Housing

Living On Campus
• GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS: You have the option to live on campus, either at Central or Townhouse apartments. Go to Residential Life and Housing Services for more information.

• If you do live on campus, please note that prices will vary.  For example, the 2009 - 2010 Graduate School rate for the academic year is $6,820 per person for a two-bedroom apartment (with 2 people) and $5,800 per person for a three-bedroom apartment. You must sign a contract for the entire academic year unless you are a one-semester exchange student. Your housing fee will be billed to your bursar account at the beginning of each semester.  Unfortunately anyone who is not a full-time Duke student CANNOT live on campus.

Your housing fee will be billed to your bursar account at the beginning of each semester.  You do not need to pay a deposit.

Living Off Campus
The Duke Community Housing Office was created to help Duke students and scholars find off campus housing.  It is a very helpful resource.

Other Off-Campus Options
1. Finding a Roommate
It is typical in the U.S. for students who do not know each other to share a house or an apartment. This is one of the cheaper housing options. Normally you have your own bedroom and share the rest of the house or apartment. If you are considering this type of arrangement for the first time, be very specific about what will be shared and what will be private. Discuss the obligation of bills, including utilities.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the personal habits of the people with whom you will be living. Expectations of a US student and an international student may not be the same. Be sure to discuss each of your expectations - cooking, cleaning, visitors, policy for having boyfriend/girlfriend over, etc.  Ask questions such as: Are you a smoker? Do you study late? Get up early?

2. Private Homes
Some students rent a room in a private home of a Durham resident. Typically a student will have general use of the entire house. Bath and/or toilet facilities may be private or shared with the family.  Be sure to ask what will be included if you are thinking of renting a room in someone’s home. Prices range from $400-$600/month.  Many homes are NOT within walking distance to campus.  Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions.  Try to be clear about what you want.  This could save a lot of heartache in the long run.

Places to Look for Roommates and/or Private Homes
a) International House Email List Serv - intlhouse@duke.edu
b) Duke Community Housing Office, 216 Crowell Hall, tel. 684-6711
Website: http://communityhousing.duke.edu
c) Duke Dialogue (weekly newspaper). http://tradingpost.dukenews.duke.edu/
d) Local Newspapers such as The Independent Weekly.

Most apartments within the USA have a kitchen, living room, bathroom and at least one bedroom. The kitchen usually contains a sink, a refrigerator and a stove. Most apartment complexes have a central laundry facility. However one big difference between the USA and many other countries is that apartments here are unfurnished. (If you are living on-campus, apartments are furnished. But if you are living off-campus, they are not.) But not to worry.  It is quite easy to obtain furniture here. For ideas on obtaining furniture, please refer to our Shopping handout.  For rental prices of off-campus apartment complexes, please refer to our Housing handouts.

Most apartment complexes will require you to sign a six-month to one-year lease.  This is a contract that requires you to pay the rent for the length of time specified. You will be penalized if you move out prior to the termination of your lease.  For more information about leases, please refer to either the Duke Community Housing website or our handout on Tenant and Landlord Rights.

Water is often the one utility included in the rental price. Other utilities, such as electricity and gas, are not included in the rental fee. Payment must be made directly to these companies. The same with telephone service and cable television. Again, you must sign up with these companies and pay them directly. For a list of the utility companies serving the Durham area, go to our handout on Utilities.