Study Abroad
Planning on Studying abroad? Here are some frequently asked questions:
1. If I am applying to study abroad in the Fall should I still sign up for Room Selection?
If you are applying to study abroad in the Fall you should still check the box in sage. When you apply to study abroad you will relinquish your ability to participate in Room Selection for the following year. Therefore, your lottery number will be deactivated and you will not be eligible to select housing or be pulled into housing. Should you decide not to participate in or not be approved to study abroad, and you have checked the box in Sage you originally assigned lottery number will the reactivated.
2. What if I’m not approved to study abroad or decide I no longer want to study abroad?
The answer to this question depends upon when you find out or decide you will not study abroad. If you are not accepted to a study abroad program, the Study Abroad office will inform Residence Life of your status. If at any time you decide that you are no longer interested in studying abroad you must inform the Study Abroad office. After informing the Study Abroad office, they will contact Residence Life. Should Study Abroad inform Residence Life that a student will not be participating in a study abroad program before room selection occurs, that student will be allowed to participate in room selection based on their originally assigned lottery number. Should Study Abroad inform Residence Life that a student will not be participating in a study abroad program after room selection occurs, that student will be placed on the housing waitlist in the order of their originally assigned lottery number.
3. If I am studying abroad in the Fall how do I request housing for the Spring?
Students who are abroad for the Fall who wish to live on campus for the spring semester should submit a Request for Spring Housing Form by October 31. Students who are away for fall semester receive priority consideration for spring semester housing. Students may inform Residence Life if they have a preference for a quad they would like to be in. Residence Life will do their best to honor these requests; however no guarantees can be made. Students who wish to be pulled into a suite or apartment with friends should have their desired suite- or apartmentmates complete a Mid-Year Pull-In Request Form. Res Life anticipates confirming housing assignments for those students returning to campus in the Spring by mid-December.
4. If I sign up for regular housing and am accepted to study abroad in the spring semester or graduate early what happens to my housing and am I charged for a full year?
If you sign up for housing and are accepted to study abroad in the spring semester or graduate early you will simply withdraw from housing during the fall semester. You will not be charged for housing for the spring semester. You will only be charged for the semester that you are in housing. If you sign up for a suite or a multiple occupancy space for the year be aware that Residence Life will fill your vacancy in the spring semester. While we will accept pull-in requests from your roommates/suitemates we cannot always honor them. If Residence Life has to place someone in your vacancy we expect that the remaining roommates/suitemates will be good citizens and welcome the new member of the space.
5. If I am studying abroad in the Spring, how do I make arrangements for housing for the following Fall?
Room Selection Process:
Upper-year students participate in a room selection process in the spring semester to choose housing for the following academic year. Students are able to participate if they meet housing eligibility standards and indicate their intent to participate by checking the box in sage. Students should also fill out the Room Selection Application (Form D). This way if they cannot access sage, Residence Life will still know they intend to participate.
Once a student has applied for the process, he/she will receive a Lottery Number before Room Selection with a corresponding date and time for room selection. All students on an approved study abroad program will receive a lottery number via e-mail (please note that Residence Life must email all students abroad their lottery numbers individually and therefore students abroad may receive their lottery numbers up to one week after lottery numbers are released on campus). A proxy may retrieve a lottery number and selection information by showing a completed proxy form to the Department of Residence Life. Failure to select a room in person or via a proxy will result in a charge of $200.
Proxies:
If you are interested in living on campus in the Fall, you must assign a proxy to participate in the housing selection process for you. Complete a Housing Proxy Form (Form E) for a designated proxy of your choice or to have the Department of Residence Life (DRL) act as your proxy. If you choose another student to act as your proxy, it is recommended that you discuss all of your housing options and choices with your proxy prior to housing selection. The DRL is not responsible to provide you housing if your proxy fails to participate in the housing selection process including signing your room and board license. Your proxy must submit the proxy form at the time of room selection.
If you choose the DRL as a proxy you must fill in the three preferences on the proxy form and return the form to the DRL no later than the end of February. A designee of the DRL will participate in the housing selection process for you at your selection time. You will be notified after Room Selection of your housing assignment.
If you have more questions about housing around your time abroad please don't hesitate to contact Residence Life at 781-736-5060 or reslife@brandeis.edu.
Got Forms?
Study Abroad Form D (Study Abroad Room Selection Application)
Study Abroad Form E (Study Abroad Proxy Form for Room Selection)