Your Guide to Housing as a UC Berkeley Student
Whether you are a newly admitted student at Cal or someone looking to find off-campus housing, this blog is for you! Learn about the variety of housing options available for you and how to navigate your housing search from start to finish.
Deciding on Residence Halls or Off-Campus Housing
Res hall living: Most UC Berkeley students live on campus for at least one year, something that I did my first year at Cal. You can read all about it in Res Hall Living: 1 POV, as well as what it was like to adjust to living in a residence hall.
Cover photo for Res Hall Living: 1 POV
Campus apartments and family student housing: Undergraduates have lots of housing options, from apartments to options for students with families or partners at Family Student Housing: University Village. All these options and more can be explored on the UC Berkeley Housing page. We’ll also highlight more options below!
Cover photo for Alternative Off-Campus Housing
Graduate student housing: There are also graduate student dedicated housing options across the city, including the xučyun ruwway Apartments in Albany.
Alternative off-campus housing: Make sure to consider alternative off-campus housing options and to do your research on what kind of housing is best for you.
Before You Move In
A checklist just for you! Whether you’re moving into the res halls or an apartment, consult our Move-In Checklist, an in-depth supplemental list tailored for students, by students.
Cover photo for Move-In Checklist
Don’t forget about transportation and learning your way around town. Make sure to consider how far away your new housing will be from campus, where the nearest grocery store is, and how you will access essential spaces. Read Urban Travel 101: Around Berkeley and become familiar with the many different ways of getting around.
Cover photo for Urban Travel 101: Around Berkeley
Finding Housing as a Transfer
The housing search as a transfer looks a little different depending on your situation, but we’ve got you covered! Crystal Garcia, a transfer student who works at the Transfer Student Center, shares her advice regarding the housing search as a transfer student in our blog Housing as a Transfer.
Cover photo for Housing as a Transfer
New transfer-only Anchor House: Make sure to learn all about Anchor House, a new apartment building solely for transfer students.
Tips for Your Housing Search
Learn what to expect: Read about how three students navigated their housing search and what resources and tips they utilized in Finding Housing: What to Expect.
Cover photo for Finding Housing: What to Expect
What to consider in your search: Get familiar with different areas you can live in, both in and near Berkeley, with Off-Campus Housing Search Tips. The article also includes a helpful breakdown of some popular apartment complexes in the city.
Resources to Have on Hand
Browse through Cal Rental’s Off Campus Housing Resources, organized by whatever phase you are in your housing search and journey.
The Basic Needs Center has a great Housing Search Resource List with information on whatever your housing needs are, with tips on furniture, roommate searches, and tenant rights.
UC Berkeley Housing has a list of everything you need to know about living on campus.
My roommates and I explored a lot of options before finding our own apartment, and read through a lot of other students’ experiences to help guide us as well. Good luck, and remember to be patient—the right place for you is out there. Enjoy the process of finding it!
Melissa Mora-Gonzalez, Class of 2025, is majoring in English and minoring in conservation and resource studies.
Want More?
- Learn how some students found their home at UC Berkeley.
- Out late at night? Learn about Students for SafeWalk and other late-night activities.
- Explore the many dining options offered at Cal.