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First-Year Student Housing

*Policies are subject to change due to health and safety protocols.

Residential Requirement

������ý is a residential campus for undergraduate students, and the residential experience is understood to be an integral part of a ������ý education. This commitment to residential education is clearly expressed in the University’s residential requirement:

“All unmarried undergraduate students are required to live in residence halls on campus during the academic year, May session, and summer sessions. Authorization to live elsewhere is granted at the discretion of the Director of Housing Assignments in special situations or when space is unavailable on campus.” (Student Handbook)

The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons

The Ingram Commons is part of the Residential College system. All first-year students are randomly assigned to one of the ten first-year houses on the Martha Rivers Ingram Commons. While the majority of spaces are double rooms, several of the houses contain triple rooms and a limited number of single rooms. .

First-Year Student Housing Application

The First-Year Student Housing Application will be available in the beginning Monday, April 6 at 8 a.m. CDT.  Applications are due by Monday, June 1 at 6 p.m. CDT.  All incoming first-year students are required to submit an application.

IMPORTANT:  Prior to accessing the Housing Portal, you must complete the following:

• Create your VUnetID and set up your password
• Set up Okta multi-factor authentication from a computer

Once completing these steps, please allow up to five (5) business days before attempting to log into the Housing Portal.  If you are unable to access the Housing Portal after five (5) business days, please contact Housing.

Steps for Completing Your Application

1. Visit to the on a computer (not your cell phone).
2. Click on the Housing Portal link.
3. Log in using your VUnetID and password.  (If you receive a message noting an invalid password, please try again in five (5) business days.)
4. Authenticate via Okta.
5. Once in the Housing Portal, click on the Applications and Forms menu.
6. Select the First-Year Housing Application.
7. Review and sign your 2026-2027 housing contract.
8. After signing your housing contract, you will be redirected to sign up for renter’s insurance with .  If you prefer to use a different insurance provider, you will have the option to decline coverage. Once you either purchase or decline coverage with GradGuard, you will be redirected back to the Housing Portal to complete your application.
9. Complete your brief lifestyle questionnaire.
10. Submit your application.

First-Year Student Roommates

������ý’s first-year roommate matching process considers students’ responses on our lifestyle questionnaire in an effort to foster meaningful connections. We believe that institutional matching – which prioritizes purposeful roommate pairing over self-selection based on pre-existing relationships – empowers personal growth and creates vibrant residential communities. This approach reflects our commitment to building a supportive living and learning environment where students can develop as individuals and feel welcomed within an inclusive campus community.

First-year students are permitted to submit a same-sex roommate request and can do so upon submission of their housing application in the Housing Portal.  Prior to requesting a specific roommate, students are encouraged to have open and frank conversations regarding living habits and preferences.  Requests must be mutual for consideration.  Please note we cannot guarantee that roommate requests will be honored.  All roommate requests must be submitted by Monday, June 15.

Students with two (2) roommate requests who are interested in residing together in a triple room must email their request to Housing via their ������ý email.  Please copy all requested roommates on your email message.

First-Year Student Move In & Important Dates

Room assignment information will be e-mailed to all incoming first-year students on or around August 1, 2026.

First-year student move in will take place on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Students will be provided with a specific move-in time between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. with their room assignment information.  Prior to move-in day, we will be preparing the halls for your arrival and as a result, will not be able to accommodate early move-in requests. Please plan your travel to Nashville accordingly. 

First-year international students should plan to move in on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. CDT to participate in the required International Student Orientation (ISO).  Questions about ISO should be directed to commons@vanderbilt.edu.

As you plan for travel throughout the academic year, please consult our Important Housing Dates website for residence hall opening and closing dates as well as the .  Information regarding break housing is available on our Break Housing website. Please contact Housing if you have any questions regarding upcoming dates.

Student Renter’s Insurance Requirement

As noted in the Housing Contract, the University is not liable for damage to property or injuries arising out of a resident’s occupancy of their assigned rooms, except if such damage or injury results from negligent acts or omissions by the University.

As a resident, you are liable to the University and others for loss or damage caused by your actions or those of your guests. You are required to maintain adequate property and liability insurance that includes the following:

• Personal Property Insurance: covering the students belongings while on campus, with a limit adequate to repair or replace the student’s personal property in the event of loss, damage, or theft.
• Personal Liability Insurance: with a limit no less than $100,000 and include coverage for student caused water damage or fire damage to adjacent spaces.

These insurance requirements are minimum requirements only. The university does not warrant or represent that this coverage will be adequate or sufficient to protect you or your guests from liability. We recommend that you discuss your specific insurance needs with an authorized insurance agent. Required insurance may be provided by a standalone Renter’s Insurance Policy or by endorsement or extension from a Homeowners Insurance Policy maintained by you or by a Parent/Guardian/Family Member.

Fully compliant renters’ insurance may be obtained from:

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Admission to the University does not guarantee assignment to a particular type of room, residence hall, or area of campus. First-year students may be assigned to singles, doubles, or triples. Further, the University population is fluid, and demand for housing may change considerably in a relatively short time. In circumstances in which the number of first-year students enrolled exceeds the number of spaces for them on The Commons, it may be necessary to house students in alternative accommodations (such as study room on residential floors in first-year or upper-division halls or in other spaces available on campus) for a few weeks, for a semester, or for the entire first year.