One of the greatest challenges students face is finding comfortable and affordable housing in the Cambridge/Boston area. It can take considerable time to locate suitable housing, and compromises may have to be made between what is wanted and what is available. Housing possibilities include: living in a residence hall, renting a University owned apartment, renting a private apartment, renting a room in a private house, sharing an apartment, or (remote as it may seem) buying a house or condominium.

GSAS HOUSING SERVICES

THE GSAS RESIDENCE HALLS

The GSAS Residence Halls, located at the intersection of Oxford and Everett streets just north of the Science Center, include Conant Hall, Perkins Hall, Child Hall, and Richards Hall. Together, the four buildings house over 400 students, with priority given to incoming students in GSAS. Perkins Hall and Conant Hall were built in 1893 and 1894 respectively. Designed by Shepley, Rutin, and Coolidge, these buildings are representative of the Georgian architecture used in the freshman residences in Harvard Yard. Construction on Richards and Child halls began in 1949. The two buildings, along with several Law School dormitories and Harkness Commons, make up the Harvard Graduate Center designed by the German modernist architect Walter Gropius.

With the exception of six two-room suites in Child Hall and one in Richards Hall, which may be occupied by one or two graduate students, all rooms in the halls are singles. Room sizes vary across the four residence halls. All rooms have basic furnishings: a bed, desk and desk chair, bookcase, desk lamp, bureau (except Child and Richards which have shelves in the closet), closet or wardrobe, and window shades or blinds. Rooms in Child and Richards are carpeted. Pillows, linens, towels, blankets, and fans are not provided. Students can make arrangements to purchase or rent linens, refrigerators, and more from Harvard Student Agencies (HSA).

There is one all-male floor and one all-female floor. All other floors are coed. Each floor has a common kitchen (Perkins has two per floor), which includes a stove, refrigerator, microwave oven, and toaster oven. Most floors also have a dining area and/or lounge, many of which can be reserved by residents for special events. There is at least one television with cable in each hall and several lounges have VCRs and/or DVD players. A large-screen TV with DVD player is located in the basement lounge of Richards Hall. A computer room for residents can be found in the basement of Child Hall. The mail center for all GSAS residents is situated in the basement of Perkins Hall. Bike rooms are located in the basement of Perkins and Conant halls. Each residence hall houses a laundry room at the basement level. The GSAS Residence Halls are smoke-free environments with smoking strictly prohibited in all common areas and in individual rooms on all floors.

There is a telephone outlet in each room that is active upon move-in; however, residents must supply their own telephone. As a service to residents, GSAS provides unlimited calls to all metro Boston exchanges on room phone lines in the GSAS residence halls. In order to make long distance calls students will need to have a Personal Billing Number (PBN) through PaeTec Communications, the telephone provider for Harvard University. Additional information regarding telephone service can be found at the Student Telephone office Website (www.uis.harvard.edu/student_telecom).

The residence hall contract extends from Friday, August 29, 2008, to Thursday, May 28, 2009. Residents who will be receiving a degree on June 4, 2009, may remain in occupancy until noon on the day after Commencement, Friday, June 5, 2009, subject to the right of GSAS Housing Services to move the occupant to a different room for the period from May 28, 2009, to June 5, 2009. The residence halls remain open during the academic year’s recess periods. All residents are required to enroll in the Dudley House Meal Plan, which consists of any four meals per week, lunch or dinner, plus sixteen floating meals each term for a total of 164 meals each academic year. Room fees for the academic year range from $5,322 to $8,358. The price of the meal plan for the 2008–09 academic year is $2,108. Room assignments for summer housing require a separate application available in the early spring.

Room assignments are determined by lotteries held in late May in which incoming students are given first priority, followed by continuing GSAS students. The first round of room assignments for the next academic year is communicated via e-mail in mid June. However, GSAS Housing Services continues to accept applications throughout the summer, and additional room assignments may be made to students on the waiting list as rooms become available. Students are welcome to inquire at any time about vacancies. The most efficient way to contact the office is by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The GSAS residence halls are administered by the Housing Services staff, the GSAS facilities manager, and the director of student services, who are assisted by sixteen resident advisors. The resident advisors are graduate students employed by GSAS Student Affairs. Any student who has resided for at least one term in a GSAS residence hall is eligible to apply. Applications are available in early January for the following academic year. Students interested in these positions should call Ellen Fox, director of student services, at 617-495-5005.

GSAS Housing Services is located in Dudley House, B-2 (617-495-5060). Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

 

SUMMER HOUSING IN A GSAS RESIDENCE HALL

Room assignments for the summer require a separate application process, which takes place in the spring. The information and applications are available on the GSAS Housing Services Website in early February. In the past, at least one of the GSAS residence halls has been open for housing during the summer. Priority for a room is given to current residents of the four GSAS residence halls who choose to stay for the entire summer. All other applicants are assigned a room on a space-available basis.

 

RESIDENT ADVISORS

GSAS resident advisors (RAs) are graduate students who are members of the GSAS Office of Student Affairs. There are sixteen RAs, one for each floor of the four GSAS Residence Halls. RAs help students adjust to the Harvard community, aid in emergency situations, and serve as liaisons with the GSAS administration. Applicants must be degree candidates in good academic standing and must have resided for at least one term in a GSAS residence hall. Compensation includes a free room and a lunch and dinner meal contract Monday through Friday at Dudley House. A meeting to discuss the RA position, other resident positions, and the Dudley Fellow position is held in December. The application for RA positions is available online in January for the upcoming academic year. For additional information, contact Ellen Fox, director of GSAS Student Services/supervisor of GSAS resident advisors, at 617-495-5005 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

CONFERENCE HOUSING IN A GSAS RESIDENCE HALL

During the summer, rooms are available for use by conferences. Members of the University community who are organizing a conference and are interested in sleeping rooms should contact GSAS Housing Services at 617-495-5060 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Rooms fill up quickly, so interested groups should contact GSAS Housing Services as early as possible.

 

UNIVERSITY-OWNED HOUSING

Owned and operated by the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, 83 Brattle Street has apartments for Harvard graduate students, faculty, and staff. Studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments are available, ranging from $1,450 to $2,350 per month, including heat and hot water. Electricity is metered separately for each unit. A one-year lease is required. All apartments have hardwood floors and updated bathrooms. In addition, the apartments are a five-minute walk to Harvard Square. Applications for the next academic year are available in February online. For more information, students should contact the Radcliffe Housing Office at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Graduate students who are registered as full-time degree candidates in the School(s) of Design, Arts and Sciences, Government, and Education are eligible for dormitory housing at the Cronkhite Center. The majority of rooms are small singles and the 2007–2008 room rate is $7,212. A ten-meal-plan contract of $4,111 is required of all students. Applications are made available in February and a lottery is conducted in May. For more information students should contact the Radcliffe Housing Office at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

 

FRESHMAN DORMITORIES AND THE HARVARD HOUSES

Freshman proctorships in the dorms in Harvard Yard and resident tutorships in the Houses are College positions that are often filled by graduate students. Some combination of room and board is generally provided.

Proctors are members of the Board of Freshman Advisors. Each works under the direction of a resident dean of freshmen to create a comfortable academic and social community for twenty to forty students. They also serve as academic advisor to a group of about ten of their students. Applications and further information are available on the Freshman Dean’s Office Website at fdo.fas.harvard.edu beginning in late November. The deadline for applications is ordinarily in early January, but late submissions can get consideration.

Resident tutors are members of the undergraduate Houses; they are appointed by the masters, usually in the winter months, for the following year. Their roles and responsibilities fall into three broad areas: “neighborhood” or entryway activities, academic advising, and community involvement. Interested graduate students should read the resident tutor job description, available on the Office of Residential Life Website.

House masters also appoint non-resident tutors, who usually receive a number of meals and an opportunity to participate in House life in exchange for various duties.

 

HARVARD REAL ESTATE SERVICES (HRES): HARVARD AFFILIATED HOUSING

Harvard Real Estate Services (HRES) manages several apartment complexes that are open to full-time Harvard students, faculty, and employees. Harvard Residential Housing’s portfolio offers approximately 2,900 apartments within a one-mile radius of Harvard Yard, and these units vary in style from townhouse apartments to apartments in high-rise buildings. This housing is available for both married and single students. If a single student plans to have a roommate, the roommate must also be eligible for Harvard Affiliated Housing. The Affiliated Housing brochure and application can be found online or can be requested through the HRES Housing office at 800-252-5020 or 617-495-3377.

Apartments managed by HRES are often sublet during the summer months, May- September. Information regarding these opportunities is available at the Housing office.

 

THE HARVARD REAL ESTATE SERVICES

The Harvard Real Estate Services (HRES) Housing office assists the Harvard community with non-dormitory housing needs. The office is open year-round Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Housing office offers the following services: (1) Harvard Affiliated Housing (see HARVARD AFFILIATED HOUSING section for more information); (2) Harvard University Community Listings Network: apartment, house, boarder, and room rentals and sublets in Cambridge and the surrounding communities; (3) binders on work in exchange for rent opportunities, properties for sale, and short-term housing.

To use the Housing office, one must show a valid Harvard identification card, or a letter of admission or Harvard appointment form, and photo identification. In addition to information about where one might look for housing, the office keeps information about average rental costs, local realtors, bed and breakfasts, local school districts, and childcare.

VANDERBILT HALL

GSAS students are eligible to live in Vanderbilt Hall, which is located on the Harvard Longwood campus. Information about Vanderbilt Hall may be found online. Students may contact the Vanderbilt Hall Business office at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling 617-432-1629

 

THE OPEN MARKET

Housing in Cambridge and Boston can be expensive and difficult to find. Most housing situations are found by word of mouth. Housing in Somerville, Medford, Watertown, and Allston is often less expensive than in Cambridge. Students with children should investigate playgrounds, schools, and day care before renting an apartment.

 

INTERNET RESOURCES

The following Websites may be helpful:

Apartments.com

Boston Globe

Boston Phoenix

Boston Apartments

Craig’s List

Harvard Real Estate Roommate Center

Just Rentals

Move

Yahoo! Classified

 

NEWSPAPERS

The local newspapers listed below are a good source of information for apartments that are available in the Cambridge/Boston/Watertown area. The newspapers are available at various locations such as the ones noted below.

Boston Sunday Globe - available at Out of Town News in Harvard Square
Boston Phoenix - available at Out of Town News in Harvard Square
Cambridge Chronicle - available at Out of Town News in Harvard Square
The Harvard Crimson - housing supplement is distributed in April. Extra copies are available at the Crimson office, 14 Plympton Street.

 

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Local real estate agents can be very useful in a housing search. However, there is almost always a cost for using them; the fee is generally equivalent to one month’s rent. GSAS students should contact Harvard Affiliated Housing for a list of local real estate agents.

 

WORD OF MOUTH

According to surveys conducted by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, most students find their housing by word of mouth; therefore, you should always let people know that you are looking for housing.

 

WORK IN EXCHANGE

Free room and board is available in exchange for fifteen to twenty hours per week of household services such as: child care, cooking, companionship for elders, or light household jobs. Occasionally students can find these types of situations through listings. Students can also contact the Student Housing Exchange at 617-926-4800 to inquire about placements.

 

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

Average rents as of Spring 2008:

	Cambridge	Outside Cambridge (Somerville, Belmont, etc.)	Harvard-Affiliated
Studio	$ 1,285	$ 1,112	$ 1,173
One Bedroom	$ 1,500	$ 1,478	$ 1,394
Two Bedroom	$ 1,970	$ 1,641	$ 1,772
Three Bedroom	$ 2,713	$ 2,208	$ 2,221
Four Bedroom	$ 2,713	$ 2,560	$ 3,030

 

 

HOUSING FOR STUDENTS REQUIRING ACCOMMODATIONS

Students for whom safety and proximity to essential locations is necessary, such as bathrooms, accessible entrances, transportation, and meals, must notify the Accessible Education Office (AEO) immediately following admission, or as soon as the need is clinically documented, so that proper campus area housing arrangements (if available) can be facilitated. Students bringing medically related equipment should so declare to ensure adequate electrical or other considerations. In some circumstances it may be advisable to visit rooms in advance to avoid incompatible arrangements.

Clinical documentation provided to AEO is always necessary to request housing assignments and is kept confidential. Specific guidelines for such documentation may be obtained from the AEO Website. The University reserves the right to change a pre-existing housing assignment, even temporarily, if a disability-related life-safety concern exists.

 

HOUSING FOR MARRIED STUDENTS OR STUDENTS WITH CHILDREN

University-owned housing for married students and students with children is limited largely to Harvard Residential Housing available through Harvard Real Estate Services. There are a few opportunities for married students to become resident tutors in undergraduate houses or freshman proctors in the freshman dormitories. Graduate women and their spouses/families are also eligible to apply to 83 Brattle St. for housing (see University-Owned Housing, Chapter X).

 

MEALS

MEAL PLANS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS AT DUDLEY HOUSE

Dudley House, the graduate student center for all GSAS students, is located in Lehman Hall in the southwest corner of Harvard Yard. Eating lunch and/or dinner at Dudley House is an excellent opportunity for graduate students to interact with other students outside their department setting.

The Dudley House Dining Room is open for lunch 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., and dinner 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The café offers a variety of main entrees, including at least one vegetarian option, fresh salad bar, pasta bar, breads, fruits, drinks, and desserts.

The Dudley House Meal Plan consists of any four meals per week, lunch or dinner, plus sixteen floating meals each term for a total of 164 meals each academic year. The cost of the meal plan is $2,108 per year, billed as $1,054 each term. Students living in the GSAS residence halls are required to enroll in the meal plan. Non-resident GSAS students are also welcome to join the meal plan and can sign up by contacting Ann Chiaramonte in Harvard University Dining Services at 617-495-2710. Lunch or dinner may also be purchased on a cash basis or by using Crimson Cash.

 

MEAL PLANS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS AT

 

The Cronkhite Center at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study operates a dining room for students and members of the Harvard community. Residents of Cronkhite are required to purchase a board contract for ten meals per week. Full-time, non-resident graduate students are also eligible to select a board contract. The fee for the academic year is $3,842, which is billed through the Student Termbill office. The Dining Room opens in mid-September and closes in late May. Students interested in selecting the plan should contact the Radcliffe Housing office at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . The Dining Hall is open Monday through Friday (excluding holidays and break periods) from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. for breakfast, 12:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. for lunch and 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for dinner.

 

 

Cash: There are a number of locations on campus where students can buy food. These locations include: Biolabs, Conroy Commons (in Longfellow Hall), Café Gato Rojo and Dudley Café (in Dudley House), Gund Hall Café, Harkness Commons, Kennedy School, Queen’s Head Pub (in Memorial Hall), and the Science Center.

Crimson Cash: Crimson Cash is a debit account run through the Harvard ID (a declining balance system). Crimson Cash can be used at vending machines and to purchase meals in most on-campus restaurants. For more information, see the Crimson Cash Website .

Café Gato Rojo: Gato Rojo is a student-run café located in the basement of Dudley House. The café offers gourmet coffees, espresso, cappuccino, cold drinks, pastries, and other light snacks in an informal atmosphere. Café Gato Rojo is open on weekdays.