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OISSS > For International Students > New Students > Housing

STUDENT Housing

On-Campus Housing | Student Family Housing | Off-campus Housing

On-Campus Housing for Students
A well planned experience will involve planning and arranging your housing before you arrive in Chapel Hill. Students enrolling full-time may apply for a residence hall room or apartment by completing an online housing application available at http://housing.unc.edu under the "This Just In" section.  Online applications are available beginning in late January thru August.  A $75.00 housing pre-payment is also required in order for your application to be processed.  The pre-payment can be made online through the University Cashier website at http://cashiers.unc.edu/ or by mailing the payment to the address indicated on their website. This pre-payment is applied to the first semester housing payment. It is important to understand that this application is considered a contract. Once this legal contract is submitted, it is considered binding and cannot be broken without penalty. Undergraduate students are assigned rooms by the Housing Office in one of the many undergraduate residence halls or apartment communities on campus.

Note: All residence halls are closed during the summer and university holidays (Thanksgiving) and break periods (spring break and between semesters).  Residence halls remain open during the October fall break period.  Please be aware that only Odum Village apartments are open on a year round basis

A housing assignment guide will be sent from the Undergraduate Admissions Office to all undergraduate international students admitted to UNC. Graduate students without accompanying family members who apply for housing assignment will be housed in Odum Village apartments. Graduate students who wish to live on campus will need to complete the online housing application available at http://housing.unc.edu under the "This Just In" section.

Housing and Residential Education
CB #5500, Carr Building
UNC-CH
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-5500, USA
Phone: 919-962-5406
Toll-free telephone (within the U.S). 1-800-862-5502, or fax
Fax: 919-962-1006.

Student Family Housing
Married students and students with children may contact Baity Hill and Mason Farm communities at 919-843-8831 to request information or an application for a lease for a one or two-bedroom unfurnished apartment. An online lease application is also available at http://housing.unc.edu under the "This Just In" section of our website.  This on campus apartment community is conveniently located next to the Kenan Flagler School of Business and proximate to other graduate schools.  The picturesque 398 unit complex was recently opened in 2005.

Packages sent from abroad may not arrive before you do, so bring basic things with you. You are especially advised to bring linens (set of sheets and light blanket for a single size bed, towels, etc.), as these will not be provided.

There are approximately 100 spaces available in Odum Village apartments for single graduate and professional students. These include two bedroom apartments that are shared by two students. Current on-campus graduate and professional students will receive priority for the available spaces. These apartments in Odum Village are reserved for single graduate and professional students. Other apartments in Odum Village are designated for undergraduate students and are removed from those housing graduate and professional students. These apartments are assigned through a separate application process.

Note: Please carefully review the opening and closing schedule for all residence hall and apartment communities at http://housing.unc.edu/communities/calendar/openclose.html. If you need to arrive before the official opening date, you should plan to stay in a motel.  These dates do not apply to students who are living in the Baity Hill and Mason Farm communities.  Students with families are eligible for move-in as of the first day of their lease contract.

Off-campus Housing
There are a variety of rental opportunities in the Chapel Hill area, many are apartment complexes, but there are rooms in private homes also available. You might consider arriving a few days early to look and find the housing arrangement that best suites you. Give yourself enough time to look and research all your options. All arrangements are made between the student and the landlord or business office of the apartment complex.

Most apartments require a one-year lease; however, at times the manager will consider a partial year's lease. Please read and understand the lease carefully before signing. It is a legal contract and obligates you to all the terms written in it (often with clauses such as those that require you to pay rent for the full lease period whether or not you stay for the full period, or that require you to pay a penalty for breaking the lease, etc.). It is advisable before making any oral or written agreement with a landlord, that you go in person to the room or apartment to see its condition, size, location (neighborhood) and safety features (lighting, deadbolt locks, etc.). The Student Legal Service suggests inspecting the premises for damages before signing a lease because unless damages are noted in writing prior to moving in, renters can be held responsible for the damages when they move out (the landlord may keep all or part of the security deposit).

Before you rent you should also be aware of the following: rent will probably not include utilities. Deposits for electrical and telephone services are usually required, and these may total at least $200. It is also usual for a landlord to require the equivalent of one or two months' rent in advance as a security deposit. Keep in mind that if an apartment is furnished, close to campus or offers special facilities, the price may be higher.

This following real estate websites may help you answer some of your preliminary questions:
Chapel Hill Rentals
Daily Tar Heel Housing Guide

The University cannot assist students in finding off-campus housing. International Student and Scholar Services has a housing book with some available private housing in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area.

Note: Carrboro is a small town adjoining Chapel Hill where many UNC students live. The same bus system serves both towns.

The UNC Student Housing homepage might also be helpful in your search for off campus housing.

You can also check in the classified advertisements for apartment and home rentals in Chapel Hill and the surrounding area. Here are a few interesting newspaper web sites and phone numbers.

The Chapel Hill News-Village Advocate
919-968-4801
http://www.chapelhillnews.com

Durham Herald
919-419-6700
http://www.herald-sun.com

The Raleigh News & Observer
919-829-4500
http://www.news-observer.com