Housing
Events
Housing
- UD (On-Campus) Housing
- Non UD-Sponsored (Off-Campus) Housing
- ELI Student Housing
- J-1 Scholars & H-1B
On-Campus Housing
First year undergraduate students are required to live in University residence halls, and many undergraduate students choose to continue living on-campus beyond their first year. Please see the Residence Life & Housing webpage for more information about on-campus housing for graduate students.
Detailed information about housing for undergraduate students is provided on the Pre-Arrival Information for Undergraduate Students webpage. For information about University residence halls, undergraduate students can contact Residence Life & Housing via email at reslife-housing@udel.edu or by calling (302) 831-4663.
The International House (iHouse) Living Learning Community, made up of globally-minded international and domestic students, is one of the on-campus options available for upper division undergraduate students.
Special Accomodations
Students with special housing requests based on Dietary, Medical, or Physical needs must submit their requests in writing.
Off-Campus Housing
Non-university-sponsored housing, called off-campus housing, is available for graduate students, scholars and undergraduate students who are exempt from living on-campus.
Costs vary, depending on whether you are renting a room or apartment, how close you will be to campus, and the amenities offered. Rooms are normally furnished, with or without kitchen facilities, and the cost is usually between $350-$600 per month. Apartments are unfurnished and the cost is $600 or more per month for one bedroom.
More affordable housing options may be found further away from campus, but this may result in the need to purchase a car or incur other transportation and parking expenses. Consider transportation options as you make your decision about housing.
Note that these apartments and the search services listed above are not subsidiaries of the University of Delaware, and their inclusion on this page does not represent an endorsement by the University.
Signing a Housing Agreement
Once you have found a suitable apartment, you’ll be asked to sign a lease, a legal agreement committing you to live in a place for a certain period of time at a certain price per month. You may also be asked to pay a security deposit which is often equal to one month’s rent. Here are a few things to remember:
Be sure that you understand the terms of the lease before you sign it.
Most area apartments require a year-long lease.
You must pay rent for the entire amount of time that you agree to live in the apartment. Most leases state that the tenant may not vacate the apartment until the lease expires. If you vacate the apartment and are unable to find someone to rent your apartment, the law requires that you still have to pay the rent. You may not just vacate one apartment because you find another one that you like better.
View the State of Delaware Landlord Tenant Code.
Some landlords may ask for a “reference” before allowing you to rent their quarters.
If there is something you do not understand in the lease, please contact CGPS before you sign it.
WARNING: Do not sign a lease until you arrive and see the room or apartment.
Setting Up Your Apartment
Furniture & Housewares
Good but used furniture may be purchased at reasonable prices at second-hand stores, and there are many places locally and online that sell anything you need for your new home. Learn about shopping options on our Life in the U.S. webpage.
Electricity
It is your responsibility to have the electric connected when renting an apartment. The location of your apartment will determine which electric company provides the service. If the apartment is in the City of Newark, visit the tenant resources webpage or go to the Newark Municipal Building, 220 Elkton Road, Newark, Delaware, where the Utility Billing Office is located on the 1st floor (Phone: 302-366-7085). A minimum $75 deposit is required for electric heat, and a $50 deposit is required for gas or oil heat.
If the apartment is located outside the City of Newark, contact Delmarva Power. Delmarva Power does not require a deposit. Check with your rental office to find out which utility will provide your power.
Home Telephone/Internet/Cable TV
The two main providers of these services in the area are listed below. Ask your landlord which utility will provide these services:
The English Language Institute provides housing for all ELI students who need it. Some housing choices include kitchens, but students can also purchase meal plans and eat in University dining halls or food courts. For more information regarding housing and dining plans for ELI students, please visit the ELI website.
Housing Near UD
More affordable housing options may be found further away from campus, but this may result in the need to purchase a car or incur other transportation and parking expenses. Consider transportation options as you make your decision about housing.
Apartments Near Campus
The Google map below shows the apartment complexes that are closest to campus. Click "View larger map" to see options that are further away, and click the links to research price and amenities for any you are interested in.
Note that these apartments and the search services listed above are not subsidiaries of the University of Delaware, and their inclusion on this page does not represent an endorsement by the University.
Signing a Housing Agreement
Once you have found a suitable apartment, you’ll be asked to sign a lease, a legal agreement committing you to live in a place for a certain period of time at a certain price per month. You may also be asked to pay a security deposit which is often equal to one month’s rent. Here are a few things to remember:
Be sure that you understand the terms of the lease before you sign it.
Most area apartments require a year-long lease.
You must pay rent for the entire amount of time that you agree to live in the apartment. Most leases state that the tenant may not vacate the apartment until the lease expires. If you vacate the apartment and are unable to find someone to rent your apartment, the law requires that you still have to pay the rent. You may not just vacate one apartment because you find another one that you like better.
View the State of Delaware Landlord Tenant Code.
Some landlords may ask for a “reference” before allowing you to rent their quarters.
If there is something you do not understand in the lease, please contact CGPS before you sign it.
WARNING: Do not sign a lease until you arrive and see the room or apartment.
Setting Up Your Apartment
Furniture & Housewares
Good but used furniture may be purchased at reasonable prices at second-hand stores, and there are many places locally and online that sell anything you need for your new home. Learn about shopping options on our Life in the U.S. webpage.
Electricity
It is your responsibility to have the electric connected when renting an apartment. The location of your apartment will determine which electric company provides the service. If the apartment is in the City of Newark, visit the tenant resources webpage or go to the Newark Municipal Building, 220 Elkton Road, Newark, Delaware, where the Utility Billing Office is located on the 1st floor (Phone: 302-366-7085).
If the apartment is located outside the City of Newark, contact Delmarva Power. Check with your rental office to find out which utility will provide your power.
Home Telephone/Internet/Cable TV
The two main providers of these services in the area are listed below. Ask your landlord which utility will provide these services:
Temporary Housing
If your permanent housing will not be available the day that you arrive, you have a few options:
Stay in a hotel
There are several hotels close to campus, including Courtyard by Marriott, Embassy Suites, Candlewood Suites, Baymont by Wyndham, Homewood Suites, Springhill Suites and more.*
Stay at the INNternational House
The INNternationale House at 153 Courtney Street, Newark, Delaware 19711 is very close to campus and provides both temporary and long-term housing. For more information and online registration visit The INNternational House website.*
For Students:
Connect with student organizations for support
Student organizations often provide informal advice and support to help new students from similar cultures or areas of study. We encourage you to reach out to these undergraduate student and graduate student organizations directly.
Check in early to University residence halls
Undergraduate students can request to check in to their dorm early by contacting Residence Life & Housing.
For Scholars and H-1B Employees:
Connect with Human Resources
For new UD employees, HR has relocation information available to help assist you with your transition to the UD campus. They should be able provide information on temporary housing available as well as information about enrolling children in Delaware schools.
Connect with your department for support
Your host department can often provide informal advice and support to help new employees from similar cultures or areas of study.
Note that the hotels and other temporary housing options listed above are not subsidiaries of the University of Delaware, and their inclusion on this page does not represent an endorsement by the University.
ISSS Disclaimer: The information contained on this web site is provided as a service to international students, faculty, staff, employees, and administrators at the University of Delaware, and does not constitute legal advice on any immigration, tax, or other matter. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of official counsel. For assistance on your immigration status, we encourage you to contact an ISS advisor for specific guidance at oiss@udel.edu.