Finding Housing

There are many resources available to help you find housing on or near the UC Berkeley campus. UC Berkeley Housing(link is external) should be the first place you start your search for housing on or off-campus.  In addition, the Graduate Assembly has developed The GA’s Housing Guide: Housing Resources for UC Berkeley Graduate Students(link is external), which offers an overview of the housing situation in Berkeley and the Bay Area. The guide offers a lot of information on the average prices of housing in the Bay Area and tips for finding housing after you have arrived.

We also recommend you review our Arrival Guide for information on Berkeley neighborhoods, housing search strategies, utility services, and more. 

UC Berkeley Housing(link is external) offers a wide range of housing options for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as for students with partners and families. Here are some key points to consider:

• Undergraduate Students: More than 96 percent of first-year students and over a third of transfer students choose to live in campus housing for their first year. An increasing number of continuing students are choosing to live on campus for two years or more. Explore campus residence halls(link is external) and apartments(link is external).
• Graduate Students: Single graduate students(link is external) can apply for campus housing in one of these four apartment complexes: Ida Jackson House(link is external), Intersection Apartments(link is external), Manville Apartments(link is external), and xučyun ruwway Apartments(link is external). 

• Students with Partners and/or Families: University Village(link is external) is UC Berkeley’s 58-acre family housing complex located 3.5 miles west of campus. With 974 apartments and townhouses, University Village has its own recreational and community center, laundry rooms, and child care center, and is located next to a supermarket and on a direct bus route to campus.

Advantages of campus housing for international students include:

• Furnished units with utilities, WiFi, on-site professional staff, security, maintenance, and more. In residence halls, a meal plan is included too!
• Straightforward application process; no need for a time-consuming housing search prior to arrival
• Billing handled through campus systems
• No credit checks or need for cosigners
• Locations close to campus or public transportation
• Community and support with other UC Berkeley students

Off-Campus Housing

• Moving off-campus 101: BIO's short guide to transitioning from living on-campus to off-campus. It covers how to search for and secure housing and protect yourself in the process. 
• UC Berkeley Off-Campus Rental Services(link is external): Campus department that provides a wide selection of rental listings, counseling and written information on finding housing, and setting up telephone and utility (gas/electricity) services. The experienced staff at the Off-Campus Rental Services office can provide advice and guidance on your search. Call: (510) 643-6544 or send an email: homeinfo@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)
• International House(link is external): An exciting off-campus home to around 600 students and scholars from around the world, including Americans.
• CORT Furniture(link is external): Affordable furniture rental. A convenient and cost-effective alternative to purchasing furniture. CORT will handle delivery and setup, and will come and pick it up at the end of the year! Furnish your room or home without the hassle of buying or re-selling.

• Housing and Accommodations (VSPA Office)(link is external): List of housing resources compiled by the VSPA Office for Postdocs, Visiting Scholars, and VIsiting Student Researchers

• Berkeley Student Cooperative(link is external): Student-run, non-profit housing cooperative that provides quality, low-cost housing opportunities to university students. Each of the 20 houses is close to the UCB campus and democratically run by its members.

• Craigslist.com(link is external): Offers postings about available housing in the East Bay or other parts of the Bay Area. Be sure to review the information about scams (link is external)and personal safety(link is external) on Craigslist

• Academic Housing Rentals(link is external): Furnished homes with a focus on community for academics and young professionals.

Temporary and Summer Housing

You may need a short-term place to stay when you arrive in Berkeley. Listed below are some inexpensive places close to campus. If you mention that you are affiliated with UC Berkeley, you may be eligible for a discount. Reservations are recommended.