Below are general instructions on how to complete the housing selection process for 2023-2024. If you have any general questions, please refer to the FAQs.
The 2023-2024 Housing Application opens for Returning Students on Wednesday, February 15.
General Room Selection Guide
General room selection is a two part process:
Part One: Sign the Housing and Dining License, Request a Timeslot by March 20, 2022
*Note: Students submitting Medical Accommodations, Residency Waivers, or Same Room Selection must do so by March 1.
- To request a timeslot, log onto the Student Life Portal.
- Note: Contracts signed after March 20 will be placed in housing and will not be able to participate in room selection.
- Enter your RISD user name and your current password to log in.
- Select ‘On Campus Housing Application’ on the top navigation bar.
- Select ‘Academic Year 2023-2024’ to request a timeslot for next year.
- Click ‘Continue.’
- Sign the Housing and Dining License
- NOTE: Once you have signed the Housing License and receive a timeslot, if you cancel your license agreement you may be charged a cancellation fee. See the Housing License for full details.
- Congrats! You’ve signed the Housing and Dining License and have successfully requested a timeslot.
- All timeslots will be emailed to students on March 22, 2023 to their RISD email address.
- Room rates can be found by clicking here.
- To view available rooms before your timeslot – log out of the portal and select ‘Room Availability’ from the menu on the top left. This feature is not available while you are logged into the portal in an effort to not overload our server.
Part Two: Select a Room
Timeslot Dates by Class Year
| Rising Sophomores | Rising Junior, Senior, 5th Year Seniors |
| Monday, March 27 & Tuesday, March 28 | Thursday, March 30 & Friday, March 31 |
Individual Room Selection
Follow these instructions if you are selecting a room by yourself.
- If you wish to reserve a room individually, log on to the Student Life Portal during your appointed day and timeslot.
- Click ‘Save and Continue’ to bypass the create roommate group page.
- Make your selection, select ‘Reserve Bed’.
- Congrats! You’ve officially selected your room for 2023-2024.
Group Room Selection
Follow these instructions if you are selecting a room with a group.
- Note: Remember that shared rooms must be selected by a ‘group’ of students who wish to room together. Discuss room preferences with your friends in advance of room selection. Create a list of 3-5 room type options so that you have a plan if your first choice is not available.
- Determine a group leader after receiving timeslots. The person who has the earliest timeslot should be the group leader.
- The Group Leader is responsible for: creating the group in the portal, selecting the room and assigning group members to other beds and/or rooms to fill the unit.
- The Group Leader should make sure that everyone in the group has signed the Housing License. You can do this by searching for those students in the ‘Roommate Group’ page of the Housing Portal. If someone is not appearing, then they have not signed the Housing License. All group members must sign the Housing License prior to selecting a room.
- The Group Leader must select their bed in a room or suite during their appointed day and timeslot on the Portal.
- After the group leader has selected their own bed, the portal will ask the group leader to assign the group members to the other rooms in the suite or apartment.
- IMPORTANT: The group leader should fill every space in the unit. If there is a vacancy in the living unit you are trying to select, you will not be able choose that unit. For example if I have a group of 2 people, I will not be able to select a 3 bedroom apartment, as we will not be able to fill the entire apartment.
- You must have enough members in your group to fill all beds in the unit that you select in the portal during room selection. It is helpful to have alternate group plans in the event that the room type you wish to select is not available.
- Once all group members have been placed in a bed space, you are done. Congrats! You and your group have successfully selected your housing for 2023-2024!
General Reminders
Required Residency for Rising Sophomores (Current First Year Students)
All first and second year students are required to reside on campus and are guaranteed housing. Students can request a waiver for this requirement if they meet one of the following qualifications:
- Married (a valid marriage license will be requested)
- 21 years of age or older as of September 1, 2023
- Living at home with a parent/guardian
- Students who indicate they are living at home with a legal parent or guardian are subject to providing proof prior to approval.
To request a waiver of this requirement, students will need to submit an online request to the Residence Life Office. Requests are NOT approved until you receive written confirmation from the Office of Residence Life. Rising sophomores who choose not to participate in room selection will be assigned a space from those remaining following online room selection.
Brown/RISD Dual Degree (BRDD) Students
Brown University requires six semesters of residency on campus (either at RISD or Brown). BRDD students in their 2nd year must live at Brown University., while students in their 3rd year can fulfill this requirement at either Brown’s or RISD’s campus, however, you cannot choose rooms on both campuses. If you do, you will be charged a cancellation fee. If you are a rising junior, senior, or 5th year senior, you have the option to participate in room selection to live on RISD’s Campus.
Special and Medical Needs Housing
Students with special or medical needs that impact their housing assignment should complete an application for a housing accommodation. More information about accommodation requests can be found here: Medical Accommodations