Housing Selection for Transfer Students
Find out what you need to do to apply for on-campus housing, including for the Summer Experimental and Foundation Studies (EFS) program. Also see below for important housing application and selection dates/deadlines.
Selection and application processes
RISD Housing Portal
Our convenient online portal is a one-stop destination for you to complete several RISD housing and residence life processes, including:
- applying for on-campus housing
- requesting medical housing accommodations
- completing dining forms
- registering to live off campus (if eligible)
On-campus housing application
Incoming and returning students apply for housing and room selection each year via the housing portal. Returning students begin this two-part process in February; for incoming students, the housing selection window opens sometime in early May.
The first step is to sign the housing and dining license from within the housing portal ahead of the current-year deadline. After submitting your completed license, you will receive a time slot for room selection, which is the second step in the housing selection process. You can see the 2023–24 dining license or the 2024–25 license for details.
Please note that if you do not sign the housing and dining license by the current year deadline, you will not receive a room selection time slot. Instead, you will be assigned a room.
Medical housing accommodations
If you have special or medical needs that should be taken into account during the housing selection process, you must request a housing accommodation via Disability Support Services.
Emotional support animal (ESA)/ service animal policy
You may be allowed to have an emotional support animal or service animal in RISD housing facilities if you meet the following criteria:
- You provide valid medical accommodation supporting your need for an emotional support or service animal.
- You comply with conditions outlined in RISD’s official service and emotional support animal policy.
Since not all campus housing is suitable for animals, we reserve the right to relocate you to properly accommodating housing.
If we approve your request, you will need to submit an animal registration form along with all vaccination records. We permit only one animal per student with approved accommodations, and only one animal per living environment. A relocation will be required if more than one student in a shared space is approved to keep an emotional support or service animal on campus.
Residency Waiver
Undergraduate students must live on campus during their first two years at RISD. However, you can request a residency waiver if you meet one of the qualifications below. Please note that items 1–4 require documentation as proof of your eligibility.
Student exemptions are at the sole discretion of Residence Life, which reserves the right to grant exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
- You live at home with a parent or legal guardian at their permanent address, within thirty (30) of the college. For documentation, please provide two (2) of the following:
- a copy of your lease, listing your parent or guardian as the primary tenant
- a mortgage statement including your parent or guardian’s name
- a utility bill, property tax statement, home insurance bill, etc., for the address of your residency, clearly addressed to your parent or guardian by name
- a copy of your parent or legal guardian’s driver’s license/state ID, which includes the address at which you will reside
- You are married. If so, please provide a marriage certificate.
- You have a child, or your due date to give birth is prior to or during the academic year. Please provide either of the following:
- a birth certificate
- a medical document indicating that you are due to give birth
- You are the legal guardian of a minor or dependent. Please provide either of the following:
- a birth certificate
- a legal document indicating your guardianship of the minor
- You are, or will be, older than 21 years of age by September 1, 2024. No additional documentation is required if you meet this eligibility requirement.
Requests are not approved until you receive written confirmation from Residence Life. Students are not guaranteed release from the residency requirement.
Housing selection 2024 timeline — transfer students
May 20
Housing application and other forms open (academic year and Summer EFS)
To apply for summer and academic-year housing on campus, complete your application via the housing portal. You may also use the portal to submit a residency waiver requirement or medical housing accommodation request form.
Additionally, transfer students need to fill out a housing waitlist form—also found in the portal—so that the Residence Life team can plan your housing placement.
Summer EFS participants will receive on-campus housing for the summer. Please see our summer housing overview for more information.
May 31
Residency requirement waiver and medical housing accommodation forms due
If you plan to apply for a residency waiver or for a medical housing accommodation, complete the applicable form by this date via the housing portal.
Jun 5
Housing application due
If you want to take part in housing selection, complete your application via the housing portal by this date.
Jun 14
Room assignments issued for the Summer EFS program
All students participating in the Summer EFS program will receive an email on the above date indicating their on-campus housing assignment.
Early July
Room assignments issued for fall 2024 housing
We will update this page with dates as information comes available, so please check back soon.
Housing selection FAQs — application and general processes
Where do I complete my housing application and select housing?
To fill out and sign your housing application, select housing and roommates, and complete other necessary forms, go to our housing portal.
I need to stay within a specific price range. What is the best way to secure a room within my budget.
We will work with you if you have a financial need for a specific room price. Here is what you can do to select a room that meets your needs:
- Sign your housing license and, if one is available, select a room within your range.
- If a room within your range is not available, put your name on the waitlist (available following the end of room selection).
If you need to join the waitlist, we will do everything we can to move you into a room in your range.
How do I update my profile questions or gender identity so I can find a more accurate roommate match?
To update your personal information, log into the housing portal do the following and then proceed to make updates:
- Click on the hamburger icon at the top-left corner
- Click on your name
What if I can’t find a room that I want during selection?
If you are a first-year student or rising sophomore, we encourage you to select a room. If you do not, you will be placed in one. (Remember that you are required to live on campus during your first two years at RISD.)
Upperclass and grad students must select a room in order to live on campus.
If you are not able to secure a room you prefer, you may submit a room change request via the housing portal. You will be able to start this process two weeks after the first day of school. If a room that meets your preferences comes available and you reach the top of the room change list, we will contact you to proceed.
Is there a housing waitlist?
Yes, for any student who does not participate in room selection but wishes to live on campus. Following housing selection, we will post the waitlist on the housing portal.
Can I make a room change over the summer?
During the summer we only process room changes for emergency or gender-related purposes. Otherwise we won’t process room changes until after move-in.
Do any of the residence halls allow pets?
We do not permit pets in the halls, with the exception of fish that live in aquariums 10 gallons or fewer. (Note that we do not permit lizards, turtles or other tank animals other than fish.) Guests cannot bring pets into a residence hall.
If you need an emotional support animal (ESA) or service animal, you must complete a medical accommodation form before doing so. See the medical accommodations overview below for more about our pet policies.
Can family members and/or friends spend the night on move-in day?
We do not allow overnight guests until you complete a roommate agreement via the housing portal. If you live in a single room or studio apartment, then you need to follow our guest policy.
Do I need to have renter’s insurance to live in the residence halls?
No, we do not require on-campus residents to acquire renter’s insurance, but we highly recommend it. Follow this link to learn more about renter’s/property insurance.
What are my on-campus parking options?
RISD does not provide student parking. Off-campus parking in Providence is generally expensive, but if you need to park a car in the city, you can do so via Metropark, the Arcade Garage or DownCity Parking.
It’s time to move out and I have too much stuff to move. What can I do?
Whether you’re moving out of the dorms or leaving an apartment, you can donate items to RISD Flips. At the end of each year, this program takes unwanted clothing and other items to help generate scholarship money via an annual summer yard sale, support international students and community organizations, and lessen RISD’s environmental impact.
Please consider donating any of the following items to RISD Flips:
- lightly used clothes, shoes and accessories
- art supplies
- clean kitchen items
- lamps, fans, hangers, storage bins and shower caddies
- and anything else that helps raise funds and support new students
If you have questions or want to donate, email RISD Flips.
Am I required to have renters insurance if I live in the Residence Halls?
RISD does not require renters insurance for on campus residents, but we highly encourage attaining this insurance. Please see more information about Renters Insurance (Property Insurance) HERE.