Congratulations and welcome to UMBC! Below, you will find information on the steps you need to complete in order to successfully apply for on campus housing prior to starting at UMBC. Be sure to review the information below so that you are fully prepared when you arrive at UMBC.
If you are a current UMBC student please visit our currently enrolled UMBC student page for information about housing deadlines.
Transfer Communities
Transfer students may have the option to live in our residence halls, suites, or apartments depending on their number of completed credits at the time of application/assignment and availability of space. We encourage all students to explore our communities prior to completing their housing application.
- Students must have 30 completed credits to be eligible for Residential Life suites.
- Students generally have 50 completed credits to be considered for Residential Life apartments.
- Students must have 39 completed credits to be considered for Walker Avenue Apartments.
- Walker Avenue is a public-private partnership facility owned and controlled by the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO). Capstone On-Campus Management is agent to MEDCO in the operation of Walker Avenue Apartments. Walker Avenue Apartments is considered university-affiliated housing, since it is located on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and operates with the oversight of UMBC; however, Walker Avenue Apartments IS NOT owned by UMBC.
Transfer Housing Application Process
Priority Housing Application Deadlines
Newly admitted summer & fall transfer students who apply by May 1 are guaranteed to be issued the Housing Offer (License and Reservation Fee form) via their UMBC email. It is important to note that the housing license is for the entire academic year, defined as beginning with the start of the Fall Semester through the end of the Spring Semester.
Newly admitted spring transfer students who complete their application by the December 15 priority deadline are guaranteed to be issued the Housing Offer (License and Reservation Fee form) via their UMBC email. It is important to note that the housing license is for the spring semester year only.
Transfer students who complete their application after the priority deadline, will be added to the housing waitlist, and will be issued the License and Reservation Fee form as space permits.
Priority Deadlines for Fall 2023 Admits
| Housing Application Available |
February 1, 2023 |
| Housing Application Priority Deadline |
May 1, 2023 |
| Housing Offer Emailed [as early as] |
May 8, 2023 |
| Roommate & Room Assignment Information Available |
July 15, 2023 at 5PM |
| Spring Semester Move-In |
August 26, 2023 |
The General Housing Interest (Waitlist) Application will be made available on May 2, 2023 for new students and those who missed the priority deadline.
Priority Deadlines for Spring 2024 Admits
| Housing Application Available |
October 1, 2023 |
| Housing Application Priority Deadline |
December 15, 2023 |
| Housing Offer Emailed [as early as] |
December 16, 2023 |
| Roommate & Room Assignment Information Available |
January 15, 2025 at 5PM |
| Spring Semester Move-In |
January 28, 2024 |
Roommate & Room Assignments
Housing Assignments are made utilizing the students housing application preferences and eligibility criteria. While we try to honor students’ preference we cannot guarantee that a student will be assigned to a specific building or room. Within our co-ed communities, students are assigned to rooms, suites and/or apartments with roommates of the same biological sex, unless the student has expressed interest in Gender Inclusive Housing.
- Newly Admitted Transfer students are assigned to housing by Residential Life staff.
- Students that apply for and are selected to live in a Living-Learning Community (LLC) are assigned by the LLC Coordinator.
Incoming transfer students can request one (1) or three (3) preferred roommates who is also a transfer student. Due to our various housing application cycles, transfer students cannot request to live with current UMBC. Students who form a group of 3, rather than a group of 2 or 4, will only be assigned together in our triple bedroom room types in our Residence Halls as space permits.
Students will receive specific instructions for requesting a roommate in the housing portal. The period for newly admitted students to request a specific roommate is mid-May until June 15 at 11:59 p.m.
Students who do not request a specific roommate will be assigned one by the Residential Life Staff. Roommate assignments are made using information provided in the interest housing application.
Newly admitted transfers should expect to receive their assignment and roommate information in mid-July or mid-January via their UMBC email.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do transfer students live?
Transfer students may have the option to live in our residence halls, suites, or apartments depending on their number of completed credits at the time of application/assignment and availability of space.
Yes. All of our communities and floors are co-ed. Whereas, bedrooms, suites, and apartments are same-sex. Student interested in living in a Gender Inclusive bedroom, suite or apartment should indicate interest on their housing application.
Who cleans the students rooms?
Residents are responsible for the cleanliness of individual rooms, suite common rooms, bathrooms and kitchens in apartments. Health and safety inspections occur twice a semester. UMBC housekeeping staff are responsible for study lounges, residence hall lobbies, community bathrooms, laundry rooms, hallways and stairwells. Concerns regarding housekeeping issues should be directed to Residential Life Facilities at 410-455-3948.
What items are provided and/or what should I bring?
We encourage students to review the Packing List for a list of provided, recommended items to bring, and prohibited items.
Where do I go to complete the housing application?
If I missed the priority deadline, can I still apply?
Yes. You are welcome to complete the General Interest Application after the priority deadline has passed. Students who miss their priority application deadline are added to the housing waitlist. Waitlist offers are made, as space permits. Students will remain on the waitlist until we are able to make them an offer.
Can I apply to live on-campus for just the fall semester?
The housing license (contract) is for the full academic year (fall and spring) which means you are expected to live on campus both semesters. Only students graduating in December and those studying aboard in during the Spring semester are permitted to live on-campus for the fall only.
Can I apply to live on-campus for just the spring semester?
Students are welcome to apply for spring semester housing. Students should wait to complete a General Housing Application (waitlist) until October if you do not want to be offered Fall housing.
Keep in mind that students, with the exception of newly admitted spring students who meet the December 15th deadline, will not be guaranteed a spring housing offer.
Housing License & Reservation Fee
When do I need to pay the $200 Housing Reservation Fee?
Transfer students will pay the housing reservation fee when they receive their housing offer.
Can the housing reservation fee be waived?
The housing reservation fee is mandatory. Students with significant financial need are welcome contact Residential Life prior to the application/offer deadline.
Is the housing reservation fee refundable?
No. The housing reservation fee will be applied as a credit to your initial housing charges. For example, if you license for the full year, the $200 will be applied toward your fall housing bill.
In the event that you cancel your housing license prior to move-in, the $200 reservation fee will be applied towards your cancellation fees.
I am under 18, how do my parent’s sign the license?
If you are under the age of 18, you should complete the application online fully. As part of Step 5 you will be instructed to click the link provided for your parent/guardian to acknowledge the license: https://docusign.umbc.edu/secure/prd/FormToDocuSign/Form2DS.php?cfg=RL_HousingLicenseVerification.
After you click the link in the application:
- Provide names and emails for those who need to sign the form.
- The form will open for the student to complete and submit, then
- The form is sent via email to guardian to complete, then
- The form is sent to Residential Life
- The student will need to sign and acknowledge the form because it gets emailed to your parent/guardian.
Can I request a roommate(s)?
Students may have the option of requesting roommate(s). Students who do not request a specific roommate will be assigned one by the Residential Life Staff. Assignments are made using information provided in the interest housing application.
The period for newly admitted students to request a specific roommate is mid-May until June 15 at 11:59 p.m.
Incoming transfer students who apply by May 1 can request one (1) or three (3) preferred roommates who is also an incoming Fall transfer.
Students who form a group of 3, rather than a group of 2 or 4, will only be assigned together in our triple bedroom room types as space permits.
How do I request a roommate?
Students will receive a email with instructions on requesting or forming a roommate group in the housing portal. Incoming transfer students should look for an email in their UMBC account in early May.
If I get accepted onto an LLC floor, can I request a roommate?
If you are admitted to an LLC, you can only request a roommate who has also been admitted to that LLC.
Can I pick which building I want to live in?
How are room assignments made?
Incoming transfer students are assigned to housing by Residential Life staff. Additionally, students that apply for and are selected to live in a Living-Learning Community (LLC) are assigned by the LLC Coordinator. Whereas, current residents who participate in Housing Selection get to select their specific building and room from the available inventory.
Assignments are made utilizing the students housing application preferences and eligibility criteria. While we try to honor students preference we cannot guarantee that a student will be assigned to a specific building or room.
Within our co-ed communities, students are assigned to rooms, suites and/or apartments with roommates of the same biological sex, unless the student has expressed interest in Gender Inclusive Housing.
When will I find my room and roommate information?
Housing assignments are communicated to students via their UMBC email account.
- Fall residents should expect to receive their assignment in mid-July.
- Spring only residents should expect to receive their assignment information in mid-January.
Can I see my room before I move-in?
Due to camps, conferences, and summer programs we are unable to allow students to view their specific room. We encourage students to reach out to Admissions about opportunities to join a Black & Gold tour, or to view images and floor plans at https://reslife.umbc.edu/communities/
Can I change my roommate or assignment?
Due to the high demand for housing, we are unable to honor any room/roommate change requests prior to the start of the semester. Please keep in mind that during the first two (2) weeks of each semester, room changes are not permitted. Room Freezes allow Residential Life to “take attendance,” move any students out of their temporary assignments, and place students on the waitlist.
Can I cancel housing if I no longer wish to live on campus?
