If you’re applying for housing, it’s important to understand the process. Review the steps below to stay informed about key details, and submit your application through our Housing Portal. We look forward to welcoming you to campus!
How to complete your housing application
Complete the steps below to submit your family student housing application.
Update your student records, then select your application term.
Indicate your want date* and housing preferences.
Provide emergency contact and FERPA student privacy releases.
Enter family information for all family members.
Indicate any ADA accommodations or identity-based needs and submit a request form.
Submit your application.
Submit a copy of all applicable documents.
Receive confirmation you have been added to the wait list.
New students: You will be prompted to create your CalNet identification in CalCentral after accepting your admission to UC Berkeley. It may take a few days for your CalNet ID to activate; after it does, you will be able to log in to the Housing Portal to complete a housing application.
If you are a student applying for family housing, you will need to apply using your CalNet ID. Postdoctoral and visiting scholar applicants who have not yet received CalNet credentials will need to self-register to apply.
Continuing students: If you are having issues with your CalNet credentials, reach out to the IT Help Desk for CalNet Support.
Make sure you have completed your student record profile in the Housing Portal. Then, select the application term that corresponds to the application you are planning to submit.
As part of the application, you will select your “want date,” which is the day you would like to move into family housing. Start dates are not scheduled for weekends or holidays, so please make sure to select a want date on a weekday, Monday through Friday.
Family student housing applicants may indicate preferences for up to five different apartment types on their application, along with a preferred floor level. For the best chance to receive a housing offer, we encourage you to be as flexible as possible in choosing and accepting your apartment preferences. Apartment assignments are dependent on your family type and size, so be sure to confirm your eligibility for your preferred apartment types.
UC Berkeley Housing tries to offer the first-ranked housing preference, if possible. If an applicant’s first preference is not available by their preferred want date, we will try to offer another housing type on the preference list. If an applicant lists only one preference, we will only be able to consider the applicant for that type of apartment. Please note that floor preference is considered second to apartment type preference and cannot be guaranteed. If you have a needs request for a floor preference, please read the step below about indicating any ADA accommodations or identity-based needs and how to submit an accommodations request form.
Provide UC Berkeley Housing with your preferred emergency contacts in the case of an emergency. Complete any desired FERPA student privacy releases to authorize family members or friends to receive access to your billing and housing information.
You will need to provide the relationship, full legal name, and birth date for each family member that will be living with you in family housing. Missing or incorrect information will delay the application process, so it is important to make sure all information is provided and accurate before submitting your application.
In the “Accommodations” section, specify your needs, whether disability or medical condition (ADA), religious or cultural request, etc.
Please note that you will also need to Apply for Housing Accommodations in addition to submitting the housing application. The Housing Accommodations request form is separate from the housing application. The forms are available in the Housing Portal when you reach this step in your housing application and will also be emailed to you automatically after completing this step. Be sure to submit a request form to apply for the accommodation that matches your needs:
To finish submitting your housing application, pay the non-refundable $45 application fee. Be sure to click “Submit Application” to get to the last page of your application in the Housing Portal. If you are unsure if you are eligible to apply for family student housing, please contact apts@berkeley.edu to confirm your eligibility before you pay the fee.
You will still need to submit all applicable documents to be considered for family student housing. Be sure to submit your documents as outlined in the next step.
Documentation is required to live in family housing. Official housing offers can only be made after you submit both your application and all necessary documents in the secure portal.
Submit documents through the secure portal. In the Housing Portal, on the “Submit Application” page, you’ll be directed to upload all required documentation to the secure portal. There is a link you will be directed to click to access the secure portal.
You must be logged in to your Berkeley email to access the secure documentation portal. If you do not have Berkeley credentials, you will need to email your documents to the Family Student Housing department at apts@berkeley.edu.
All documents must be accompanied by a certified English translation if the original is in a foreign language.
If your applicable documents are not readily available, you may begin the application and then send the other documents as soon as they are available.
If your application is incomplete or missing documentation, your application will not be considered.
If your application is complete and all documentation has been submitted, you will be placed on the wait list. You are eligible to be offered housing.
Submit a copy of all applicable documents:
A copy of your current student photo ID card or a copy of your acceptance letter to the university
Your marriage certificate, if you are claiming marital status
Your Domestic Partner certificate, if you are claiming domestic partnership
Each child’s birth certificate or adoption papers, if you are claiming parenthood
Each adult dependent’s birth certificate along with your birth certificate, if you are claiming a parent, sibling, or other familial relation as a dependent
Doctor’s verification of pregnancy with a due date, if you are claiming an expected child
Photo ID — driver’s license or passport — for any adult family members 18 or older
Couples in a committed relationship and not applying through the graduate couples program must provide one of the following documents:
Marriage certificate
Domestic partnership certificate
Note: Couples who are not married or domestic partners but have a child or children together can complete an appeals process for eligibility. Please contact Family Student Housing at apts@berkeley.edu for more information.
If you do not receive the confirmation email, please contact Family Student Housing at apts@berkeley.edu to confirm that your application has been received and to check on your wait list status. Visit Family Housing Assignment Process and Offers for details about the wait list and apartment offer process.
*Please note that your application will be automatically canceled if the want date indicated in your housing application has expired by three months.
Be sure to accept your housing offer
You must accept your housing offer by the deadline to reserve your space in campus housing. In order to accommodate as many students as possible in a timely manner, the deadline for replying to a family student housing offer is five days from when the email offer is sent.