Frequently Asked Questions

First – apply for Campus Housing. Once a student has completed their Housing application, which includes payment of a $50 non-refundable application fee, they will then be able to take part in room selection. Room selection will allow applicants to see vacant rooms/bedspaces and select from available spaces.

Room selection for Spring 2024-only (semester) applicants will begin on November 1 for new Housing applicants.

• Current Fall residents do not need to apply for Spring 2025, as your existing contract covers both Fall & Spring semesters.

Academic Year 2025-2026 (Fall 2025 & Spring 2026) applications are available beginning December 16.

• Room selection for the 2025-2026 academic year will begin on March 3 for current residents and
• Room selection for 2025-2026 academic year will begin May 28 for new Housing applicants.

Summer 2025 applications will be available March 17 2025.

Please visit the Campus Housing Apply page for full details here. 

Campus Housing applications for the Spring 2024-only (semester) went live on November 1, 2024.

Campus Housing applications for Academic Year 2025-2026 went live on December 16, 2024.

Students can apply for Campus Housing once they are admitted to UIC. There is no deadline for applications, however, we do encourage interested students to apply as soon as they can if they have a specific residence hall preference, room type preference, or want to select a room assignment as part of a roommate group.

Following room selection, applicants will be required to sign their Housing contract to secure that selected room.  If an applicant does not sign the Housing contract, the selected room/bedspace will become available to other applicants taking part in room selection.

Once a contract is signed, that room selection is final. No room changes will be conducted prior to the start of the contract period. A room change request may only be submitted after the 10th day of classes.

No – UIC Campus Housing does not require or collect a Housing deposit.

Campus Housing will not waive the application fee but will defer it until the beginning of the applied for semester or term start and then charge it to the applicant’s student account. To have the application fee deferred, please contact housing@uic.edu.

Changes can be made to the Housing application prior to room selection beginning. To update your application preferences prior to beginning the room selection process, revisit your Housing application at go.uic.edu/applyhousing and select the Apply Here tab to reenter your application and make changes.

No – academic year Housing applications are for both Fall and Spring semesters.

If you are looking for a Fall semester-only contract, you will need to indicate that preference in the Housing application. Note – Fall semester only contracts are placed in SSR only; other residence hall options are not available for Fall-only contracts.

One semester Housing contracts are only available to students that select a room in SSR. For these students, room selection in SSR will allow them to complete their contract in December without cancellation penalties (pending graduation verification, participation in study abroad, or similar). Full cancellation penalties will apply to students who sign a contract for a residence hall other than SSR and are planning to graduate at the end of the Fall semester.

Yes – the Housing application will require that emergency contact information is provided. Applicants/residents can update their emergency contact information kept with Campus Housing at any time in the Housing Portal.

UIC Campus Housing assumes no financial responsibility over the personal property of residents nor will the institution be financially responsible for large-scale, unintentional damage caused to university property by on-campus residents, such as a fire or sprinkler-head flood.

Renters insurance is optional but we strongly all residents to identify and purchase a coverage plan with GradGuard. GradGuard College Renters Insurance provides unique student-focused coverage, through an exclusive student endorsement. What does that mean? Well, it means you’ll have access to features that you can’t find in your standard homeowner’s insurance policy or through other companies.

For information regarding policy plans, cost, and how to make a claim please visit gradguard.com

Living and Learning Communities (LLCs) and Affinity Dwellings provide specialized attention for an enriched educational experience. They offer a sense of community through programs, conversations, and faculty interaction centered on members’ interests. To learn more about LLCs and Affinity Dwellings offered, visit the Living Learning Community page.

No – LLCs and Affinity Dwellings are an optional selection for applicants to join if they wish to do so. Please note that LLCs and Affinity Dwellings are located in specific residence halls offered by Campus Housing and their location may not match your preferred residence hall or room type.

Selecting an LLCs or Affinity Dwellings will limit what residence halls or room types an applicant sees in room selection. To change your LLC or Affinity Dwelling selection, update your Housing application, revisit your Housing application at go.uic.edu/applyhousing and select the Apply Here tab to reenter your application and make changes.

• Note – LLC or Affinity Dwelling selection is not available for Spring-only applicants.

No – applicants must register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC). For fastest approval and placement, please register with DRC by May 20, 2024.

Our Housing application allows applicants to search for potential roommates, send messages, and send roommate requests. Search for potential roommates based on response to roommate selection questions or simply ask our application software to provide a list of recommended roommates based upon a percentage match to our roommate selection questions.

Applicants can also send messages to each other within the Housing application, allowing potential roommates to get to know each other and communicate.

Finally, roommate requests can be sent within the application, as well. Roommate requests must be mutual matching requests.

Applicants to Campus Housing select their room/bedspace assignment during their assigned room selection window. Room selection is also sometimes referred to as self-selection.

Prior to room selection beginning, applicants will receive email directions providing information regarding their room selection window and further details related to room selection. Room selection allows students to view all available units for which they are eligible and directly select the room/bedspace they wish to live in. To preview Housing options with their requirements and amenities, please view our Residence Halls page.

A virtual tour of each room type can be found on the Virtual Tours page to explore room and unit types offered. Additionally, information located under our Residence Halls page and Rates page provide further information on room types offered within our various residence hall options.

The choice to live in a gender-inclusive room or unit is up to the student at the time of application. No student will be assigned to a gender-inclusive room or unit without their expressed consent to live with a specific person(s) of any identified gender.

Our SPECTRUM Living Learning Community and our SISTERS Living Learning Community are our sole locations where gender-inclusive units are offered that students can select during room selection without having formed a roommate group that consists of students with mixed identified genders.

Gender-inclusive options also can be found through the creation of roommate groups in the application process. Roommates groups can be formed by applicants of any identified gender, allowing a gender-inclusive option upon room selection by that group.

Applicants can search for their preferred roommate(s) in the Housing application via their University Identification Number (UIN), First name, or Last name. If their preferred roommate(s) has not yet completed their Housing application, the applicants can renter their Housing application after both parties have completed and search for each other.

Some Campus Housing room types or residence hall locations are very popular and may not have vacancies available for you when your room selection window begins. Explore our various residence hall and room type options on the Housing website and have a list of second or third preferences ready for you to select if you find your first option is no longer available.

Room selection is not guaranteed, so it is recommended that all residents choose a few roommates in case their first or second room preference is not chosen.

To choose a roommate, you can filter out other potential roommates by searching through the questionnaire or simply by clicking suggested roommates. In the suggested roommate tab, the percentage match will show how alike your questionnaires were as well as their response to the “About Me” section. Do keep in mind, this is only shown if “Display in Roommate Search results” is checked in the questionnaire portion.

Meal plans are required for residents living in ARC, Courtyard, Commons West, Commons North, Commons South, and James Stukel Towers.

Meal plan purchase is optional for residents living in Marie Robinson Hall, Thomas Beckham Hall, and SSR.

To select and view different meal plans, visit the UIC Dining Services website. Meal plan changes are available within the first 10 days of the semester only.

To view all prohibited items, search in the Resident Handbook under Prohibited Items. Our Move-In page will go live in July and will also contain a list of suggested items for residents to bring so that they have an enjoyable experience in Campus Housing as well as a list of items not to bring with them upon move-in.

Campus Housing does not maintain parking lots or garages, nor is parking guaranteed for Housing residents. Parking is managed by UIC Parking Services and permit application is done through their website.

Parking on-campus at UIC is at a premium and students wishing to purchase a parking permit are encouraged to apply ASAP to give them the best chance to purchase a permit for their preferred parking location.

Yes, all residence halls offer free laundry services.

Visit the residence hall page for full details what comes included in your selected room.