Winter Break Housing

Upcoming Deadlines

Winter Break Housing During Winter Recess

Winter Recess is the period between the end of the fall term and the start of the spring term (beginning with Wintersession programming). For the 2023–2024 academic year, Winter Recess runs from December 21, 2023 until January 12, 2024. Any student wishing to live on campus for any portion of this period must apply for Winter Recess Housing. Students not approved to be living on campus during this period will have their HUID cards de-activated and will be unable to enter the residential Houses or Dorms. Because of reduced campus staffing, dining operations, and transportation services during Winter Recess, the number of students that the College can accommodate in on-campus housing is very limited. Detailed eligibility for each Winter Recess period can be found by clicking on the appropriate tab above. 

Students wishing to apply to remain on campus during Winter Recess must submit an application via the Residential Portal

Deadlines

A series of strict application deadlines are followed for Winter Recess housing applications. Fees will be assessed to your account for late submissions irrespective of whether or not your application is approved. 

2023-2024 Application Deadlines

Date Submitted Fee Assessed Decision Sent
October 16 - October 31, 2023 None Monday, November 13, 2023*
November 1 - November 12, 2023 None Tuesday, November 28, 2023*
November 13 - November 18, 2023 $50 Wednesday, December 6, 2023*
No applications will be accepted after November 18, 2023.
*Subject to change

 

Eligibility

Students requesting on-campus housing during Winter Recess must be current undergraduates with an active status with the College and who are living on-campus for both the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 terms. Students on leave of absence or required to withdraw, as well as students returning from study abroad, will not be approved for on-campus Winter Recess housing. All students with a Spring 2024 housing assignment may return to campus for Wintersession beginning at 9:00 am on Friday, January 12, 2024. 

Apply for Winter Recess Housing

Winter Recess I

Mid-December through early January

Winter Recess I dates for the 2023-2024 academic year are Dec. 21, 2023 - Jan. 3, 2024 

During Winter Recess I, the College is closed. No dining facilities are open and eligibility for housing is extremely limited. The following students are generally eligible for Winter Recess I: 

  • In-season athletes as requested by the Department of Athletics.

  • International students with demonstrable financial need.

  • Independent Students. 

Transportation

Harvard shuttle service is ordinarily suspended during Winter Recess I, including shuttle services. For more information, please visit the Transportation Services website. 

Dining Support

The College has made a limited pool of funding available to support students with high financial need during Winter Recess I. Automatically eligible students will be asked if they require dining assistance when completing their Winter Recess Housing application.  Approved students will be granted a Crimson Cash grant for every day on campus that the dining halls are not open.  If you believe you have circumstances not reflected in your financial aid status that would make you eligible for dining support, please e-mail hcdbreakgrants@fas.harvard.edu. For information about dining hall opening and closing dates, please visit the Harvard University Dining Services website.

Winter Recess II

Early January through mid-January

Winter Recess II dates for the 2023-2024 academic year are Jan. 3 - 12, 2024. 

Access to on-campus housing is less limited during Winter Recess II. Limited dining and transportation options resume and on-campus offices are open.  The following students are ordinarily approved for Winter Recess II housing:

  • Independent Students. 

  • In-season athletes as requested by the Department of Athletics.

  • International students with demonstrable financial need.

  • PBHA essential services.

  • Seniors writing a thesis (adviser must confirm thesis).

  • Pre-approved arts programs.

  • Students doing research with a Harvard lab (faculty must confirm lab participation).

  • Students with local area internships or employment (supervisor must confirm employment).

  • Students preparing to take a standardized test in January (student must upload proof of registration with test date).

If you are requesting housing to work on their thesis, lab research, internships, or employment, it is your responsibility to follow up with your supervisor or adviser to ensure this process is completed prior to the application deadline.

Transportation

Harvard shuttles operate on a reduced schedule during Winter Recess II. For more information, please visit the Transportation Services website. 

Dining Support

Limited dining options are available during Winter Recess II, including HUDS retail dining operations.  Dining hall openings will be staggered during this period.  For information about dining hall opening and closing dates, please visit the Harvard University Dining Services website.

Wintersession

January 12-21, 2024

Wintersession takes place during the last week of Winter Recess. Programs are offered by faculty, staff and students and range in length from one hour to one week. You can choose from over 20 subject areas including arts, athletics, health and wellness, career services, and alumni networking. Program types range from recreational to intensive introspection, training, or learning.  All students are welcome to move back into campus housing starting on the first day of Wintersession.

Wintersession programs are:

  • Optional

  • Not offered for credit

  • Mostly free of charge (a few include small fees)

For more details, please visit the Wintersession page.

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