Congratulations on your choice to attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst! We are sure that you are excited about coming to campus and joining the UMass Amherst community.
First-Year Students
Parent/Guardian Consent Form
Applying for a Housing Exemption
How to Submit A Preference Application
- Sign the Occupancy License in SPIRE under Housing > Room Selection > Occupancy License
- Before you can sign the occupancy license, you must first submit a UCard photo on the UCard website and update your Emergency Contact information in SPIRE.
- Please note it can take up to one business day from when you receive your UCard approval to be able to sign your Occupancy License.
- Submit the Housing Profile in SPIRE under Housing > Room Selection > Housing Profile
- Submit your Preference Application in SPIRE under Housing > New Students > Preference Application
First-Year Student Application Dates
The Housing Preference Application will be available in SPIRE from 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 12, 2024 through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2025. All applicants will receive an Assignment Notification with their On-Campus assignment and roommate information on SPIRE on Friday, January 17, 2025. First-year students will be assigned to spaces within the Residential First-Year Experience.
Submitting a First-Year Student Preference Application
New undergraduate students will request on-campus housing using the Housing Preference Application on SPIRE. Students will receive their NetID and password for SPIRE after their admissions deposit is processed. For step-by-step instructions on how to submit the Housing Preference application, please watch the Online Video Tutorials.
Gender Inclusive Housing
Trans, non-binary students, and their allies may request gender inclusive housing. Gender Inclusive housing allows students to live with any other new student regardless of their gender. New students can list gender inclusive housing on their preference application. First Year Gender Inclusive Housing will be located in Webster Hall in Orchard Hill.
Transfer Students
Transfer Student Application Dates
The Housing Preference Application will be available in SPIRE from 8:30 a,m, Tuesday, November 12, 2024 through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2025. All on time applicants will receive an Assignment Notification with their On-Campus assignment and roommate information on SPIRE on Friday, January 17, 2025.
Submitting a Transfer Preference Application
New undergraduate transfer students will request on-campus housing using the Housing Preference Application on SPIRE. Students will receive their NetID and password for SPIRE after their admissions deposit is processed. For step-by-step instructions on how to submit the Housing Preference application, please watch the Online Video Tutorials.
Gender Inclusive Housing
Trans and non-binary students, and their allies may request gender inclusive housing. Gender Inclusive housing allows students to live with any other new student regardless of their gender. New students can list gender inclusive housing on their preference application. Multi Year Gender Inclusive Housing is located in Baker in Central and Cashin and McNamara in Sylvan.
Preference Application Resources
Video Tutorials
Walk through every step of submitting you Preference Application, from signing your residence hall occupancy license and submitting your profile to rank-ordering different areas of campus!
Please note: Due to a recent layout change in SPIRE, updated Video Tutorials are still being developed. Once finalized, this page will be updated.
Residence Halls
View the floor plans and find out more information about all of our Residential Communities and halls.
Late Applicants
All Late Applicants seeking on-campus housing will need to log on to SPIRE under Housing > Room Assignments to sign the Residence Hall Occupancy License and submit the Housing Profile before proceeding with the following steps. Students who miss the Preference Application deadline should contact Residential Life Assignments by emailing @email for instructions for how to submit a late housing application.
Canceling Your Housing Contract
Please remember that all students with fewer than 27 credits are required to live on campus. Required students who cancel their housing assignment will still see a base room fee on their fall bill until they complete a Housing Exemption or become withdrawn from the University.
New students can cancel their preference application without charge in SPIRE by returning to the preference application and choosing the 'cancel' option before the preference application deadline of January 13. Students who need to cancel after the preference application deadline can email @email to cancel for free until Thursday, January 16, 2025. Students who cancel their assignment after January 17 will be subject to the cancelation fee schedule below.
Spring 2025 Cancelation Fee
$200 Cancelation Fee Period
- Begins January 17, 2025 at 5:00 p.m
- Ends Upon Check-In
$800 Cancelation Fee Period
- Begins Upon Check-In
- Ends February 1, 2025 (Students who cancel after this date will be subject to the Housing Fee Refund Schedule)
Please note: Contacting another department on campus including the Admissions Office and the Registrar's Office does not constitute a cancelation request. As stated in the Occupancy License, the student must contact Residential Life Assignments directly by calling (413) 545-2100 or emailing @email to request a cancelation.
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