Summer Term Housing
Housing for the UW-Madison Summer Term in the residence halls is available predominantly in Waters Residence Hall. If you complete a housing contract for the summer term, you could be assigned to any room type in Waters. The majority of students will be assigned to double rooms.
Note: we do not release students from their summer term housing contract based on room type. All summer term residents are expected to abide by all policies and expectations in our Student Housing Handbook.
Application
To live in the UW-Madison University Residence Halls for the summer term, you must be an admitted student, enrolled for at least one summer credit, and have a ten-digit campus ID number at UW-Madison. To apply for summer housing, simply fill out an application in My UW Housing. Applications will open beginning April 6, 2026. Housing contracts are offered based on the date of application.
Note: if you do not see a summer application in My UW Housing, contact us at assignMe@housing.wisc.edu for assistance.
Dates
| Session | Check In Date | Check Out Date |
|---|---|---|
| Interim to 4-week (available only to current residence hall students) | May 9, 2026 (move on May 13) | — |
| University Housing Employee | May 9, 2026 (move on May 13; employees currently living off-campus move in on May 13) | August 13, 2026 |
| Early 4-Week | May 17, 2026 | June 13, 2026* |
| 8-Week | June 14, 2026 | August 8, 2026 |
| First 4-Week | June 14, 2026 | July 11, 2026 |
| Second 4-Week | July 12, 2026 | August 8, 2026 |
| Engineering Summer Launch | July 25, 2026 | Transition to fall assignment on August 13 |
| Summer to Fall Transition (available only to residents with a contract for next academic year) | August 8, 2026 | Transition to fall assignment on August 13 |
*Students who sign up for the early 4-week and either the first 4-week or 8-week sessions will be charged an additional night based on their assigned room rate for the night between the two sessions.
Note: students can not request extra nights at the end of their summer term housing session.
Rates
The rates listed below are per resident. Most residents are assigned to doubles, as singles are very limited for summer term housing.
| Room Type | Interim | Either Early 4-Week, First 4-Week, or Second 4-Week | 8-Week | Summer to Fall Transition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waters Double | $280 | $945 | $1,925 | $630 |
| Waters Double with Bath* | $312 | $1,053 | $2,145 | $702 |
| Waters Single* | $320 | $1,080 | $2,200 | $720 |
| Waters Single with Bath* | $328 | $1,107 | $2,255 | $738 |
*These room types are extremely limited. It’s highly unlikely to be offered one of these spaces.
Note: the rate for University Housing Employees is $600 for the full summer term. Employees will be assigned to a double room. The rate for Engineering Summer Launch sessions is $1,120 and includes summer to fall transition. Engineering students are only assigned to double rooms.
Summer Housing Boost
UW-Madison Summer Term’s Summer Housing Boost Program can help current undergraduate students cover the cost of living in the residence halls over the summer. You must be:
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate degree-seeking student at UW-Madison.
- Enrolled at least half-time for the session in which you receive Summer Housing Boost. For example, if you enrolled in the 8-week session, you need to be enrolled in at least 3 credits.
- Eligible to reside in the UW-Madison University Residence Halls.
Summer Jobs
Did you know students who work for Housing this summer can have starting wages of $15/hour, receive a discount on food, and pay only $600 for summer housing? If you’re interested in the summer housing employee discount, find more information and apply on the summer employment section of our student jobs page.
Dining
University Housing Dining & Culinary Services offers a variety of fresh, healthy, made-from-scratch options in multiple all-you-care-to-eat locations across campus. Have a dietary need or food allergy? We have a registered dietitian on staff who can provide allergy-friendly menus.
Students living in University Residence Halls for the summer term can choose to purchase a summer block meal plan; however, it is not a requirement. Explore the meal plan option below to see if it is right for you.
- When: May 10 – August 22, 2026 (expires on August 22)
- Where: Dining locations and hours page
- Cost: $175 (2% credit card fees will apply)
Note: summer residents who do not choose the summer block meal plan can purchase meals individually at the door price with a credit card, debit card, or Wiscard. When paying with your Wiscard, you’ll receive a 5% discount on all purchases.
Summer Block Meal Plan
| Summer Block Meal Plan | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Meals | Block of 20 Meals | ||
| at a discounted rate | |||
| When | Summer Term (May 10 - August 22) | ||
| expires on August 22 | |||
| Where | Dining locations and hours | ||
| Cost | $175 | ||
| 2% credit card fees will apply | |||
- Summer Term Housing residents can purchase blocks of 20 meals in the Wiscard portal anytime between May 4 and August 7
- The discounted price is $8.75 per meal for any meal period
- Summer residents can use meals on a guest to dine with them
- Not available for meal exchanges
- Not required for summer term housing residents
- Not required to access our dining markets (door prices are available to all)
- Residents can view our daily menus for a list of which Dining markets are open each day
- Not available to Housing employees
Summer Block Meal Plan FAQs
View Dining locations and hours.
One block consists of 20 meals at $8.75 per meal for a total block cost of $175. The summer block meal plan is active May 10 – August 22, 2026.
Completely unused blocks will be refunded. Partially used blocks will not be refunded.
Yes, summer term housing residents can purchase additional blocks of 20 meals in the Wiscard portal.
Completely unused blocks will be refunded. Partially used blocks will not be refunded.
If you are part of a program that is paying for part or all of your summer term housing, please communicate with your program coordinator for questions regarding what costs will be covered. As a Housing resident, you are eligible to participate in the summer block meal plan. For any program that is providing meals, we will work directly with your program to get those meals added to your account. You will not have to purchase through the Wiscard portal for those covered meals. If your program is not covering meal costs, you will be financially responsible for the full cost of any blocks you purchase.
No, the summer block meal plan operates separately from the academic year plans. The summer block meal plan will expire on August 22, 2026, and any unused meals remaining after that will be forfeited.
No, the summer block meal plan is valid only at Housing dining locations. There are no meal exchanges or dining dollars with the summer block meal plan.
Yes, summer term housing residents can use meals for guests to dine with them. There are no daily limits or waiting periods between meals.
No, the summer block meal plan is only available to residents with a binding summer term housing contract.
No, the summer block meal plan is not eligible for Starship robot delivery.
For additional questions about the summer block meal plan that aren’t answered above, contact Housing Business Services.
Services & Amenities
Internet
UWNet Internet service is available in all rooms and common areas, including floor dens.
Note: individual student rooms are not equipped with a telephone or landline service.
Laundry
You’ll have easy access to laundry facilities inside Waters Residence Hall. All washers and dryers are free for summer term housing residents.
Hall Desk
Each hall’s desk is open at various hours in the summer to provide you with information about Madison and the campus. Hall desks are also available to receive mail and packages and check out items such as vacuums, games, tools, and more.
Staff
Residence Life Coordinators
Residence Life Coordinators are full-time professional staff members who are responsible for supervising House Fellows, promoting involvement and academic success, advising students who plan activities and events, administering disciplinary processes, assisting with problems, and coordinating liaison efforts between facilities, dining, and desk staff as well as other campus partners like the UW-Madison Police Department, University Health Services (UHS), and more.
House Fellows
Similar to a Resident Advisor (RA), House Fellows are student staff members with whom you’ll have the most frequent contact. They are available to help answer questions, provide resources, solve problems, enforce UW-Madison and University Housing policies, and more.
Getting Your Wiscard
All registered students at UW-Madison are entitled to a Wiscard (the official UW-Madison photo ID). Your Wiscard allows you to get a summer bus pass and to access other campus services. The Wiscard website provides instructions for how to get your Wiscard.
Room Furnishings
Each resident is provided a bed, mattress, desk, desk chair, hanging clothing storage, and folding clothing storage. Each room is provided a compact refrigerator, window coverings, closets or wardrobes, a wastebasket, recycling bin, mirror, and high-speed wireless access points with optional wired connections. You should bring your own sheets and pillows.
Transportation
UW-Madison Transportation Services operates all campus parking and bicycle/pedestrian services. Due to limited availability, on-campus parking is very rarely granted to students. Most students find getting around on campus without a car is easy to do, though.
Buses
The City of Madison’s Metro Transit offers a number of free bus routes on and around the UW-Madison campus. Anyone can ride these routes without paying a fare or showing an ID. In addition, students enrolled at UW-Madison can get a free bus pass good for unlimited rides on Madison Metro bus routes, allowing you to travel throughout the metro area.
Safety
Police
The UW-Madison Police Department is available during emergencies by calling 911 or 608-264-COPS (2677).
Fire
A smoke detector is located in each resident room, hallway, and common area. If the fire alarms go off, please proceed to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion.
Tips
- Do not hold open the residence hall exterior doors for strangers
- Lock your door whenever leaving your room
- If confronted by an individual with a weapon, give up your property immediately
- Sign up to receive WiscAlerts to get notifications when there is an emergency situation on campus
Repairs
Emergency
Broken windows, locks, or other urgent situations like malfunctioning elevators should be reported to your House Fellow or hall desk immediately.
Non-Emergency
Burnt-out light bulbs, window screen replacement, fixes to furniture that is otherwise not causing a hazard, or problems with insects should be reported by submitting a Maintenance Request.
Smoke-Free Facilities
Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the University Residence Halls including student rooms and public areas such as dens, hallways, and bathrooms. Smoking is also prohibited outside within 25 feet of any University Residence Hall and/or dining facility.
Pardon Our Dust
During the summer, there will be some ongoing facility improvement projects. There are a number of developments taking place across campus, and we appreciate your understanding and patience as these important projects are completed.
Move Out
Summer Only
Summer term housing residents without a contract for the next academic year must move out by Noon on August 8, 2026, unless they are Housing employees. Moving assistance is not available.
Note: only students staying for the 8-week and second 4-week sessions have the above move-out date. Early 4-week session students have an earlier move-out date.
Summer to Fall
Summer term housing residents with a contract for the next academic year will move from their summer room to their fall room on August 13, 2026.
Note: construction projects on campus may impact this move date for some students. In such cases, additional communication will be sent to impacted residents with updated move dates.
Note: students cannot request extra nights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Submit a summer housing application in My UW Housing when it becomes available on April 6, 2026. If space allows, you will be sent a Housing contract offer. Please keep in mind that this process is first-come, first-served. If you complete your contract and submit your advance payment by your individual deadline, you will be guaranteed a space for the summer term. You will receive your room assignment prior to your arrival.
A $300 advance payment must be made at the time the University Residence Halls summer term contract is submitted electronically in My UW Housing.
Students who have concerns about their room should contact their House Fellow or Residence Life Coordinator to discuss available options.
Please wait until you have made your decision about where to live before you sign a housing contract. Our contract is a legally binding document, which means that we cannot release you to live off-campus. Take time to consider your options before you make a commitment to live in the University Residence Halls.
No. The contract you sign is a binding, legal document, so we do not release students to make other housing arrangements. You will be financially responsible for the terms of your contract for the summer term.