#  Living at Harvard 

 



##  Living at Harvard 

The residential system creates vibrant, unique, and supportive communities where you can unwind after a busy day and feel at home.



 

 

 

       ![Radcliffe Quadrangle](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/dso/files/pfohobanner.jpg?itok=6ehQxfXE) 

 

 



 

 



### Harvard Yard Dorms 

 

First-year students live in residential neighborhoods called Yards, which are located at the geographic and historic center of College life. Accommodations range from eighteenth-century buildings, which housed the earliest Harvard students as well as George Washington's troops, to our newest twentieth-century accommodations in Canaday Hall.



 [ Read More About First-Year Living arrow\_circle\_right ](/life-yard) 

 



      ![First-year students from Stoughton leaving Harvard Yard led by their Peer Advising Fellows through Johnston Gate.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-04/Harvard2028PepRally_082924_0024%28forweb%29.jpg?itok=8cLpDqn1) 

 

 

  

 



### The Houses 

 

The Houses serve as the foundation for the undergraduate experience at Harvard College. Approximately ninety-three percent of all upperclass undergraduates live in one of the twelve residential Houses. Each House accommodates 350-500 students with its own dining hall, common rooms, and facilities for academic, recreational, and cultural activities.



 [ Learn More About The 12 Houses arrow\_circle\_right ](/houses) 

 



      ![A student from Pforzheimer House dressed as a polar bear leads her House mates into the Yard for Housing Day.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-04/HousingDay_031325_0096%28forweb%29.jpg?itok=FlQxoMhW) 

 

 

  

 



### Dudley Community 

 

The Dudley Community serves a variety of undergraduate upper-level students from across campus not residing in one of the Houses. This includes: residents of the Dudley Co-op, Visiting Undergraduate Students (VUS) from other universities, and students residing off-campus. Like the Houses, Dudley offers holistic academic advising and support and has facilities, amenities, and programming targeted toward the unique Dudley population.



 [ About Dudley Community arrow\_circle\_right ](/dudley-community) 

 



      ![Dudley Co-Op](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/dso/files/dudley_coop.jpg?itok=QBuFh6oT) 

 

 

  

 



 

 

 

 

##  Housing Processes 

 



 ### Rising Sophomore Lottery

The lottery is coming! Need to know what a blocking group is? How the process works? Follow the link below to learn more.

[Rising Sophomore Lottery](/rising-sophomore-lottery "Rising Sophomore Lottery")



 

   ![hoco2_0.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/dso/files/hoco2_0.jpg?itok=15juc0bg) 

 

 

 

 ### Leaving and Returning

Going on leave or returning from abroad? Learn how to cancel your housing and guarantee yourself a room upon your return.

[Leaving and Returning](/leaving-and-returning "Leaving and Returning")



 

   ![Harvard Campus](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/dso/files/harvardcampus.jpg?itok=sHKwtR5D) 

 

 

 

 ### Transferring Houses

After a full year of living in your assigned house, you can apply to transfer houses. For more information, visit the transferring houses page.

[Transferring Houses](/transferring-houses "Transferring Houses")



 

   ![Mather House](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/dso/files/mather.jpg?itok=iHUcm-2c)