Housing FAQ

Move Out

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Why should I live in the GSAS Residence Halls instead of living off-campus?
Are all students guaranteed housing in the GSAS Residence Halls?
Are there other housing options?
Who is eligible for GSAS Residence Halls and who gets priority?
What is the procedure for applying for housing?
What are the Important Dates?
What is the duration of the housing contract?
What does it cost to live in the residence halls?
When will I hear about my room assignment?
Where will my housing information be sent?
Is it possible to request a particular hall?
If I do not get my room preference, what can I do?
Are single rooms available?
Are there any two-room accommodations for a roommate and me?
What if my housing plans change after I sign up?
Is it possible to get an assignment for half of the year? Are there any exceptions?
I need a place to live immediately. Is it possible to get a room in the middle of the semester?
Can I move to a different room later?
How can I reserve my same room or a different room in my hall for next year?
Can I move in sooner than the beginning date of the housing contract?
Are tours of the residence halls available, and how can I arrange for one?
Leaving the residence halls
When do I have to vacate the halls?
What if I need to vacate my room in the middle of the academic year?
When leaving the Residence Halls, did you remember to...?
Are the GSAS Residence Halls networked?
Is there a computer room in the residence halls or on campus?
Is smoking permitted in the GSAS Residence Halls?
Are the rooms wired for cable TV?
What type of linen/size of sheets should I get?
What do I need to bring if I live in the Residence Halls?
What furniture will be in my room when I arrive?
Can I have a guest in my room or is there a guestroom?
What are the sizes of the rooms?
Am I allowed to have pets in my room?
Are the residence halls open over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break?
Is bicycle storage available?
Are there any single sex floors in the residence halls?
Are the bathrooms designated for single-sex use?
What types of social activities occur in the halls?
What types of laundry facilities are available?
What property insurance is available to students?
What if I think I have bed bugs?
How does someone address a letter to me once I have moved into the residence Halls?
Where should I have UPS and Federal Express packages sent?
If I have other questions, what should I do?
What is the Dudley House meal plan?
What does the meal plan cost?
Where and when do I eat?
May visiting friends and family eat in the dining hall?
What if I am ill or have to attend a special class and cannot come to the dining hall to eat?
Can I get a refund for meals not used?
Can I bring a car to Cambridge? Where would I park?
How do I pay for my housing?
What types of measures are taken to protect my safety?
Can students with special needs ask for special preference for a room?
What are my options for summer housing?
Is there a telephone in my room?

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 provides first-year residents the opportunity to speak candidly with experienced graduate students about graduate school. Another consideration is the proximity of our halls to the campus, including libraries, laboratories, and classrooms. Finally, 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 who submit their complete application and all supporting materials by the application priority 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. Most recently, the majority of students who have remained on the waiting list have been offered a room well before academic registration in late August. However, it is impossible to predict what will happen in any given year.

Are there other housing options?
Housing is available through a number of resources. Harvard Housing is available through the Harvard Campus Services office. The Harvard Housing Office also provides listings of available rooms, apartments, and homes for rent in the Cambridge and Boston areas, as well as a roommate service. Students can visit the Harvard Housing webpage for additional off-campus housing resources, or email their office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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 that more than half of the 411 rooms are typically assigned to first-year degree candidates in GSAS. Furthermore, students in the Harvard Kennedy School, 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 for Student Affairs.

What is the procedure for applying for housing?
All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply for GSAS Housing online beginning in early March 2013. The online application must be submitted no later than April 24, 2013 in order to be considered on time.

GSAS Housing Services does not accept paper applications. Any applications that are INCOMPLETE or LATE will not be included in the initial 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 email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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?
Late February/Early March 2013
Application information sent to incoming students with admission packets. Admitted students are encouraged to apply online by April 24, 2013.

April 24, 2013
Priority deadline for applications to be included in the initial housing lottery for the 2013-2014 academic year. All application materials must be received by GSAS Housing Services by this date in order to be included in the lottery.

Mid-June 2013
Housing assignment information is e-mailed to students assigned rooms in the first round of the housing lottery.

Mid-June 2013
First round room confirmations due to GSAS Housing Services.
Waiting list notification e-mailed to applicants who did not receive housing in the first round of assignments. Second and third rounds of assignments e-mailed to top tiers of wait list.

Ongoing
Rooms assigned on a rolling basis as cancellations are received. Waiting list updates e-mailed approximately twice/month.

What is the duration of the housing contract?
The room contract for the residence halls extends from noon, Friday, August 23, 2013 through Thursday, May 22, 2014 at noon. Occupants who will be receiving a degree at Commencement on Thursday, May 29, 2014 may remain in occupancy until noon on Friday, May 30, 2014 (the day after Commencement). However, GSAS Housing Services reserves the right to move the occupant to a different room for the interim period, if necessary, which runs from the end of the contract until the day after Commencement.

What does it cost to live in the residence halls?
Room fees vary from $6,290 for a small single room to $9,878 for a two-room Child Hall suite for the 2013-14 academic year. The room fee does not include the meal plan fee of $2,120. The complete listing of fees for all rooms in the residence halls can be found on the "GSAS Residence Halls" webpage.

When will I hear about my room assignment?
Incoming first-year graduate students (G-1s) should receive their room assignments in early June 2013. Assignments to continuing students and others, plus wait list numbers, are expected to go out in early June as well, also via e-mail. GSAS Housing Services frequently reassigns rooms as declines and cancellations arrive in the office; new assignments are offered throughout the summer and sometimes even through the beginning of the academic year.

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 s/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. All applicants should notify GSAS Housing Services of any changes to their e-mail addresses.

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; however, 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 administrators can rewrite the room contracts for both parties. There will also be a "Change of Room" fee posted to students' accounts for changing rooms.

Are single rooms available?
The majority of the rooms are single rooms. Only a very limited number of two-room accommodations are 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 the Child Hall suites 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. Due to its size, the Richards Hall suite can only be occupied by a single resident.

If you prefer to live in a two-room accommodation with a roommate, you must indicate the name of the student with whom you are interested in sharing the suite. This information should be e-mailed by both parties via e-mail to the Housing Services office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Students will not be assigned to share a suite unless both applicants indicate on the applications 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 ($150). 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 one's room assignment e-mail.

Is it possible to get an assignment for half of the year? Are there any exceptions?
The contract for a room in the GSAS residence halls is written almost always for the entire academic year. Only pre-approved visiting fellows or special students may be offered one-term housing contracts.

Residents who leave mid-year (or prior to the end of their specific room offer contract) 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 GSAS Housing Services to discuss procedures for vacating and your financial responsibility.

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 to GSAS Housing Services so that new housing contracts may be written. A "Change of Room" fee will be posted to the termbill account of any student changing rooms.

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?
Because of very special academic circumstances, some students may be 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 GSAS Housing Services. 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 the end of June. Early arrival is not guaranteed.Due to the many facilities projects during the summer months, most early arrival requests will not be granted.

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 size of the housing staff, individual tours are not available.

Leaving the residence halls

When will I have to vacate from the residence halls?
The last day of housing for the 2013-14 academic year is May 22, 2014; residents who are not graduating must vacate by 12 noon, Thursday, May 22, 2014.

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 online, in the GSAS Housing Services Office (Dudley House B2) or via e-mail, by request. The form can be returned either via e-mail or in person at our office in Dudley House, Room B2. Once Housing Services is aware of a resident's expected departure date, our office will begin the process of finding someone to fill the vacant 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 inform the office as soon as possible so that the room can be made available to another student, and, so that the student may avoid the spring housing fee term-billing.

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 SERVICES, then on MAIL.

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 - ALSO must 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 access. 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 with 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 Harvard University IT. Residents who are not GSAS students must register with GSAS Housing Services in order to have a FAS account created for them to be able to use this lab. In addition to the Child Hall computer lab, there are 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 buy linen from Harvard Student Agencies (617-496-3412) or bring their own from home. The sheet size is 36"x80" (extra-long twin).

Additionally, Macy's and Marshall's department 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 linens, blankets, and must also purchase their own personal hygiene items. 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 a number of necessary kitchen supplies. Students are allowed to 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 (linens not included), desk and chair, bookcase, bureau (except in Child and Richards rooms, which have shelves in the closets), and a 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 guest rooms 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 Hall are 276 square feet and the Richards Hall suite is a bit smaller.

Am I allowed to have pets in my room?
Except for living-assistance animals, no animals, 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, December / January break, 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. 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. The cost of of the laundry machines is $1.25 to wash, and $1.25 to dry. Irons and ironing boards are also supplied at no additional cost.

What property insurance is available to students?
Limited information about student property insurance is available in the Housing Services Office in Dudley House, B2. While GSAS Housing cannot specifically recommend or endorse any particular insurance companies, information can be found by doing a simple web search. A search for "student insurance" will result in many different options for students.

Where can I get more information about bed bugs?
Generally, the GSAS residence halls are pest free; however, bed bugs have spread throughout the world and are significantly increasing in numbers in North America as well as other countries. If you are concerned you may have bed bugs, please contact our Facilities Manager, Bob Byrne, immediately at 617-495-0747. For more information on bed bugs, please read the this document from Harvard University Environmental Health and Safety.

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 GSAS 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 his/her mailbox, a package notice will be delivered to the resident's mailbox, or the mail room may e-mail the resident of a package delivery. The resident must bring this slip to the package pick-up window during normal Mail Center hours. Hours for the room are posted at the start of the academic year.

NOTE: No incoming resident should have packages or mail sent to the Mail Center before they arrive on campus. If a student's name is not on the mail room's list of current residents, mail and packages will not be accepted/delivered.

If I have other questions, what should I do?
Please e-mail GSAS Housing Services at This email address is being protected from spambots. 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 2013-2014 academic year the meal plan consists of any three (3) meals per week, lunch or dinner, plus sixteen (16) floating meals and sixteen (16) guest meals each semester, for a total of 153 meals for the academic year. All meals will be taken at Dudley Cafe.

The meal plan consists of 3 mandatory meals per week, to be used for either lunch or dinner. These 3 meals cannot be carried over to future weeks if they are unused. Each student is also given 16 floating and 16 guest meals per semester that they can use at their discretion, either for him/herself or for a guest.

Options:

1. Use 3 meals per week for yourself; these meals do not roll over to the next week.

2. In addition to the 3 meals per week for yourself, use 1 or more of the 16 floating and/or 16 guest 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 and/or guest meals for 1 or more guests. Please note: the guest(s) must be present in the dining room when you request a floating and/or guest meal.

To obtain a meal at Dudley Café, 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 Café 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 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 are released from financial responsibility of 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 2013-2014 academic year is $2,120.00.

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. Dudley House is about a 10 minute walk from the residence halls.

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 lunch or dinner on a cash basis. In addition, residents will be permitted to use up to 32 of their meals per semester for guests. The guest's meal will be charged against the host resident's semester meal allotment.

What if I am ill or have to attend a special class and cannot come to the dining hall to eat?
Students can request a boxed lunch to be prepared in advance for pick-up. Students can make requests online.

Can I get a refund for meals not used?
No refunds are arranged for missed or unused 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/parking.

Room charges

How do I pay for my housing?
Room fees are term-billed twice a year, once in early September for the fall term and again in early December for the spring term. 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 Student Receivables office. For more information, please call the Student Receivables Office at 617-495-2739, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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, between 12am-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. If a student is in need of special accommodations, he or she should submit a letter describing his or her condition, as well as a letter from his or her physician, to the FAS Accessible Education Office at www.fas.harvard.edu/aeo/documentation.html (617-496-8707). Students from other Schools should submit documentation to the Disability Coordinator at their School. All documentation is due by the application deadline (April 24, 2013).

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 residents seeking long-term housing during the summer. Information and applications is available online in early February 2014.

Telephone

Is there a telephone in my room?
There is a telephone outlet in each room. However, if residents want to use a telephone in their room, they must supply their own phone and work with the University to set up phone service. Phone service is an additional monthly fee; GSAS does not provide phone service to residents. For additional information, residents may contact the Harvard Student Telephone Office at 617-496-8200.