Studying Abroad & Living On Campus

Many Union College students take the unique opportunity to study abroad for a whole term at some point during their time as a student. Given our on-campus residency requirement, students need to stay updated on the campus housing policies and procedures for students abroad.

Vacating Your On Campus Assignment for Study Abroad

Due to limited occupancy, all students who study abroad are required to move out of their on campus housing throughout the duration of their study abroad trip.

The Office of Residential Education & Housing does not guarantee students abroad the same room or bed when returning to campus, and is not able to preserve any vacancies. In other words, students are not permitted to “save” or “retain” their spaces while abroad, and should expect another student to be placed in the space they vacated for the next term.

Securing Your Housing for Your Return to Campus

Students who are slated to return to campus after studying abroad are required to submit a Returning Students Housing Application in the housing portal. Application opening, and closing dates will be sent directly to students abroad via email during week 6. Within the application each student will have the ability to rank housing options based on their preferences.

The application and assignment process is not a first come, first serve process. Assignments priority will be randomly assigned. Given this, there is no benefit to submitting an application within the first few minutes of the application opening. We strongly encourage students to take their time, and carefully complete the application. Failure to submit the application will not result in being granted the opportunity to live off campus. Students will be assigned to a space at random if an application is not submitted, and preferences will not be able to be taken into account.

Housing Assignment Notifications

Housing assignments will be released prior to students arrival/return to campus housing. All returning student housing assignments will be released by the end of the term prior to the term students are expected to return. Our office will send an email directly to a student’s union account with the details of their housing assignment, and new roommates.

Room Availability

There is no guarantee that students will be able to be placed in their top preferences. However, our office will take careful consideration to place all returning students in housing options that they prefer the most when possible. If you are a Greek affiliated student who's chapter has an on campus house, you may be assigned to your chapter’s housing if your chapter elects to include you on their housing roster.

Roommate Requests

In the Returning Student Housing Application students will have the ability to indicate any vacancies with friends that they would like to be pulled into. Please note that to be assigned to these vacancies with friends, all students in the space would need to consent to pull you in. In addition to noting any potential vacancies, students can preference another returning student to be their roommate. Both students would need to indicate this on their housing application. Given campus occupancy, we are unable to guarantee that preferenced roommates will be able to placed together in the same room. However, our office will make all efforts to honor requests when possible.

Term Specific Information

Fall Term:

Once committed for Fall Term study abroad, student’s forfeit their ability to participate in housing selection for the following academic year
Housing assignments Winter Term are historically released by mid-December

Winter Term

Students committed for the Winter Term study abroad are required to move out of their campus housing when residence halls close for Winter Break (Historically last week of November)
Students who will be abroad for the Winter will be eligible to participate in housing selection for the next academic year
If a time change difference causes a student to be unable to select their housing, a housing proxy can be used for a student abroad to select housing
Housing assignments will be released during before students depart for Spring Break

Spring Term:

Students studying abroad in the Spring Term are required to move out of their on campus housing at the end of the Winter Term
Students who will be abroad for the Spring Terms will be eligible to participate in housing selection for the next academic year
If a time change difference causes a student to be unable to select their housing, a housing proxy can be used for a student abroad to select housing

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my campus housing when I am studying abroad?

While you are studying abroad, the bed space you previously occupied will be assigned to another student. We are unable to save bed spaces or place bed spaces on hold for students who are studying abroad.
Will I be required to move out while I'm abroad?

All students who study abroad are required to full move out of their housing assignments, and return their room keys at the end of the term prior to their term abroad. Students are not permitted to leave any items behind in their assignments.
Will I get the same roommate when I return to campus from Study Abroad?

We are unable to guarantee that students are able to keep the same roommate when they return to campus from study abroad. Given that we do not hold or save bed spaces, you should expect that the space you previously were assigned to is now occupied by another student.
Will I get the same room when I return from Study Abroad?

We are unable to guarantee that students are able to keep the same room when they return to campus from study abroad. Given that we do not hold or save bed spaces, you should expect that the space you previously were assigned to is occupied and re-assigned to another student during the term you were abroad.
Will I get to pick my new room when I return to campus?

All students will be able to rank their the buildings and room types that they preference most. Our office will do our best to assign students to their most preference assignments. Please note that due to high occupancy, we may not be able to guarantee that all students will be able to be assigned to their highest preference rooms. Room assignments will be made in random order.