Graduate Student Housing
The New York City housing market can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. We’re dedicated to helping you find safe, affordable housing that complements your academic experience at Columbia Engineering.
Fall 2024 Incoming Students
Welcome to the community! We’re excited about what lies ahead and ready to help you settle into your new home. Here’s what you need to know.
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Overview
Two types of housing are available to graduate students — university-managed housing and those you can find on the local housing market. Columbia Residential manages university housing for graduate students and allocates each school a specific number of spaces each year. University housing is very competitive, and priority is given to incoming doctoral students. Most of our master's students live in non-university housing, which can still be very close to campus!
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What to Expect
In two (2) to three (3) business weeks after accepting your admission offer, you will receive an email from the Office of Engineering Student Affairs to your personal email address provided during the application process. This email will contain your university IDs (PID and UNI) and a link to the housing application to apply for university housing.
If you do not receive this e-mail after three business weeks, please contact us at [email protected].
Fall 2024 housing allocation and notification are made between May 1, 2024, and June 28, 2024, on a rolling basis. Priority is given to incoming doctoral students (MS/Ph.D. and Ph.D.) who apply for housing by May 24, 2024.
Students who do not receive on-campus housing during the school allocation period will be entered into the housing waitlist. Please review Columbia Residential's student housing waitlist information for further details.
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Housing Options
University-Managed Housing
Columbia Residential manages 150 apartment buildings, most located within a short commute to campus, which house graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff. Follow the link below to find out about eligibility, available residences, and application procedures.
Non-University Housing
There are many apartments for rent in the area managed by entities outside the university. Columbia University Off-Campus Housing Assistance has extensive resources, including apartment listings, to help you find the perfect place. We suggest you use the following resources to help you find alternative off-campus housing options:
We strongly recommend that you elect housing that you hear back from first. i.e., If you secure off-campus housing first, it'd be best to commit to that rather than wait to hear about your on-campus housing application.
Continuing Students
If you are already in Columbia Residential housing, you will receive information about renewing your housing 1-2 months before the end of your current agreement.
If you are not currently in Columbia Residential housing but would like to apply for housing, you can find instructions and apply here.
Note that continuing students are usually placed on the waitlist.
Learn More About the Waitlist Process
Questions? Contact us at [email protected]
Important Information for Approved Housing Applicants
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Declining and Transferring
- If you decline the housing offer, you will lose your on-campus housing approval.
- Students will have the opportunity to transfer to other housing twice a year if necessary. However, applications for transfer are not guaranteed.
- Students wishing to change from single to couples housing will have the opportunity to transfer later in their tenure through the usual transfer process with Columbia Residential.
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Maintaining On-Campus Housing Status
- You must have full-time student registration status during the academic year.
- Housing is granted for a maximum of 5 years or the length of your original admitted degree program (whichever is less).
- Doctoral students (MS/Ph.D. and Ph.D.) are eligible for five consecutive academic years of housing starting with their first semester of registration if they applied for housing by their admitted term's specified deadline for incoming doctoral students. Students must remain in good academic and administrative standing.
- If a doctoral student does not apply for housing, declines an initial offer of housing, or chooses to leave his or her housing assignment before the five-year period ends, any subsequent request for Columbia housing is not guaranteed.
- Registered doctoral students in good standing may request through the Columbia Residential Housing Portal an additional year at the end of their fifth(5) and sixth(6) years, for a maximum of seven(7) consecutive academic years in Columbia Residential housing. Requests are reviewed by the Columbia Engineering Dean of Students, and approval is not guaranteed.
- Doctoral students in their first seven years are no longer eligible for housing upon completing the dissertation defense, regardless of the outcome; doctoral candidates are required by Columbia Residential to vacate campus housing within 60 days of the defense.
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When You Must Reapply for Housing
- MS-only students - if you later apply to an advanced degree beyond the MS level (i.e., PhD program).
- If you are admitted to a new academic department within Columbia Engineering (i.e., Mechanical Engineering to Chemical Engineering).
- If you fail to graduate within the designated term while enrolled in housing.
- When returning from a Leave of Absence.
Off-Campus Housing Options
University-managed housing is competitive and you may need to explore other options. Fortunately, we’re here to help.
International Students
For any student, making the move to New York City is complex and daunting. As an international student enrolled at Columbia, you face an extra layer of complexity. The International Students & Scholars Office has assembled a number of housing-related resources geared specifically toward your needs.