Eligible undergraduates can apply for Winter Recess Housing using the Residential Portal.
On This Page:
Application Fees & Deadlines (Fall Term)
Winter Recess Housing Eligibility
Upcoming Deadlines
FAQ
Winter Recess Housing
Eligible undergraduates can apply for Winter Recess Housing using the Residential Portal.
If your application is approved, you can access your room and House during winter recess. Otherwise, you will lose access to the Houses or Dorms during winter recess until they open for Wintersession.
Students with a spring housing assignment can return on the first day of Wintersession.
Application Fees & Deadlines (Fall 2025)
| Winter Housing Application (Round I ) |
|---|
| Application Opens TBD Application Closes TBD Decisions TBD Apply for Winter Recess Sessions I and II during this round without an application fee. |
| Winter Housing Application (Round II) |
|---|
| Application Opens TBD Application Closes TBD Decisions TBD Apply for Winter Recess Sessions I and II during this round with an application fee of $50. |
More information for Winter ’25 will be published during the Spring 2025 term.
Winter Recess Housing Eligibility
Students requesting on-campus housing during Winter Recess must be current undergraduates with an active status with the College and living on-campus for both the Fall and Spring terms. Students on leave of absence or required to withdraw, as well as students returning from study abroad, will not generally be approved for on-campus Winter Recess housing.
Winter Recess I (Sat., Dec. 20, 2025 – Fri., Jan. 2, 2026)*
- More eligibility information for Winter Recess I will be published during the Spring 2025 term.
Winter Recess II (Fri., Jan. 2 – Fri., Jan. 16, 2026)*
- Select in-season athletes
- PBHA essential services
- Pre-approved arts programs
- Seniors writing a thesis**
- Students doing Harvard lab research**
- Students with local internships/employment**
- Students with a standardized test in January**
*Dates are subject to change. Students will be notified if changes are made.
** Categories that require supporting documentation. Please see the section below.
Supporting Documentation
Some requests for winter recess housing require documentation. The approver/documentation must come from an appropriate approver.
- Seniors writing a thesis – your thesis adviser must confirm the thesis.
- Students doing Harvard lab research – your faculty supervisor must confirm your lab participation.
- Students with local internships/employment – your internship/employment supervisor must confirm employment.
- Students with a standardized test in January – you must upload proof of registration and test date.
Your proctor cannot sponsor your winter recess housing application.
Upcoming Deadlines
FAQ
Will my housing accommodation be applied to my winter housing space if my application is approved?
Housing accommodations already approved by the Disability Access Office (DAO) before the winter housing application deadline apply to all College Housing assignments, including recess housing.
Can my proctor sponsor my winter housing application if I want to stay on campus to work on my thesis?
No. Only your thesis advisor or Department can sponsor an application for thesis work.
Can I apply for winter housing if I’m volunteering at a Harvard-affiliated organization?
Applications from students staying over break to do volunteer work outside of the eligible categories on this page will be denied.