On Campus Housing Requirement

The University of New Hampshire considers the residential experience an essential educational and campus experience. New full-time undergraduate students who are under the age of 21 and attend UNH Durham are required to live on campus for four (4) semesters. Living on campus is defined as living in a university-owned residence hall or apartment; a complete list of options is available on the Housing & Residential Life website.

I. Automatic Exceptions

The following students are automatically exempt from this policy and do not need to submit an exemption request:

  • Students aged 21 or older
  • Graduate students
  • Non-degree seeking students
  • Fully online students
  • Part-time undergraduate students
  • Students whose official UNH campus (according to student records) is not UNH Durham.

II. Exemption Requests

Students who are not automatically exempt may request an exemption for the following reasons (supporting documentation and/or additional verification may be required):

  • Student has a parent or legal guardian who lives within a commutable distance (generally within 30 miles or one hour) of campus and the student will be living with them while attending UNH
  • Student is married and/or has a dependent 
  • Student is active military and/or has veteran status 
  • Student has extenuating financial circumstances 
  • Student has a qualifying ADA/Section 504 and/or religious accommodation that cannot be met by on-campus housing 
  • Student is approved, via a University-designated process, to live in a UNH-recognized fraternity or sorority house 
  • Student has completed four (4) semesters of living on-campus at any institution of higher education (including UNH in conjunction with another institution)
  • Student has a circumstance beyond their control, as determined by the University, that prevents them from being able to live in on-campus housing 

III. Exemption Process

Students must submit the On-Campus Housing Requirement Exemption Request by the published deadlines for the semester in which they are requesting an exemption to begin. Requests must be completed in full and include required supporting documentation. 

UNH Housing & Residential Life will evaluate requests and notify the student of a decision as soon as possible. All decisions will be sent to the student's UNH email account. 

If the request is approved, the exemption will take effect beginning with the requested semester. Any existing housing assignment for the semester will be canceled. 

If the request is denied, the student may submit an appeal to UNH Housing & Residential Life within three (3) days. The Director of Housing will review the appeal, and a decision will be sent to the student’s UNH email account as soon as possible.

Students are only exempted from any requirements of this policy once they receive written approval from UNH Housing & Residential Life. This policy remains in full effect for a student pending the outcome of an exemption request or an appeal request.

Every semester a student is required to live on-campus and does not have an on campus housing assignment, or an approved exemption request on file, they will be charged for one semester at the current traditional residence hall double room rate. 

IV. Four-Semester Requirement

If a student moves out of their on-campus housing assignment during the fall or spring semesters, either voluntarily or involuntarily, whether the semester counts as a full semester towards the four-semester requirement under this policy depends on the student's move-out date.

If the student's move-out date is prior to mid-semester as defined in the academic calendar, the semester will not count as a full semester under this policy.

If the student moves out after mid-semester, then the semester will be counted as a full semester under this policy.