UC Berkeley undergraduate students may request to live with specific roommates or apartment-mates during the housing application process. This page explains who is eligible, how to submit a roommate request, and important details to keep in mind. Please note: While roommate requests are considered whenever possible, UC Berkeley Housing cannot guarantee that all requests will be fulfilled.
- Roommates are individuals who share a bedroom within your suite, mini-suite, or room.
- Apartment-mates are individuals who share a full apartment, including kitchen, living room, and bathroom.
- Suite-mates are individuals who share a connected living space and bathroom, but not in a full apartment.
Who can apply with a roommate?
Students applying to residence halls or apartments that support shared rooms or units. Some specialized communities, such as Theme Programs, may have separate roommate request processes or restrictions.
Before you apply
Make sure you and your intended roommate(s):
- Are all eligible for on-campus housing.
- Each submits separate applications during the same application period.
- Mutually list each other as roommate requests: Requests must be reciprocal.
- Have aligned housing preferences: Choose the same building, room type, gender designation, etc.
- Submit applications by the posted deadline.
Tip: Discuss expectations such as study habits, cleanliness, and guests before requesting to live together.
Steps to apply with a roommate
Step 1: Start your Housing Application.
- Log in to the Housing Application Portal using your CalNet credentials.
- Select the appropriate housing application.
Step 2: Complete your application details.
- Indicate your preferred room types, locations, and Theme Programs, if any.
- If you’re flexible about room size, location, or building type, you’ll have a greater chance of receiving a housing assignment and being placed with a requested roommate. For example, select “any room type” and “any location.”
- Answer the housing application profile questions. This will help us match you to a roommate who has answered the profile questions similarly in the event that we are unable to meet your roommate request or if you are not applying with a roommate.
Step 3: Add your roommate request.
- Request roommates by creating a roommate group.
- Pick a group leader. Only one person in an intended roommate group can be the group leader. If multiple students are group leaders, this will result in not being able to match with one another.
- The group leader will then invite each student using their Student Identification (SID) number.
- Each person will need to confirm their membership in the roommate group in order for the request to be considered.
Step 4: Submit your application.
- Review and confirm details with all members of your roommate group.
- All members must submit their applications by the priority deadline.
Tips for success
- Keep your preferences aligned.
- All members of your roommate group should have identical housing preferences
- All members of your roommate group need to have the same floor environment preference, i.e., single-gender, either, or all-gender.
- Match the numbers. When forming a roommate group, make sure the number of people matches the number of spaces in the room type you are requesting, rather than the total number of spaces in a suite or apartment.
- Communicate early. Decide who will initiate the request to avoid errors.
- Be flexible. If your roommate request cannot be met, Housing will assign you based on your individual profile answers.
Additional considerations
We try our best to honor roommate requests, but roommate requests cannot be guaranteed.
- Theme Program housing: Roommate requests are considered only if both students apply and are accepted into the same Theme Program.
- Family student housing: Requests for partners or dependents are processed differently. Visit Family Housing eligibility and conditions of tenancy.
- Gender-inclusive housing: Students who apply for gender-inclusive housing options may request roommates of any gender identity. Note that if a roommate request cannot be honored, students who apply for gender-inclusive housing options may still be placed in a gender-inclusive environment.