Applications to live in University Apartments are accepted at any time. Potential residents may apply online or print a paper copy of the application and fax or mail it to the University Apartments office. Potential residents may apply as soon as you are interested in studying or working at UW-Madison, though you will not be offered an apartment until you are officially accepted, enrolled, or employed. Students accepted for admission in the fall may move-in during the summer without being enrolled for summer classes.
A lease may be terminated at any time if the information required below is determined to be incorrect at the time a lease is signed:
- Eligibility information regarding marital/domestic partnership status
- UW-Madison affiliation
- Number of legal dependents who will be residing in an apartment
If any of the above information changes during the application process, the University Apartments Office must be notified. If, as a result of the change, a potential resident becomes ineligible for University Apartments, the application will be canceled. Potential residents may apply for more then one apartment type or neighborhood provided they meet the occupancy requirements.
Eligibility & Waitlists
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Student Eligibility
In order to live in University Apartments, graduate students must carry a minimum of two credits per semester for an academic year. If a student is a dissertator, three credits per semester for an academic year are required. Undergraduate students (with families) must carry a minimum of six credits per semester for an academic year.
Student Graduation
If you graduate at the end of a spring semester, you should plan to move out on or before the end of your current lease. Residents who will graduate at the end of the summer should plan to move out on or before August 31. Summer graduates are also obligated to give 90-days notice. Please plan accordingly to get your lease termination form to the University Apartments Office on time.
Faculty & Academic Staff Eligibility
Faculty and academic staff currently employed at UW-Madison may live in the Eagle Heights or University Houses neighborhoods.
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How our Waitlist Works
After applying for an apartment, potential residents’ names are placed on a waiting list according to the date applied, when they wish to move in, and what priority they have according to their eligibility. Potential residents are welcome to apply for any type of apartment their eligibility allows without affecting their chances of being offered an apartment. Applicants who are not offered an apartment for a date they requested are automatically carried over to the next month’s wait list until:
- An apartment can be offered to the applicant
- The applicant changes the occupancy date desired
- The applicant cancels their application
University Apartments staff update wait lists twice each year. We send applicants an email to the address on their application requesting updates to information. Failure to respond to this request will result in cancellation of an application.
Current Waitlist Priorities
If an offer is accepted, the applicant must move into the apartment no later than 30 days after the start date of the lease.
University Houses & Eagle Heights 200s – 900s
- Graduate students with Fellowships that give priority for Housing (family or single)
- Student families
- Postdoctoral scholar families
- Single graduate students
- Single Postdocs
- Other non-student families (academic staff, honorary associate fellows, faculty)
- Other non-student singles
Harvey Street & Eagle Heights 101 – 109
- Single graduate students
Signing a Lease
Once you complete your lease acceptance online form, you are obligated to pay a minimum of 90 days rent, even if you are later unable to attend or work at UW-Madison. In general, if you would answer “no” to any of the following questions, you should resolve the issue(s) before signing the lease:
- is the potential resident able to commit to paying rent on the date the lease begins?
- Is the potential resident able to send a $500 advance payment at the time?
- If applicable, has the potential resident received their student visa?
- Students: Have you been admitted to UW-Madison or an academic school, college, or department?
- Faculty/Staff: Has a UW-Madison employer completed arrangements for your appointment?
The Division of University Housing does not discriminate in assignment to University Apartments on the basis of race, color, sex, martial status, sexual orientation, religion, disability, national origin, or ancestry. Applicants are assigned according to their priority category and date of application.