Housing
The University of Michigan is home to over 40,000 students, but Ann Arbor is a small city. Therefore, housing in Ann Arbor can be very limited, especially during the Fall semester. We strongly recommend that you begin searching for available housing as soon as possible.
6 Things You Should Know
The Earlier You Search, The Better! We suggest looking for accommodations as soon as possible after submitting your Ross application materials for the exchange program. The International Center provides a comprehensive overview of student housing in Ann Arbor.
Closer to Central Campus Equals Pricier. Typically, the closer you are to Central Campus, the more expensive your accommodations will be. South of Central Campus (South of Hill Street/Ross Business School) & North Campus locations are often considerably cheaper than Central Campus locations, and the increased walk time may only be about 10-20 minutes.
A 4-Month Lease is Negotiable. Though many housing postings say a 12- or 8-month lease is required, some landlords may be willing to negotiate a 4-month lease for your exchange stay if you contact them. Be persistent and tell them exactly what you need.
Compare Prices & Features. Make sure to research several different options. Some housing companies charge more than others for poor-quality living spaces while others may offer more features for a similar or slightly higher price. Make sure to ask if commodities such as internet, electric/gas, water, and cable TV are included in the rent or paid separately. Ask whether the accommodation is furnished or unfurnished, has a washer/dryer within the building, etc.
Use an Estimated Cost of Living Generator. For example, follow this link to compare the cost of living of Ann Arbor with your home city.
If you are currently enrolled in classes and you have legal questions about signing a lease, you can talk to Student Legal Services at https://studentlegalservices.umich.edu/.
Off-Campus Housing
Off-campus housing is a popular option for many Michigan students, especially for upperclassmen and graduate students. It is often less expensive than on-campus housing, which is very limited and favors underclassmen. Please consider the following websites for housing options:
U-M Off-Campus Housing Website is the official off-campus housing website used by University of Michigan students and is constantly updated with posts from students looking for roommates or subletters for various periods of time.
(WINTER ONLY) Ross Student-to-Student Sublets (ACCESS IS GRANTED WITH YOUR HOME SCHOOL EMAIL OR WHEN YOU CREATE YOUR UNIQNAME- if you are unable to access the document with your Home School Email, you will need to wait until you create your uniqname) serves as a student-to-student resource to connect Incoming and outgoing exchange students at Ross for housing opportunities in the winter semester. When you are granted access, you will find two tabs:
- Tab 1 will be where Ross students will post their housing sublet details
- Tab 2 will be where Incoming exchange students will post their housing requests
Please note that Ross Global Initiatives does not intervene in student-to-student discussions about housing so please work directly with anyone who you are interested in connecting with.
Beyond the Diag is a U-M resource to help students learn about the neighborhoods, subletting procedures, and more.
The U-M Inter Cooperative Council Co-ops are owned and operated by the students who live in them rather than by landlords or the University. They are economical and convenient because members share the work necessary to run them, including home maintenance and food preparation among other duties. Co-ops also have a friendly atmosphere and tend to be more closely knit than residence halls and more sociable than apartments.
International House Ann Arbor (formally ECIR) is a living-learning community for students and visiting scholars from around the world.
Off-Campus Housing Companies: Because of the surplus of students, many housing companies operate in Ann Arbor, offering rental space in houses and apartments throughout the city. See the link above for a complete list of companies and their websites. Below is a sample list of apartments where exchange students have stayed before:
On-Campus Housing
On-campus housing may also be available. However, space in on-campus housing tends to be limited and more expensive than off-campus options. Note that exchange students are often placed on the North Campus.
Once the on-campus housing application for new students and exchange students opens, students who are committed to UM will receive the application to their UM email accounts and then the application will go out weekly to newly committed students. Alternatively, exchange students can attempt to obtain housing through Undergraduate Contract Reassignment. or review off-campus housing options through resources such as Beyond the Diag.
For the Fall Semester, exchange students will be participating in a self-selection process beginning toward the end of May, on the Student Housing Business Portal. Through this process, students will attempt to obtain a space from a list of available spaces. Transfer student housing is not guaranteed, and spaces are not guaranteed to be available through the self-selection process. If you already applied for on-campus housing and have not yet received a response, please note that placements are sent through the end of July.
Dormitories & North Campus Apartments: The official on-campus housing website for the University of Michigan allows students to submit a request for a room in a dormitory or in the Northwood Community Apartments.
(WINTER & UNDERGRADUATE ONLY)The Global Scholars Program (GSP) is an interdisciplinary living-learning community that brings together international and U.S. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors to engage in social justice education on a global level. GSP is housed in North Quad on Central Campus. Several spots are reserved for incoming Ross exchange students but note that you must apply and be accepted into the program, and there is a mandatory 2 credit Global Issues class that you will be required to take. Winter semester applications open in late September.
Please review the program requirements listed on their website, as your acceptance to GSP is contingent on your ability to fulfill the requirements.
Additional Housing Resources
*Please exercise caution when working with unknown entities. Review signs of a rental scam here.
Facebook: There are many U-M student groups that have Facebook pages. Students often post housing availability and sublet information here. Some groups include: Ann Arbor Roommates and Housing.
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