Apply for Housing: New Students

Living on campus is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy University life at its fullest. It opens a world of interaction with other students, faculty, and staff members in many social, developmental, and academic activities. 

New students, excluding those transferring to the University from another institution, who have been admitted to the University are eligible to apply for housing and make payment arrangements for the housing prepayment via the On-Campus Housing Portal accessed from CaneLink for Student by selecting the “Housing and Dining” dropdown from the menu. A $500 prepayment (payable by credit card) is required to complete the application.

Housing Application Deadlines

Please consider applying for housing right after your enrollment deposit transaction is processed (please wait a few hours for the transaction to be completed) in order to access the housing application portal in CaneLink.

For Fall Semester Housing

Students admitted for the fall semester should apply for housing no later than May 15. After May 15, applications for housing are accepted on a space-available basis. 

For Spring Semester Housing

First-year students admitted for the spring semester can apply for housing using the Spring-Only Housing Application available in the On-Campus Housing Portal beginning early November. Spring housing applications are due Friday, November 15. Review the Road to UM checklist for other important details and deadlines.

  • Housing is neither required nor guaranteed.
  • Students must apply for housing between November 1 through 15 when the application is open.
    • Students who apply by the deadline will receive an update on their on-campus housing status on Monday, December 2.  
  • We will attempt to accommodate roommate requests where possible, but requests are not guaranteed and are dependent on availability.
  • Non-local first-year students (those outside Miami-Dade and Broward counties) will receive priority for on-campus placement.
  • Students needing to secure additional Financial Aid to afford off-campus housing should apply for Financial Aid following these steps.
    • If students would like to request more loan eligibility, visit this website and follow the instructions. 
  • If a student needs to live off-campus in the spring 2025 term as a first-semester student, they will have an opportunity to participate in the room selection process for the academic year 2025-2026.
    • The application is not open for off-campus students, and they must request we open the application by submitting a case to housinghelp@miami.edu. This request needs to be made no later than Friday, January 31, 2025.

Personal Property Insurance

Personal property insurance is strongly recommended and is available from GradGuard, a service of Next Generation Insurance Group. The University is not liable for loss or damage to property caused by fire, rain, windstorm, hurricane, theft or vandalism, or other act of God or casualty or any causes beyond the control of the University. Applicants are able to opt-in through the housing sign-up process or decline coverage should the student be covered by the family’s homeowner’s insurance or decides to choose a different company.

Renters insurance from GradGuard is designed specifically for college students and provides valuable protection if a student’s personal belongings are stolen or damaged by a covered peril, including laptop computers, smartphones, bicycles, game consoles, textbooks, clothing, and other items. Renters insurance also protects students financially for unintentional damage to the student’s residence or bodily injury to others for which the student is legally liable, within the residence premises.

Live-On Requirement

All non-local first-year students are required to live in University housing for two academic semesters, as long as space is available. This policy does not apply to first-year students living with parents or legal guardians in Miami-Dade or Broward counties.

For spring admitted students, on-campus housing is neither required nor guaranteed.

Transfer students are not eligible to apply for on campus housing.  For assistance in navigating the off campus opportunities visit the Off Campus Housing website.

What to Expect During Your First Year Living on Campus

Living on campus during your first year is a signature part of the UM experience. Residential first-year students live within one of our five Residential Colleges: Coral, Eaton, Ibis, Mahoney, and Pearson. In the Residential Colleges, you will be surrounded by a supportive community of Residential Faculty, peer student leaders like First-Year Fellows and Resident Assistants, and a plethora of professional staff who are here to guide you during your transition to college. Click the link below to learn more!

First Year Experience

Top