Winter Recess Housing

Winter Recess Housing

Eligible undergraduates can apply for Winter Recess Housing via the Residential Portal each October.

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 day before the first day of Wintersession.

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 (Dec. 21, 2024 – Jan. 2, 2025)*

• Select in-season athletes
• International students with financial need
• Independent students

Winter Recess II (Jan. 3 – Jan. 17, 2025)*

Same as Winter Recess I, and additionally:

• 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.

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.

Application Fees & Deadlines (Fall 2024)

Round	Fee	Application Opens	Deadline	Decision	Note
Winter Application Round I	None	Tues., Oct. 1, 2024 at 12:00 AM	Thurs., Oct. 31, 2024 at 11: 59 PM	Fri., Nov. 15, 2024 by 5:00 PM	Apply for Winter Recess I and II during this round without an application fee.
Winter Application Round II	$50	Fri., Nov. 1, 2024 at 12:00 AM	Mon., Nov. 18, 2024 at 11:59 PM	Mon., Dec. 2, 2024 by 5:00 PM	Apply for Winter Recess I and II during this round with an application fee of $50.

No applications are accepted after November 18, 2024.

Upcoming Deadlines