Housing

View in Printable Format

Living on Campus

The Office of Housing provides information about on-campus residence options. The University's residences range in size from small, converted townhouses, with as few as 12 residents, to high-rise complexes, with 1,700 students. Most residences are coeducational, featuring single- and multiple-occupancy rooms arranged in suite and corridor styles.
Students assigned to a dormitory-style residence must choose one of the five dining plans available. Various dining locations are conveniently situated throughout the campus. Students residing in an apartment-style residence equipped with a kitchenette have the option to contract for a dining plan. For further assistance, please contact the Office of Housing, 985 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-3511.

The Office of Residence Life administers the residences through its experienced residence hall/area directors, student resident assistants, and senior resident assistants. These specialists collaborate to create supportive and challenging living environments oriented toward personal growth and community awareness. Residents spend leisure and study hours in the various common areas, such as study areas, lounges, music rooms, fitness rooms, and computer resource rooms.
Student residence hall associations work jointly with residents to create an active program of social, cultural, and intellectual events to supplement the living experience of the residence community.
Special-interest floors encourage personal contacts among small groups sharing similar concerns. Current special-interest areas include engineering, community service, classics, communications, performing arts, pre-medical/accelerated medical, wellness, management, and intercultural exploration. Contact the Office of Residence Life, 985 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-4380.

Living Off Campus

The Office of Housing Resources (OHR) at the Medical Campus provides students at Boston University Medical Campus with assistance in their search for off-campus housing. Due to the competitive nature of the housing market in Boston, students are encouraged to begin their search early and be betoh aggressive and persistent in their pursuits. One-on-one off-campus housing consultations are available by appointment. Drop-ins are also welcome Mondays through Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Computers and phone access are available to visiting student, enabling an appartment search to be conducted directly from the OHR.

Sharing an appartment with one or more other people is an effective way to reduce housing expenses. To aid in the process of finding roommates, students may access the OHR online roommate matching database. The database enables students to identify prospective students roommates based on criteria such as school, desired neighborhood, and desired rent. To access the database, visit www.bumc.bu.edu/roommates.

The Office of Housing Resources maintains an up-to-date list of available apartments and rooms for rent in the Boston area. This information is available to students upon request. The listings are geared specifically to students at the Medical Campus and provide a direct connection between students, landlords, and individuals seeking to fill vacant rooms in their apartments. Please call or email to be added to the OHR housing distribution list.

Attending an off-campus housing fair is a great way to explore your housing options. The fair provides an opportunity to meet with area realtors and representatives from apartment building and complexes. It's also a great way to network with potential roommates.

The Office of Housing Resourcesat the Medical Campus is located at 715 Albany Street, Room A-406; 617-638-5125; ohr@bumc.bu.edu.

Off-Campus Services maintains listings of local off-campus housing. New listings of privately owned apartments, houses, rooms, and roommates are available. These listings generally cover Allston-Brighton, Back Bay, Brookline, and Newton, as well as other areas close to Boston University. To gain access to the listings, you must have proof of affiliation with the University. Off-campus listings are accessible by viewing the Student Link at www.bu.edu. Notices of students seeking roommates can also be found on bulletin boards throughout the campus. Off-Campus Services is located in the George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Avenue; 617-353-3523.

Housing Policy and Regulations
It is the University's policy to provide all full-time entering freshmen with an on-campus residence assignment. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are housed as space permits.
Freshmen not yet 21 years of age by October 1 of their entering year are required to live in a University residence unless they reside locally with a parent or spouse. Requests for exception to this policy from entering freshmen are considered by the University Housing Committee. Such requests for exception, accompanied by a written statement of parental consent, should be sent to the University Housing Committee, 985 Commonwealth Avenue, Room 100, Boston, MA 02215. The committee must give its written approval before a student can occupy a residence other than one in University housing. Students entering the University who have not reached 16 years of age by September 1 of their entering year must petition the University Housing Committee for approval in order to live in University residences.
The University reserves the right for its designees to enter and to inspect a student's room, to reassign students in the University's residential system, to revoke and terminate a student's Residence License Agreement for any reason set forth in that agreement, and to implement any other measures necessary and advisable for health, safety, or in the interest of the residence program. Any resident whose conduct does not meet the standards established by the University may be denied on-campus residence accommodations.

Housing (Graduate)
Most graduate students choose to live in apartments off-campus. There are offices at the University that will assist you in your search for housing. The Office of Off-Campus Services, located at 775 Commonwealth Avenue (617-353-3523), provides listings of available apartments in the area. You can also check for off-campus listings on the Boston University web page by selecting Orientation and Off-Campus Services.
Although most graduate students do live off campus, the Office of Rental Property Management, located at 19 Deerfield Street (617-353-4101), offers University-owned apartments in various neighborhoods.
The Office of Rental Property Management offers furnished and unfurnished apartments for graduate students, faculty, and staff. Monthly rents start at: Rooms -$400 and up; studios -$800 and up; one-bedroom apartments -$1,000 and up; two-bedroom apartments - $1,400 and up. Most are inclusive of heat and hot water. For more information, contact the Office of Rental Property Management, 19 Deerfield Street, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-4101.
Harrison Court is an elegant nineteenth-century building providing 60 modern apartments for graduate students at the Medical Campus. In the heart of Boston's South End, Harrison Court is located across the street from the Medical Center campus, which includes the School of Medicine, the School of Public Health, the Goldman School of Dental Medicine, the Boston University Alumni Medical Library, and The Boston Medical Center. Secure and convenient studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments are available. Each unit has a modern kitchen and bathroom. A coin-operated laundry is located in the building. For more information call the Boston University Office of Rental Property Management at 617-353-4101.