Transferring

To be eligible to transfer, a student must:

• Be a current resident in Columbia Residential.
• Be a full-time student not graduating within the current academic year.  
  • *Direct Transfers only*: Applicants for a direct transfer within resident's own apartment share or dorm suite may be considered even if they are graduating within the current academic year.
• Be in good standing with Student Financial Services.
• If approved to transfer, must complete move within one week of unit's availability. Unit availability will be listed on the unit list.
  *Direct transfers must be completed within 2 business days of unit's availability.
• If approved to transfer into couple or family housing, must comply with the terms of couple and family housing. 
• Kindly note, only students who were approved for housing by their schools are eligible to be considered for a transfer. Students who received housing through the waitlist are not eligible to transfer.
  • *Direct Transfers Only*: Students who received housing through the waitlist may be considered for a direct transfer within resident's own apartment share or dormitory suite only. Applicants must also be otherwise eligible to transfer.

For eligible students, transfers are prioritized according to the following factors:

General Transfer
For students in Columbia Residential who would like to move to another apartment or room.

Transfer must be completed within one week of unit's availability. Students who received housing through the waitlist are not eligible.

Direct Transfer
For a student in Columbia Residential who wishes to move to a vacant room within their current dorm suite, or to move in with a friend who has a vacant room in their apartment share.

Applications are reviewed during the first week of each month only, and they must include address and room number of the requested room. Note that rooms must be taken as-is -- rooms will not be painted or cleaned. Direct transfers must be approved by residents who live in the requested apartment, and transfers must be completed within 2 business days of the room becoming available. Students approved for a Direct transfer must be present to complete the transfer. Students who received housing through the waitlist are not eligible for other transfer types, but they are eligible for direct transfers within their own apartment or suite only.

Group Transfer 
For two or three single students in Columbia Residential who would like to transfer together into a new apartment share.

All group members must submit an application listing their preferred roommates. Kindly note, availability for group transfers is very limited. If a group transfer is approved and one or more students choose not to accept their transfer offer, the transfer will be denied for all group members. Transfer must be completed within one week of unit's availability. Students who received housing through the waitlist are only eligible for direct transfers within their current apartment share.

Students approved to transfer will be notified by email according to the timelines listed above, and will receive information about participating in housing selection. All applicants, including those not approved, will receive an update on their status each month during the transfer season.

During the transfer season, there may be times when transfers cannot be approved due to lack of immediate availability. During any month when this is the case, Columbia Residential will send a status update to all students with active transfer applications on file. Kindly note, transfers are typically suspended between November and January, when the housing approval process for incoming students whose programs begin in the spring.

Transfer applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. Approvals cannot be guaranteed and are dependent on eligibility, priority and availability of housing.

A selection form and a list of available units will be sent to approved students at their scheduled selection time. Responses must be submitted before the deadline using the selection form. Email responses will not be accepted. Participants may submit only one response using their @columbia.edu email address. Note that multiple students will have access to the form at one time, and units will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Transfer assignments will be sent by 5 p.m. on the date of unit selection. Offers will expire the following day at 11:59 PM. Residents who receive a transfer offer but do not accept the offer within the time allotted may remain in their current unit. Those whose offers are declined or expire may reapply to be added to the bottom of the transfer list; residents may submit up to two transfer applications per academic year (August 16 - May 15). Those who choose to move out of Columbia Residential may face a cancellation fee.

If the assigned unit is vacant and not under construction, students may be able to view the unit by making a viewing appointment in the Housing Portal. Log in and click Housing Assignment to schedule a viewing appointment with the superintendent. Appointments are available Monday - Friday between 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Kindly note, same-day appointments cannot be accommodated.

Log into the Housing Portal to accept the offer and choose a move in date.

The new housing agreement will be sent within two weeks of move in and must be signed through DocuSign.

Approved transfers must be completed immediately once the transfer unit is available. The unit's availability will be indicated in the unit list.

Columbia Residential will create a move out notice on your behalf. You will receive the keys for the new unit on your move in date, and you will have until 4 PM on the following business day to remove your belongings from the previous unit and return the keys to the superintendent. Billing for the previous unit will end on the date you return keys, and billing for the new unit will begin on the following day.