Housing Eligibility

All undergraduate, incoming transfer, and exchange students officially registered at MIT are guaranteed housing in one of the Institute's undergraduate residences during the academic year for eight consecutive semesters (excluding summer terms) or upon graduation or termination of MIT student status, whichever comes first.

First-year Residency Requirement

All first-year students are required to live on campus. Exceptions are rare, but if you believe you have extenuating circumstances, you may submit a written request to waive this requirement. Your letter should explain your situation and, if applicable, include documentation to support your request. Please email the request to residence@mit.edu, and it will be reviewed by Housing & Residential Services, Residential & Community Life, and the Office of the First Year.

Special Circumstances

Study abroad

If you are living in on-campus housing and plan to participate in an approved study abroad program, you will be guaranteed on-campus housing when you return. For example, if you are a resident in the fall, taking part in a study abroad program for the spring, you would be guaranteed a return to undergraduate on-campus housing in the fall (so long as you meet other eligibility requirements).

Leave of absence

Students take leave from MIT for several reasons. Most requests for leave are processed by Student Support Services (e.g., voluntary or medical leave) or are voted on by the Committee on Academic Performance (i.e., required leave).

If you are taking leave and are no longer registered, you are required to submit an Undergraduate Housing Cancellation form and vacate your on-campus housing assignment within 72 hours following official leave.

When you are ready to return to campus, apply to the housing waitlist for on-campus housing.

Housing & Residential Services works closely with Student Support Services to determine the priority and necessity of housing for all students returning from leave. We make every reasonable effort to place you in your preferred house when returning from leave, but placements are based on space available and cannot be guaranteed.

9th-term housing

If you are a fully-enrolled ninth term student, you may request housing through the housing waitlist, though availability is limited. 

Undergraduate continuing as graduate student

If you are an undergraduate who will be receiving your degree at the end of the fall term and you are continuing as a graduate student at MIT for the spring term, you may remain in undergraduate housing for the spring term with permission from Housing & Residential Services, if you are within your eight terms of housing eligibility and will continue to be enrolled as a student at MIT.

Need family housing?

Spouses, children, or other relatives are not eligible to live in housing designated for single undergraduates. If you are married or have dependents, contact Housing & Residential Services as soon as possible to learn about your options.

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