Thank you for your interest in Graduate and Professional Student housing!
Duke University Housing and Residence Life (HRL) is offering housing for Graduate and Professional Students during the 2025–2026 academic year in two locations: 300 Swift Apartments and Lancaster Commons Apartments.
300 Swift offers a limited number of on-campus, fully furnished two-bedroom apartments. You can read more information about the 300 Swift apartments here.
Lancaster Commons off-campus apartment complex offers unfurnished 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments. You can read more information about Lancaster Commons Apartments here.
The 25-26 Graduate Housing Application Window 2 is now closed. Applications will still be accepted, but will now be processed on a rolling basis.
Graduate Housing Requirements
Graduate students will be able to apply for both graduate housing locations (300 Swift and Lancaster Commons) on ONE application. Please read over information about both apartment complexes before applying. Students will need to rank their preference on the application.
Assignments will be based on availability. It is NOT a guarantee that students would be offered an assignment from their top housing location.
Graduate students will need to be fully admitted to Duke University prior to applying for housing.
- Assignment priority will be given to 1st year, 1st time in the United States graduate or professional students on a student visa status AND staying for an entire year.
- Applications will begin being processed once the priority window closes. Assignments will be sent out to students in the following week after the priority window closes.
It is important for you to understand your commitment to the Housing License / Terms and Addendum. By agreeing to the License, you are bound to on-campus housing for the entire length of the License (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026). Release from your License is granted only if you are no longer an active student at Duke.
IMPORTANT: Please review the 2025-2026 License, Terms, and Addendum BEFORE submitting an application.
When you complete the application, you are acknowledging that you have read and reviewed the 2025 - 2026 License, Terms, and Addendum. You are also acknowledging the following:
- Students can name a preferred roommate or possibly be assigned a random roommate.
- If you do not have a preferred roommate, Housing Assignments will assign a roommate to the other space(s) in the apartment.
- The rate for the 2025 - 2026 academic year for 300 Swift and Lancaster Commons are different and will be stated clearly on your assignment offer.
- Once assigned, you are bound to housing for the entire length of the license (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026)
- Students assigned to graduate housing will be financially responsible for the entire assignment date regardless of move out.
Applications
The 25-26 Graduate Housing Application Window 2 is now closed. Applications will still be accepted, but will now be processed on a rolling basis.
Graduate students will be able to apply for both graduate housing locations (300 Swift and Lancaster Commons) on ONE application.
Students will rank their apartment preference on the housing application.
Please note:
- Assignments will be based on availability. It is not a guarantee that students would be offered an assignment from their top housing location.
- Assignments are for 1 year only and cannot be renewed for the 2026-2027 academic year.
- There will not be an option to live in on-campus housing beyond June 30, 2026.
Priority Windows
There will be 2 priority application windows:
April 1 – 22, 2025: Priority application window 1 (ends 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time)April 23 – May 14, 2025: Priority application window 2 (ends 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time)- After May 14, 2025: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Applications will be reviewed at the end of each window. Assignments will be offered a minimum of a week after each window closes. Both windows offer students an equal chance at attaining housing.
- Assignment priority will be given to 1st year, 1st time in the United States graduate or professional students on a student visa status AND staying for an entire year.
- Applications received during each priority window are processed at random based upon a lottery number.
- Applications received after May 14 are processed on a rolling basis.
IMPORTANT: Once students receive their housing assignment via their Duke email, they will have 72 hours to confirm or cancel their assignment. If Duke Housing receives no communication from the student, the housing assignment will be automatically canceled.
Roommates
We highly recommend that you find a roommate prior to applying housing. Many programs have Facebook Groups, GroupMe’s, or other forums in which entering students can find a roommate. If you are not coming in with a roommate, we will do our best to place you according to the lifestyle preferences you indicate in your application.
-DO need a Unique ID to apply. The Duke Unique ID is a unique, 7-digit number assigned to individuals affiliated with Duke University. You should receive it once you are fully admitted to Duke.
-DO need to sign License and Terms for 1 year. By agreeing to the License, you are bound to on-campus housing for the entire length of the License (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026). Release from your License is granted only if you are no longer an active student at Duke. Please review the 2025-2026 License, Terms, and Addendum before submitting an application.
-DO have access to bus services to and from campus: Campus buses stop at several points near 300 Swift Avenue. Information about campus bus routes can be found at the Parking and Transportation website
-DO have access to 300 Swift's cafe. THRIVE is located on the main floor of 300 Swift apartments. Students are able to purchase food items using food points or card/cash. Be sure to check out THRIVE's operating hours, as they vary.
-DO need a parking permit to park at 300 Swift. Students can purchase a parking permit with the Duke Parking and Transportation Services. This is needed in order to park in the 300 Swift apartment parking garage.
-DO have the opportunity to note a preferred roommate on the application. If you do have a preferred roommate, you will be able to indicate their name and Unique ID in the preferred roommate field on your housing application.
Before matching the following must happen:
- Both roommates must be enrolled at Duke University.
- Both roommates must have completed a housing application.
- The request must be mutual. Both roommates must request each other on their individual applications.
-DO NOT need a meal plan to live at 300 Swift. If you are interested in purchasing a plan, please visit the Duke Dining Website for more information.
-DO NOT need to vacate their living space during Winter Break. Graduate and professional students who are living at 300 Swift for the full academic year will be able to remain in their apartment over Winter Break.
-DO NOT pay for utilities in an individual bill. They are included in the rate.
-DO NOT choose their own apartment. Our office manages assigning students to their living space.
-DO NOT have the option to live in on-campus housing after 1 year. On-campus housing for graduate students is only offered for one year. There will not be an option to live in on-campus housing beyond June 30, 2026.
What If...
Assignment priority will be given to 1st year, 1st time in the United States graduate or professional students on a student visa status AND staying for an entire year.
Once we have offered all available spaces to students who qualify, any available spaces will then be offered to students who have requested 1 semester.
Graduate and Professional Students are not required to select a meal plan while living on campus. Duke Dining does offer several options for apartment students and off-campus students. More information about meal plans can be found on the Duke Dining website.
Family member housing is ONLY available at Lancaster Commons. If you are applying for housing with a family member you will not be able to live in 300 Swift.
Students applying with a family members will only be eligible for a 2-bedroom apartment and will be charged for the occupancy of both spaces if assigned with a family member.
A Family Member is defined as a spouse, child, parent, or sibling. All Family Members must be on record with the Lancaster Front Office and the Housing Assignments Office.
Please email housing@duke.edu to request a proof of residency for your current assignment. You will not be able to receive proof of residency until you have officially moved into your assignment.
300 Swift Packages
Please send packages using the address setup below. This information will be visible in your Housing Portal.
You will need to go to main campus to pick up most packages.
Example Address Below
First and Last Name: Blue Devil
Address Line 1 - Residence Hall Street Address: 300 Swift Ave
Address Line 2 –Box #####, 300 Swift (apartment #)
City, State, Zip: Durham, NC 27705
Lancaster Commons Packages
All mail and packages must be made out to YOUR building and apartment number. (The office does not hold packages.).
Apartment address can be written as:
(Building Number -(starts with a 2) W. Bypass (Apartment Number) Durham, NC 27705
Example Address Below
2727 W. Bypass #301
Durham, NC 27705
Once a student accepts a housing assignment, the student may not cancel their assignment. An assignment will only be cancelled when a student becomes ineligible for University housing. Refunds will be calculated based on the dates of occupancy of the assigned space.
When offered an assignment, students will be given 72 hours by which to accept. If the assignment is not accepted by the deadline, it will be cancelled.
If you feel like you need a housing accommodation based on medical, psychological, or disability-related conditions, please review our special housing accommodations process and contact the Student Disability Access Office (SDAO) at sdao@duke.edu or by phone at (919) 668-1329.
Housing and Residence Life staff are available to meet student needs. Our facilities staff maintains all university residences and completes maintenance and housekeeping work year-round.
300 Swift Residents can submit maintenance concerns via the Maintenence request page.
Lancaster Commons Residents can contact the Lancaster Commons Front Office.
The residence life staff promote opportunities for students to connect with others and develop a strong and enduring sense of belonging; and intentionally provide opportunities for students to grow and develop, especially as they wrestle with issues of identity, autonomy, and responsibility.
You can reach out to your Assistant Residence Coordinator with any questions or concerns regarding your living experience. Contact information should be sent to you prior to move in.
If you do not have a preferred roommate, we will use your lifestyle preferences noted on your application to assign a random roommate to the other space in the apartment.