Your ISSS Tip of the Week

Issue 3: Housing

After securing your visa, finding a place to live is probably one of the most important things on your to-do list.

Housing options for new international students are dependent on whether you are

entering the university as a new first-year student, as a transfer student, or as a graduate student. No matter where you live, you will still have an opportunity to become an active member of the University of Maryland community.

Housing Options

ON-CAMPUS HOUSING FOR NEW (FRESHMEN) UNDERGRADUATES and EXCHANGE STUDENT

Students who applied for housing will hear directly from Residence Life regarding your application. Important dates for Resident Life can be found here, room assignments will be released on July 18th. Students should go to Freshmen Housing for more information.

BEFORE YOU MOVE-IN

Before you move in, you should consider what items to bring, what to expect from roommate relationships and how you might decorate your room. Explore these resources offered in the Department of Resident Life’s website.

EARLY MOVE-IN

New international students who have an on-campus housing assignment may request an early move-in date of August 25, 2025 no earlier than 9AM.

Once housing assignments are released, students may request an early arrival via their Housing Portal by choosing Early Arrival Request. The requests will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and the students should continue to check the request in the Housing Portal for updates. Resident Life attempts to update the status within two business days, but as we get closer to opening staff may be in training sessions which delays the process, please apply early.

HOUSING FOR NEW UNDERGRADUATE TRANSFER STUDENTS

On-campus housing cannot be guaranteed for transfer students. New transfer students who requested residence hall housing should also explore other housing options using the resources offered by the university's Off-Campus Housing Services.

HOUSING FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

There are two all-graduate student apartment communities on university property.

The Graduate Gardens and Graduate Hills communities are owned by the University of Maryland and managed on the university's behalf by a property management company. A separate application and leasing process applies for these apartment Communities.

Find the perfect place to call home with Southern Management - Communities conveniently located near the University of Maryland!

Our communities offer waived application fees, no deposit or income requirements and fast pre-approval.

Off-Campus Housing Services

Off-Campus Housing Services (OCH) is UMD's office that supports you in your housing search. The OCHS office provides assistance in person, over the phone, and visa email at och@umd.edu. The OCH DATABASE is a housing search database that lists available rentals in the area and includes a useful Roommate Finder tool.

Review this Off-Campus Housing Resources guide to understand how this works in the U.S. They also provide a video on using the housing search database.

For other helpful tips, make sure to review the helpful information under "Living like a Terp" on the online orientation course.

Disclaimer: Off-campus housing information is provided solely as a courtesy. The University of Maryland does not inspect, endorse or assume any responsibility for any properties, accommodations, or other housing options or websites; and it expressly disclaims any and all responsibility for any problems that may arise within connection

therewith. Individuals are strongly advised to thoroughly investigate and inspect any properties, accommodations, or other housing options before making final arrangements.

Off-Campus Housing Search

June 20, 2025

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM ET

Virtual Event-registration required

Join off campus housing for an informative online webinar designed to help students navigate the off-campus housing search process with ease. Whether you're new to the area or just looking for guidance, the University Housing Partnerships Office will walk you through the steps of finding housing in College Park and the surrounding areas. We'll cover how to use our Off-Campus Housing Database, important questions to consider, and available campus resources to support you throughout your search. Our goal is to help you feel confident and prepared as you begin this important step in your college experience.

PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST SCAMS

Whether you use the University of Maryland's Off-Campus Housing Services or not, they offer a wealth of resources and information that we encourage you to review. Remember never to send any money until you have seen the accommodations and signed a lease.

ISSS has a useful webpage on various scams that target international students. Please review this page to help you recognize various scams.

Warning: Wait to sign a lease

We recommend that you WAIT to sign a lease until AFTER you secure your visa and even after arriving in the US. If you sign a lease and are not able to attend you may still be responsible for lease payments.

If you have questions about your lease, UMCP's Legal Aid offices offer a tool to help you review and understand your lease. Use it BEFORE you sign your lease. If you have questions you may request a consultation with one of the Legal Aid attorneys.

Note that there are two Legal Aids, one for graduate students and another for undergraduates. Information about their services and instructions for requesting an appointment are on their websites.

Engaging with ISSS

Meet & Greet with International Orientation Leaders

July 8th

9:30am ET

July 9th

9:30am ET

Meet & Greet with International Orientation Leaders (IOL) - newly arriving students will have an opportunity to talk with International Orientation Leaders in small group virtual sessions. You will be able to ask questions about what it is like to study with UMD, where students live, get tips and advice on how to make the most of your time, and get to know current and newly admitted students ahead of the Fall semester.

ISSS Online Orientation

In addition to our weekly tip of the week, the ISSS online orientation is live. All F-1/J-1 international students who are new to UMD should complete the online International Student Orientation by August 27, 2025.

Click here to enroll now!

Connect with us

Ask your questions via our Live Chat, available on our website Monday-Friday from 9-11 a.m. ET.

Schedule a Virtual Appointment with an ISSS advisor. Appointments can be scheduled under newly admitted students Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET.

By email: isss-admissions@umd.edu

Social Media

For important reminders and updates, and to keep aware of any upcoming events, please follow our office at our social media accounts. Join us!

Missed a Tip of the Week?

You can find previous Tips of the Week on our website by clicking here!

We hope that you find these emails informative and helpful. You are receiving

them because you have been accepted to the University of Maryland for the Fall 2025 semester. If you do not intend to enroll at UMD, please inform ISSS via your iTerp checklist, your department, and either the Graduate School (graduate students) or the undergraduate admissions office (undergraduate students-please fill out this form) that you decline your admission.