On-Campus Housing Options

The following provides information regarding housing options offered by Harvard University Housing (HUH), as well as the dormitory option available to HGSE students.

 
Harvard University Housing (HUH)

HUH portfolio of nearly 3,000 apartments are open to full-time Harvard graduate students, faculty, and employees. The majority of residences are within one mile of Harvard Yard.

  • While applications are accepted year-round, the main application season is March 3 through May 1, when inventory is at its peak.
  • HUH is typically appealing to students who have families or want apartment-style living. 
  • There is extremely high demand for HUH apartments; apartments are not guaranteed.
  • HUH offers apartments on a fixed-term lease basis and does not require a security deposit, application fee, or finder’s fee.
  • Rental fees include the cost of utilities.
  • 24-hour maintenance service is provided.
  • Some furnished and pet-friendly units are available (breed and weight restrictions apply). All HUH apartments and properties  are smoke-free.
  • You must sign a lease with HUH. Start times vary and they typically end on June 30.
  • To live in any HUH apartment, you must fill out a Housing Application (Please be aware that an approved application is not a guarantee of housing).
  • For detailed instructions, and more information, please see the Harvard University Housing website.
  • Construction noise at HUH properties: Make sure you read your "Lease Rider", once you sign your lease (contract) you will not be able to cancel it.

The Graduate Commons Program is one of the special amenities offered by HUH and is available at all its properties. It was created in collaboration with graduate and professional schools to provide a housing experience that balances the needs for privacy and convenience, with opportunities for cross-discipline collaboration and social interaction outside of the classroom, fostering a greater sense of community for our graduate student population.

Harvard University Housing and Leasing 
Harvard Campus Service Center
Room 807, 8th floor, Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center (formerly Holyoke Center), 
1350 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: huhousing@harvard.edu
Phone: 617-496-7827
Fax: 617-496-0404

Want to learn more about Harvard University Housing? View this helpful "How-To" video.  HUH Zoom Q&A webinars will be hosted in March, with more details shared via email with those students who complete the HUH application process.

Residence Halls

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) Student Housing

  • For full-time, single students only.
  • Rooms are assigned via lottery.
  • Mandatory meal plan required.

Rooms are not assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. As long as you submit your application by the deadline, you will be included in the lottery. To be included in the first housing lottery round, complete applications must be received by the priority deadline, May 1, 2024,. Applications received after May 1 will be added to the bottom of the waiting list.

Students from HGSE are welcome to submit an application for 2024-2025 housing in the GSAS residence halls. However, due to remaining uncertainty regarding GSAS housing density next year, GSAS Residential Life cannot guarantee rooms in their halls to students from other Schools. Once they know more about how many students they will be able to house, they will communicate this accordingly.

Contact the GSAS Office of Residential Life with further questions at gsasreslife@fas.harvard.edu; 617.495.5060

 

Roommate Matching

Harvard University Housing has engaged Off Campus Partners to create a private market rental listing site that also contains an online roommate matching component.

To utilize this tool, visit harvardhousingoffcampus.com and click the Roommates link at the top. You will need to create a free profile that will allow you to access and share your information with other Harvard community members seeking roommates.

Harvard Law School Residence Hall managed by HGSE

HGSE is pleased to share that full-time residential students entering HGSE in 2024 can apply for space in one of the Harvard Law School residence halls, in a subset of rooms being managed by HGSE. There are 57 total single-occupancy rooms available for HGSE students. Rooms will be distributed using a randomized lottery system. To be eligible for the lottery for space, students must complete the application by the priority deadline of 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 1st.

ACCESS THE APPLICATION FOR SPACE AT THE HLS RESIDENCE HALL MANAGED BY HGSE

Rental Period:

Rental period begins at 10:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 and runs through 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2025.  Note that the move-in period is prior to the HGSE Welcome Day on Friday, August 2nd and prior to the start of residential HGSE courses on August 5th and the move-out period is following Commencement 2025.  For more information about important academic dates, view the HGSE Academic Calendar.

Costs:

There is a non-refundable $75 application fee charged to all students who apply for space, regardless of whether or not they are offered a room.  This charge will be added to a student's term bill.

Rental is $8,975 for the full term of the contract (July 31, 2024 - May 30, 2025).  HGSE Office of Student Affairs does not collect payments for room fees. These fees will be billed to residents' student accounts in two installments. The fall term room fees will be billed by early August and the spring term room fees will be billed in late November.

Note that there is no meal plan associated with the rental of rooms in these residence halls.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Harvard Law School Residence Hall managed by HGSE

What to Expect Living in the Residence Hall:

Rooms are single occupancy only.  All floors house male-identifying, female-identifying, and gender non-binary students.  The first and second floor have shared-use full kitchens with stoves and refrigerators.  The third floor is equipped with a common lounge area.  Each floor has shared bathroom facilities.  The first and second floor have single-gender bathrooms while the third floor has an all-gender restroom.

Furnishings:

Each room contains a bed (extra-long twin), desk and chair, desk lamp, bookcase, bureau, and closet or wardrobe (these items cannot be removed from the rooms); pillows, linens, towels, and blankets are not provided. Rooms also include Ethernet jacks for wired access, and Wi-Fi is available throughout the halls.

Picture of interior residence hall space