Housing
Where will you live in Delaware?
Our knowledgeable staff is happy to help English Language Institute students to find a place to live while they are studying at the University of Delaware!
Several housing options are available; however, where you can live may depend on the ELI program that you will do. Before deciding where you want to live, consider your housing priorities and the options below.
If you need assistance understanding the information on this web page, please email: eli-housing@udel.edu.
Learn more about
Housing options for each program
The housing options available to you will depend on the program that you will do at the ELI.
Select the name of a program below to learn more about the housing options for that program.
Note: IEP = Intensive English Program | Graduate CAP = Graduate Conditional Admissions Program
Important housing requirements: Academic Transitions (AT) students have special housing requirements that they must meet.
If you are registered for AT, you must fulfill the housing requirements as part of your program. AT students must live in ELI housing regardless of age. This is very important.
Students in AT or Pre-AT have a choice of housing options. These include:
- Homestay — Live with an American host.
- The Global Community at The Waverly — Live with fellow ELI students near UD's main campus in a 4-bedroom apartment.
- The George Read Residence Hall — Live on campus in comfortable, furnished and air-conditioned rooms. Staff is available to help with problems and arrange cultural programming. American students live on your floor, but your roommates will be other ELI students.
Students in the Intensive English Program (IEP) and Graduate Conditional Admissions Program (Graduate CAP), have several housing options available to them, including:
- Homestay — Live with an American host.
- The Innternationale — Live in fully furnished accommodations near UD's main campus with international students, visiting scholars, international guests and American students.
- Off-campus apartments — Students will make reservations themselves. Visit Moving Off Campus by UD's Office of the Dean of Students for a guide to living off campus with tips on budgeting, finding an apartment, lease options and more! For help, contact eli-housing@udel.edu.
Special recommendation: We encourage students to live with Americans in the homestay program. This option provides students with the opportunity to learn more about American culture and to practice their English in their home environment
The English Language Institute will coordinate housing for students in special ELI groups, including Language Adventure USA, Level Up, English and American Culture, American Culture and Communication, and Delaware EFL Teacher Training program (DEFT).
Students who will attend the ELI individually can contact eli-housing@udel.edu for more information about the options that are available to you.
HOUSING TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By moving into ELI housing, you are agreeing to the ELI Housing Terms and Conditions.
HELPFUL HOUSING VOCABULARY
There are several words and phrases to know so that your housing experience goes smoothly!
How to reserve housing
The ELI is happy to help you with your housing reservations. Be sure to follow instructions for reserving your housing! It is very important to follow the correct procedure. All students must submit a housing reservation form at least 2 weeks before the session begins.
- Complete the housing reservation form — You will receive the housing application via email about one month before you are due to start at the ELI. The email will include a link unique to you.
- You may need to provide a copy of your visa and your plane ticket reservation (i.e., your flight itinerary).
- If you are already studying at the ELI, then you do not need to submit the visa and plane ticket reservation.
- Wait to receive your housing confirmation — Housing confirmations will be sent to you by email approximately 1 to 2 weeks before the beginning of your session. Depending on your housing selection, you may receive a confirmation earlier.
Do not delay! Some housing options may not be available every ELI session, so we recommend that you complete your housing application as early as possible to increase your chances of getting the housing you chose.
Housing assignments depend on the date the ELI receives your completed application and the number of students attending that session.
When can I move in?
Move-in day is typically the first day of ELI Orientation. Please make your travel plans with this in mind.
We recommend that you do not arrive to Delaware earlier than 2 days before ELI orientation. If you arrive to Newark early, we cannot guarantee that you can move in early.
If you are arriving early and want to move in early, you must contact ELI-Housing@udel.edu with your name, student ID, and housing reservation form. We will inform you if it is possible for you to move in early and what the early move-in fee will be.
We know that leases are difficult to understand, so we are here to help you understand your lease.
Remember, before you sign a lease, we recommend that you ask the apartment management if you have any questions. It is your responsibility to understand your lease.
We suggest that you ask these questions before you sign a lease:
- When does my lease start?
- When can I move in?
- When does my lease end?
- When is rent due?
- Do you take cash/check/credit card/money order for rent?
- How do I renew my lease? When is the deadline to renew?
- Do I need to take an inventory of the apartment condition after I move in?
Remember, do not sign a lease unless you understand what you are signing!
How to submit a maintenance request for something broken or damaged in your apartment
If something is damaged or is not working well in your apartment, it is very important to tell the apartment management.
If you have any problems with the water; such as a leak or water dripping, you must report this immediately!
If you do not tell the management about the problem immediately, then you may be held responsible for it and any damage it causes.
Sample email message
You can copy and paste this sample email to send a maintenance request to the apartment management with the details about the problem in your apartment. If you do not know who to contact, email eli-housing@udel.edu for help.
Hello,
I would like to submit a maintenance request.
I live in apartment __[your apartment number] __.
In my apartment, the __[describe the problem] __ does not work.
The problem started on __[date]___.
Would you please send someone to fix this problem?
Please send me a reply to confirm that you received my email.
Thank you in advance for your help with this problem,
___[your full name]__
I am coming to the ELI with my family. What should we do?
Contact ELI-Housing@udel.edu with your name, student ID, and the number people in your family including their ages.
The housing coordinator can help you look for suitable options that are close to campus and the ELI.
- To learn more about the features and amenities available at Lehigh Flats, please visit this apartments.com listing.
- To learn more about the features and amenities at the Apartments at Pine Brook, please visit the Apartments at Pine Brook website.
Where can I eat while I am studying at the ELI?
There are several dining options for ELI students. Some students buy a university meal plan, while others will eat with their homestay hosts.
Some students choose not to buy a meal plan and will instead cook their meals or purchase them in many cafes in the Newark area.
