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Graduate Student Housing

Graduate students have a number of housing opportunities in the Morningside Heights neighborhood. The three main sources are University Apartment Housing (UAH), International House, and off-campus listings.

UAH operates Columbia-owned apartments and dormitory-style suites in the Morningside area within walking distance of the campus. For further information, visit UAH's website.

International House, a privately owned student residence near the campus, has accommodations for about five hundred graduate students, both international and American, who attend various area colleges and universities. It provides a supportive and cross-cultural environment with many activities and resources, and it is conveniently located two blocks from the Engineering building. For more information, write or call:

International House
500 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10027
(212) 316-8400
http://www.ihouse-nyc.org/.

There are also a number of off-campus housing opportunities. The University operates the Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA), which lists rooms and apartments in rental properties not owned or operated by the University. Only students with a valid ID or admission acceptance letter are permitted to use the facility. OCHA is open throughout the winter and summer vacation periods except academic holidays. Students should call 854-2773 for office hours. OCHA also operates at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ire/. There is also a list of alternative housing opportunities maintained by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs at 403 Lerner Hall. Students are sent the Alternative Housing flyer in their orientation packets.

UAH applications are sent along with acceptance packets from the Graduate Admissions Office. They are also available in the Graduate Admissions Office and the UAH Office. You can also seek additional information on the Columbia Students Page: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/students/. Graduate housing through UAH is processed for the fall and spring terms only. Summer sublets are also available through individual referrals. The UAH Office maintains an active listing for those interested.

Due to the growing demand for housing, graduate housing is no longer guaranteed, but every effort is made to accommodate you. It is critical that you submit your housing application as soon as possible and that you follow the instructions in your acceptance packet. Housing applications received after the set date are not guaranteed housing. The order of priority for selection is: graduate fellowship recipients, Zone 1 students (those who live further than 250 miles from campus), and then Zone 2 students (those who live between fifty and 250 miles from campus). All continuing students and applications from Zone 3 areas (within fifty miles) are automatically placed on a waiting list.

UAH-approved students can begin viewing apartments and moving in during the last week of August for the fall term, and early January for the spring term. Students will be properly notified of Graduate Orientation and Registration, which are generally held the week before the first day of class. If a student needs to move in earlier, proper documentation from the department in support of the request is necessary.