Tips for International Students
Finding housing can be particularly challenging for international students, many of whom travel from far distances. The key is to plan ahead:
- Contact other incoming or returning Brandeis international students for helpful suggestions about where to live and how much you can expect to pay for rent and utilities.
- Plan to arrive on campus before your semester begins. Consider sharing a hotel room or other temporary housing while you search for permanent housing.
- Connect with other students through our Facebook group.
- Think about what you will need to bring for your living situation. Most apartments are unfurnished; however, some may have a bed and/or desk, though you will need to provide your own sheets, bedding, towels, etc.
Securing a Lease While Overseas
If you are successful in finding a place to rent while you are still overseas, please follow these precautions in securing your apartment or room:
- Have the landowner email the lease to you so that you can sign it and send it back to them.
- Wait to send any deposit until you have received the signed lease back from the landowner.
- Deposits should be paid by check or money order and returned via the mail (this can be done using an expedited service). Request a written receipt of this letter through your mail service. This will provide a paper trail ensuring that the landowner has received your deposit along with the signed lease.
- Beware of scams. Examples include prices that are too good to be true or a landowner who happens to be overseas on a mission trip. Documents containing common grammatical and spelling mistakes are also a tip-off to a possible scam.