Planning for Housing and Education Abroad

On-Grounds Housing

On-Grounds Housing is an option for upper class students who wish to study abroad for a semester. Housing and Residence Life will release students studying abroad from their housing contracts. The steps to be released are as follows.

Study abroad during future academic years:

Once you know for sure that you are studying abroad, email [email protected] in order to cancel your contract.

Study abroad during spring semester:

Email [email protected] that you are not returning for spring semester due to study abroad. Housing and Residence Life will cancel your contract for the spring.

Please note that you must vacate your housing at the end of fall semester.

Spring semester housing charges will be removed from your student account once your move out is confirmed.

Study abroad during fall semester:

If you wish to live on-Grounds during spring semester, just complete the spring semester housing application online (available in early November). Spring semester housing offers begin around the first of December.

For more information: UVA Housing and Residence Life web site

 

Off-Grounds Housing Options

For Off-Grounds Housing, you can choose to sublet your room to another student, live in someone’s apartment as a subletter, or continue to pay your lease while you are abroad.

Looking to Sublet?

Here are some tips for finding someone to live in your apartment while you are abroad:

• Ask your landlord if they have any specific policy about subletting.
• Make sure you know what your rent is including utilities and any other small fees.
• Discuss with your roommates what they are looking for in a potential new roommate.
• Fill out an entry on the Study Abroad Housing Forum for UVA students. This resource is helpful because it allows people who are looking to sublet their apartments find people who are looking to live in an Off-Grounds apartment. It is strictly available to UVA students and is a great starting point in your search! 

Post an advertisement on any of these websites:

• U-loop: U-Loop is a commercial website for college students where you can post an advertisement to sublet your apartment.
• Facebook: Post an advertisement on your class page or group, and have your friends help you spread the word that you are looking for someone to sublet your apartment.
• UVA Off-Grounds Housing Service: This resource has housing listings, a roommate search feature and message board where you can post your apartment to sublet.

 

Looking for a place to live Off-Grounds?

Here are some tips for finding people who are subletting their apartments:

• Make sure you know your price range and where you want to live.
• Fill out an entry on the Study Abroad Housing Forum for UVA students. This resource is helpful because it allows people who are looking to sublet their apartments to find people who are looking to live in an Off-Grounds apartment. It is strictly available to UVA students and is a great starting point in your search! 

Look at advertisements online:

• U-Loop: U-Loop is a commercial website for college students where you can look at postings from people trying to find a subletter.
• Facebook: Post an advertisement on your class page or group, and have your friends help you spread the word that you are looking for Off-Grounds housing.
• UVA Off-Grounds Housing Service: This resource has housing listings, a roommate search feature and message board where you can post your apartment to sublet.

 

Advice from Returnees

“It is very easy to do on-grounds housing for just a semester- particularly in the fall, I think you get less of a choice where to live if you come back in the spring. I would really recommend this option, it makes things so easy. Just make sure to contact Housing (and Dining if you have a meal plan) early enough so there aren't any issues.”

“Post in a ton of places to make sure people can see your apartment is available. There aren't that many people who need sublets so having one forum that everyone knew about would be really helpful.”

“Check the pages people post. Once again, a forum would be great. The housing forum that UVA set up is overrun with companies so students rarely use it.”

“It would be best to contact the department that handles on-grounds housing.”

“If you're studying abroad, staying on grounds is the easiest and laziest option. All you have to do is [apply online in November] and they take care of the rest.”

“Facebook is a great resource [and it’s] often overlooked.”

“Talk to friends who have talked about wanting to go abroad. Chances are they might be going abroad the opposite semester, OR know someone going abroad the other semester from you.”

“On grounds housing is a stress reliever for study abroad students because you don't have to find someone for the other semester yourself, they do it.”

“There are a lot of other students who are planning to study abroad as well, so don't hesitate to post something on Facebook or send a message out to one of your club's listservs. You may receive multiple responses from people who would love to sublet from you!”