Request to cancel or return to housing by using the Residential Portal.
Housing Cancellation Deadlines
| Fall ’25 Term | Spring ’26 Term | Cancellation Fee |
|---|---|---|
| On or before May 18, 2025 | On or before November 09, 2025 | Waived |
| May 19 – June 15, 2025 | November 10 – November 23, 2025 | $200 |
| June 16 – July 13, 2025 | November 24 – December 14, 2025 | $300 |
| July 14- August 3, 2025 | December 15, 2025 – January 11, 2026 | $400 |
| August 4- September 8, 2025 | January 12 – February 1, 2026 | $500 |
| September 9 – December 3, 2025 (Last Day of Classes)* | February 2, 2026 – April 25, 2026 (Last Day of Classes)* | Per Diem – $73.15** |
* Full Housing Amount: Students cancelling housing on or after the last day of classes will be responsible for the entire term’s housing cost of $6,766.
**Per Diem Calculation: Number of days in housing since the first day of classes multiplied by the per diem rate.
Example: A student who cancels housing for the fall and checks out on September 15 (13 days from the start of classes) will incur a per diem charge of $950.95 ($73.15 x 13).
Returning Student Application Deadlines
| FALL 2025 | SPRING 2026 |
|---|---|
| Monday, February 3, 2025 at 11:59 PM | Monday, October 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM |
| FALL 2026 | SPRING 2027 |
|---|---|
| Monday, February 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM | Monday, October 19, 2026 at 11:59 PM |
How to Cancel Your Housing
Submit a Housing Cancellation Form by logging in to the Residential Portal with your HarvardKey and selecting Submit a Housing Cancellation Form by logging in to the Residential Portal with your HarvardKey and selecting Housing Forms.
Submitting a Housing Cancellation Form does three important things:
- Notifies the College that you no longer plan to reside on campus.
- Allows you to declare your anticipated move-out date.
- Helps determine what days you lived in residence for accurate billing.
We will adjust your billing based on the last night you lived on campus. Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) manages food charges soon after we process your cancellation form.
Reasons to Cancel Your Housing
Submit a Housing Cancellation form in the Residential Portal if you:
| Are approved to go on leave of absence | Apply to study abroad |
| Required to withdraw | Plan to move off-campus |
- Review your financial obligations before you request a leave. Cancel your housing and check out of your room on time to avoid a fee.
- You can submit a Returning Student Application (RSA) at the same time as a cancellation form. Speak with your Resident Dean or House Administrator if you have questions about returning to your House.
- Cancel your housing when you apply to study abroad to avoid fees. If your plans change, you can always request to return to housing.
- You can cancel your housing in the Residential Portal at any time if you wish to live off-campus. Consider whether to affiliate with the Dudley Community at the time of cancellation.*
For questions about the Dudley Community, speak with your House Administrator or the Dudley Community Coordinator.
*Sophomores who move off-campus prior to living in the Houses will be affiliated with the Dudley Community by default.
How to Return to Housing
We recommend submitting your returning student application at the same time you cancel your housing.
Apply to return to housing by the deadline to reserve a space in your House. Log in to the Residential Portal with your HarvardKey, select Housing Forms, and then Return Student Application.
If you miss the deadline to return to housing, you will be placed on a space-available waitlist for your House. If any room becomes available in your House, you will be placed in that space by your House Administrator. This means you are unable to participate in the House lottery process.
If you are waitlisted for your House, you cannot apply to transfer to another House as a means of getting off the waitlist.
If you no longer wish to return to housing after submitting a returning student application, you can rescind your application in the residential portal.
Refunds and Fees
You will be refunded for housing and meal costs after submitting your Housing Cancellation Form in the Residential Portal and returning your room keys.
Refunds: After we process your housing refund within 5-7 business days, please allow 24 hours for the account changes to be reflected in my.harvard.
Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) manages food charges once we process your cancellation form. You do not need to contact HUDS separately.
Fees: You are subject to late cancellation fees if you do not cancel your housing by the deadlines stated above. If your form is submitted too late in the term, you will be unable to recoup any costs. We are unable to waive late cancellation fees unless:
- The University is responsible for the check-out delay.
- The student has a serious illness or has been hospitalized.
- There is a death in the student’s immediate family.
How to Rescind Your Returning Student Application (RSA)
If you no longer wish to return to housing or are not eligible to return to the university after submitting an RSA, you can rescind the application in the residential portal. Please follow the steps below.
Instructions
- Log in to the Residential Portal.
- Select “Housing Forms’ in the selection tab.
- Click ‘Continue’ on Housing Forms.
- From the drop-down, select ‘Returning Student Application’.
- In the information screen, there is a section labeled “Return Request Submitted – Want to cancel?’.
- Navigate to and click the ‘Rescind Returning Student Housing Application’ link in that section.
- Click Submit.
You will receive an email notification that your RSA has been successfully rescinded.
Upcoming Deadlines
Deadlines for Returning to Housing
Deadlines for Cancelling Housing
FAQ
If I get assigned to a House but need to take a leave in the fall, will I lose my House assignment?
No. When you submit your Returning Student Application, you return to your House. If your application is late, you will not be guaranteed housing, but if your House has space, they will accommodate you. Contact your House Administrator if you have any questions.
I am taking a leave of absence mid-term but planning to return next term. When should I fill out the RSA?
You must apply to return to housing by the deadline to reserve a space in your House.
Can I apply to return to college housing for a future term if I know when I will be returning?
Yes. You can select it in the application. If you do not see the term you need on the application, contact our office.
Where will I live if I am on leave or withdraw from my first term?
If you complete your first term and then take a leave of absence, you will participate in the Rising Sophomore Housing Lottery with the rest of your class. You will be affiliated with that House when you return. If you do not complete your first term, you will return to Harvard Yard.