ON-CAMPUS HOUSING INFORMATION
If you are planning to live on campus and expect that you will not be able to pay your bill on time, you should contact us so that we can notify Housing and ensure that residence hall reservations will not be cancelled due to late payment. Students with questions about on-campus housing should contact the Housing Assignment Office directly.
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ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS WITH ON CAMPUS HOUSING The $50 early arrival housing fee has appeared or will appear soon on your Bursar's bill. Please remember that this fee is not included in the $75 orientation fee, and is a separate charge from the UMass Housing Office. |
SPRING 2013 GRADUATE ON-CAMPUS HOUSING INFORMATION FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
IMPORTANT! On-campus housing for graduate students will be VERY limited for the spring 2013 semester. If you want housing, please don't wait!
- Graduate student housing moved to LINCOLN APARTMENTS this year. Although private-bedroom apartments are sometimes available, most accommodations are shared (with a roommate) in a 1-bedroom apartment.
- November 12th, 2012 is when applications open for graduate student (on-campus) housing applications.
- Although UMass has partnered with PeerTransfer for wire transfer payments, Residential Life does not yet have access to PeerTransfer, and so this is not an option.
How to Apply
The Graduate Housing Application will be available in early-November. Residential Life Student Services (RLSS) suggests that you print it, fill it in, and send it along with any prepayment that you are sending by mail - this will allow them to consider the application complete on the day it arrives in our office (remembering that the application period does not open until November 12th).
In order to complete an application, you must first PAY the $300 prepayment. This can be done in one of the following methods:
- If you happen to have a U.S. bank account, you can pay by eCheck (but since most international students don't yet have a US bank account, you'll probably need to use one of the other payment methods);
- You can pay using the prepayment link with Discover, MasterCard, or American Express credit cards. [Important: Students who submit an online prepayment must also pay an additional 2.7% ($8.10) service charge.]
- Traveler's check (remember to sign travelers checks TWICE so that they can be cashed by Residential Life Student Services),
- Cashier's check (from a Bank, in US dollars), or
- U.S. Postal Money Order.
- For all payment other than credit card, they should be payable to UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS and mailed to:
Residential Life Student Services
235 Whitmore Administration Building
181 President's Drive
Amherst, MA 01003
Any specific questions can be directed to the Residential Life Student Services staff at: GradLiving@sacl.umass.edu
BREAK HOUSING INFORMATION
Undergraduate Break Housing
Please consider choosing Break Housing when you are filling out your Housing Preference Application on SPIRE. UMass offers undergraduate students the ability to fill out a Housing Preference Application on SPIRE, according to the housing calendar. Many undergraduate residence halls are closed when the University is not in session, e.g.Thanksgiving, January Break, etc. However, Break Housing will be open, which means that students may remain in their room during these periods (and are charged a higher rent fee). All other students must make their own alternative arrangements for times when residence halls are closed. Exceptions to this policy are not made for international students! Information on Break Housing can be found on the housing website, here. Please scroll down to the Break Housing section.
Please note that if an undergraduate student who needs Break Housing cannot take part in a RAP.
Graduate Break Housing
Graduate Break Housing are the Lincoln Apartments.
OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING INFORMATION
If you indicate that you wish to live off-campus but later change your mind, there is no guarantee that on-campus accommodations will be available to you at that time. Neither the International Programs Office nor Commuter Services can find housing for you! Both can assist you, but it is YOUR responsibility to find your own housing. In general, there are three types of off-campus housing accommodations:
- rooms in private homes
- shared apartments or houses
- single occupancy apartments or houses
ADVANTAGES
- It is very likely that you will be able to have a private room if you live off-campus.
- Living off-campus normally means that you will have easier access to cooking facilities so that you can eat what you want and perhaps economize by doing your own shopping and cooking.
- Off-campus housing accommodations are usually quieter and more conducive to studying than are residence hall accommodations. Common areas – such as living room, kitchen, and bathroom – are usually more comfortable and better equipped than those on campus.
- It is more likely that you will be able to accommodate guests from home if you live off-campus.
DISADVANTAGES
- It can be very difficult to find off-campus housing accommodations in and around Amherst – especially at the start of the Fall semester. If you choose this option, you will be responsible for finding your own housing, and there is no guarantee that you will find the kind of housing you want in a convenient location and at an affordable price.
- You must plan to arrive in Amherst early – probably by early- or mid-September (for September enrollment) – to be sure that you will have enough time to find satisfactory housing. You must obviously also plan for the extra expense of temporary accommodations while you are looking for housing (at least $20 per day), and there is really no inexpensive temporary housing available in the Amherst area.
- It is usually necessary to sign a LEASE: this is an agreement guaranteeing that you will occupy the apartment (or house) for a specific period of time – usually 9-12 months. This is a legal document which can be enforced by the court; it is usually renewable, but normally cannot be cancelled without penalty. When you sign a lease, you are agreeing to pay the rent for the full period specified in the document!
- The cost of rent varies considerably depending upon the kind of accommodations you find. You should expect to pay at least $250-350 per month for the least expensive accommodations. Apartment rents can range from $350-850 per month. If more than one person occupies an apartment, the rent is usually divided equally between all occupants. Although almost all apartments have central heating, the cost of utilities (heat, electricity) is often an additional cost which is not included in the rent.
- Renting an apartment or house normally requires a major outlay of cash. When you sign the lease – before you will be allowed to occupy your new home – you should expect to pay: (1) the first month’s rent; (2) the last month’s rent; and (3) a damage/security deposit equal to one month’s rent. This deposit is refunded to you when you move out, assuming that no damage has been done to the apartment/house.
- Most apartments are rented unfurnished, and so you must also budget for the cost of furnishings (bed, desk, kitchen utensils, etc) when you consider your overall expenses.
IMPORTANT HOUSING LINKS
Umass UNDERGRADUATE On-Campus Housing Information (see above comment regarding Ugrad break housing)
UMass GRADUATE On-Campus Housing Information (see above comment regarding grad housing)
UMass Off-Campus Housing Office
Housing and Residence Life Luggage Program (only available for Fall admits)
Family Housing Office (There is usually a long waiting list, so students should inquire about applications as early as possible.)
For questions about housing assignments or living on campus, please contact the Housing Office.
Telephone: 413-545-2101
Fax: 413-545-1241
