Housing for International Graduate Students
Finding Suitable Housing
Note: Undergraduate students are required to live on campus until senior year, at which time they are eligible to move off campus.
Although graduate students are not eligible to live in campus residence halls, there is an abundance of rental housing in Winston-Salem. While many local apartment complexes are not within a comfortable walking distance of the Reynolda Campus, Wake Forest University does own houses just outside the confines of campus which are available for graduate students to rent.
For more information on Wake Forest University Properties, please visit Wake Forest University Housing.
Locating Housing
You are strongly encouraged to secure housing prior to your arrival if you find something online you think you like. In particular, the housing provided by WFU Properties (mentioned above) is extremely popular and fills up quickly. If you would like to live in one of the WFU-owned houses, you will want to make these arrangements as far in advance as possible.
Be aware that housing contracts are binding documents! If you arrive and find the housing option unsuitable, you may not be able to get out of your contract and move to a new location unless you pay a hefty fee.
Some international students wait until after they arrive in Winston-Salem to make a housing commitment. This allows for the opportunity to find housing that is suitable for their personal wants and needs. If you will be using this approach, you will need to plan for a short stay in a local hotel. This will give you time to tour and compare several different properties, as well as give the complex time to prepare and clean the apartment prior to your scheduled move-in date.
Contact your admitting department for information on off-campus housing options.
Important Housing Tips
Please keep the following tips in mind when looking for an apartment and and/or signing a lease:
- A contract is a legally binding agreement between you and the owner/management. Once you sign a contract and take possession of the apartment, you are bound by the rules of that contract. If you decide to move prior to the end date listed on the contract, you will most likely have to pay a heavy fine and forfeit your deposit.
- Different apartment complexes vary in lease term agreements. Select the agreement that works for your program.
- Most apartment complexes require a deposit. The amount of the deposit is often equal to one month’s rent.
- The majority of apartments in Winston-Salem are unfurnished and you will be responsible for furnishing the apartment.
- Your personal safety should be your highest priority in looking for an apartment. Do your due diligence when searching for an apartment. If you have doubts about the overall safety of a certain property, do not sign a lease and consider looking at other available properties. If you have further questions, contact the University Police.
- If you damage the property you will be charged a repair/cleaning fee. It is suggested to take pictures when you vacate the property.
- You should not hesitate to call the management office if you have a problem with your apartment, such as noisy neighbors, leaky faucet, etc.
- When you look at an apartment, make sure that you ask the management about any rent specials that they might have. Many local complexes run specials throughout the year. Even if they don’t have any advertised specials, a discount might be available if you ask.
- Most apartments charge extra rent and/or deposit money for pets.
