housing Services. There are no guestrooms available and common areas may not be used to host guests.
 

What are the sizes of the rooms?
The approximate sizes of the rooms are as follows:
Small rooms in Child and Richards Hall are 111 square feet.
Small rooms in Perkins Hall are 146 square feet.
Small rooms in Conant Hall are 164 square feet.
Large rooms in Perkins Hall are 217 square feet.
Large rooms in Conant Hall are 234-265 square feet.
Two-room accommodations in Child and Richards Hall are 276 square feet.
 

Am I allowed to have pets in my room?
Except for living-assistance animals, no animal, including birds, fish, or reptiles, may be kept in rooms in the GSAS residence Halls. Pets are not allowed to visit.
 

Are the residence halls open over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break?
Yes, the residence halls stay open during all academic year breaks.
 

Is bicycle storage available?
Bicycle storage rooms are available in the basement of Perkins and Conant Halls. Students who use the bike rooms must provide locks for securing bicycles to racks and pick up a Resident Sticker from the GSAS Housing Office which indicates that the bike belongs to a current resident.  Bicycles should also be registered with the Harvard University Police.
 

Are there any single sex floors in the residence halls?
Yes, there are two: the basement of Child Hall houses only men; the third floor of Richards Hall houses only women. All 14 other floors in the residence halls are coed.
 

Are the bathrooms designated for single-sex use?
Yes, the bathrooms in the residence halls are designated for single-sex use. Each floor has one bathroom (either male or female), except Perkins, which has two bathrooms per floor (one male, one female). For one term during the academic year, students in Child, Richards, and Conant halls may need to use the bathroom on the floor above or below the floor on which they reside. Bathroom designations in these buildings are reversed at the beginning of the spring term.
 

What types of social activities occur in the halls?
The Graduate Dormitory Council (GDC) is a student organization whose principal goal is to work for the improvement of life in the GSAS residence halls. The GDC provides residents with several TVs, VCRs, volleyball nets, and grills. In addition, there are often planned group activities throughout the year. Resident Advisors also organize various activities involving the residents on their floor. Pizza parties, dessert socials, shopping trips, and study breaks are just a few examples.
 

What types of laundry facilities are available?
Laundry rooms are located in the basement of each residence hall. Machines can be operated using coins or Crimson Cash. Irons and ironing boards are also supplied at no additional cost.
 

What property insurance is available to students?
Student property insurance is available through several private insurance companies. Information is available in GSAS Housing Services, Dudley House, Room B2.
 

Mailing address and package pick-up

How does someone address a letter to me once I have moved into the residence Halls?
Your mailing address will be as follows:

Your Name

GSAS Mail Center
Residence Hall, Room number
Street Address
Cambridge, MA 02138

Street address for the residence halls are as follows:
Child Hall 26 Everett Street
Conant Hall 36 Oxford Street
Perkins Hall 35 Oxford Street
Richards Hall 24 Everett Street

 

Where should I have UPS and Federal Express packages sent?
Both mail and packages are received in the mail center (located in the basement of Perkins Hall) and are distributed to resident mailboxes. If a resident receives a package that will not fit in their mail box, a package notice will be delivered to the resident's mailbox. The resident must bring this slip to the package pick-up window during normal mailroom hours. Hours for the room are posted at the start of the academic year.

NOTE: Incoming Fall residents should NOT have packages sent to the mailroom before they arrive in the fall.  Packages should only arrive after residents arrive.

If I have other questions, what should I do?
E-mail GSAS Housing Services at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Meal plan

What is the Dudley House meal plan?
All residents of the GSAS Residence Halls are required to enroll in the Dudley House Meal Plan, which provides an excellent opportunity for residents to meet and interact with fellow students. For the 2008-09 academic year the meal plan consists of any four (4) meals per week, lunch or dinner, plus sixteen (16) floating meals each semester for a total of 164 meals for the academic year; 160 at Dudley Café and 4 interhouse meals on Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Martin Luther King Day, and Presidents' Day.  (see below for more information on interhouse dining)

The meal plan consists of 4 meals per week, to be used for either lunch or dinner.  Each student is also given 16 floating meals per semester that they can use at their discretion, either for him/herself or for a guest.

Options:

1. Use 4 meals per week for yourself; these meals do not roll over to the next week.

2. In addition to the 4 meals per week for yourself, use 1 or more of the 16 floating meals for yourself.  For example, use a maximum of 1 floating meal at lunch and/or dinner to eat in the dining room.  (Meals at lunch may also be taken "to go.")

3. Use 1 or more of the 16 floating meals for 1 or more guests.  Please note: the guest(s) must be present in the dining room when you request a floating meal.

 

To obtain a meal at Dudley Cafe, residents must present their Harvard ID at the checkout counter.  Lunch is a points equivalence system, up to a total value of 10 points.  Dinner is an "all you care to eat" buffet.  Dudley Cafe accepts the following alternative methods of payment for lunch or dinner: Crimson Cash, cash, Mastercard or Visa.

All students who apply to live in the GSAS Residence Halls must indicate on the back of their application that they agree to enroll in the meal plan. The Dudley House Meal Plan will automatically be cancelled if you are not assigned a room or in the event that you cancel your room contract. However, students may still enroll in the Dudley House Meal Plan by signing up at Harvard Dining Services, 65-67 Winthrop Street.

 

What does the meal plan cost?

The cost of the meal plan for the 2008-00 Academic Year is $2,108.

What is "interhouse" dining?

On Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Martin Luther King Day and Presidents' Day, the dining room is closed for the entire day or evening.  On these occasions, participants in the meal plan may dine at several Undergraduate Houses.  This is called interhouse dining.  A list of the Undergraduate Houses offering interhouse dining is listed at: http://www.dining.harvard.edu/residential_dining/halls_interhouse.html

Where and when do I eat?
Lunch is served from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm and dinner from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Monday - Friday, in the main Dudley House Dining Room.  

May visiting friends and family eat in the dining hall?
Yes. Students, whether or not they are enrolled in the Dudley meal plan, may bring guests to dinner or lunch on a cash basis. In addition, residents will be permitted to use up to sixteen of their 82 meals per semester for guests. The guest's meal will be charged against the host resident's weekly meal allotment. 
 
What if I am ill or have to attend a special class and cannot come to the dining hall to eat?
Call the dining hall in advance (495-3381) to discuss arrangements for a boxed dinner or lunch.
 
Can I get a refund for meals not used?
No refunds are arranged for missed meals.
 

Parking

Can I bring a car to Cambridge? Where would I park?
Students are encouraged not to bring automobiles to campus. On-street parking is reserved for city residents with Cambridge vehicle registrations. Private rental parking is limited and expensive.  Harvard University Parking Services conducts a lottery in the fall for campus parking spaces. For more information, contact Parking Services at 617-495-4785 or visit their website at http://www.uos.harvard.edu/transportation/par.shtml.
 

Room charges

How do I pay for my housing?
Room fees are term-billed twice a year, once in fall and again in spring. Because the fall term is slightly longer than the spring term, the housing fee for the fall term that will appear on your term bill is more than half of the overall room fee. 
You must pay your term bill by the date specified on your statement. Students may set up special payment schedules with the term bill office. For more information, please call the Student Billing Office at 617-495-2739, www.termbill.harvard.edu.
 

Safety

What types of measures are taken to protect my safety?
The exterior doors of the halls are locked 24 hours a day. In addition, a security guard walks through the residence halls every evening, midnight-7 am. The security of the residents is highly dependent on the sense of responsibility each resident takes in not propping open doors, not letting strangers into the residence halls, and locking the door to his or her individual room.
 

Students with disabilities

Can students with special needs ask for special preference for a room?
Special preference for a room may be given because of a medical problem or physical disability. The student should write a letter describing their condition and obtain a letter from a physician.  Both letters must be included with the application.  This information must also be on file with Accessible Education Office (617-496-8707). These requests are due by the application deadline.
 

Summer housing

What are my options for summer housing?
Typically, one of the GSAS residence halls is open for summer housing. Priority for summer housing is given to current residents and for long-term summer housing. Information and applications are available in February.
For information about 2008 summer housing in the GSAS Residence Halls, visit our summer housing Web page http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/current_students/summer_housing.php.

 

Telephone

Is there a telephone in my room?
A telephone jack is provided, but students must provide their own touch-tone telephone set. Residents will receive a detailed packet when they pick up their keys upon move-in containing telephone registration details and a confidential Personal Billing Number (PBN). For additional information, residents may contact the Harvard Student Telephone Office at 617-496-8200.