Thank you for your interest in Graduate and Professional Student housing!
Duke University Housing and Residence Life (HRL) will offer housing for Graduate and Professional Students during the 2024–2025 academic year in two locations: 301 Swift Apartments and Lancaster Commons Apartments.
301 Swift offers a limited number of on-campus, fully furnished two-bedroom apartments. You can read more about the 301 Swift apartments below.
Lancaster Commons off-campus apartment complex offers unfurnished 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments. You can view more information about Lancaster Commons here.
NEW: Blue Light Living is an off campus apartment complex that is owned by Duke and privately managed. Blue Light features modern, furnished apartments in a location convenient to campus and amenities like a grocery store and is on a Duke bus line. Blue Light is currently accepting applications for the 2024–2025 academic year. Learn more about Blue Light here.
Graduate Housing Application
The priority 2 application deadline has now passed. Due to the high number of applications we received, we do not anticipate offering any assignments to applicants who have applied after May 20.
Graduate Housing Requirements
UPDATED: Graduate students will be able to apply for both graduate housing locations (301 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 time graduate or professional students on 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, 2024 through June 30, 2025)). Release from your License is granted only if you are no longer an active student at Duke.
Please review the 2024-2025 License, Terms, and Addendum BEFORE submitting an application.
When you complete the application, you are acknowledging that you have read and reviewed the 2024 - 2025 License, Terms, and Addendum. You are also acknowledging the following:
- Students have the opportunity to name a preferred roommate or 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 2024 - 2025 academic year for 301 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, 2024 through June 30, 2025)
Please note that on-campus housing is only offered for one year. There will not be an option to live in on-campus housing beyond June 30, 2025.
Applications
The priority 2 application deadline has now passed. Due to the high number of applications we received, we do not anticipate offering any assignments to applicants who have applied after May 20.
Assignments are for 1 year only and cannot be renewed for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Graduate students will be able to apply for both graduate housing locations (301 Swift and Lancaster Commons) on ONE application. Students will need to rank their location preference on the 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.
The current rates are based on the housing term of July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025.
There will be 2 priority application windows:
• April 1 – 22: Priority application window 1 (ends 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time)
• April 23 – May 20: Priority application window 2
• After May 20: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.
Applications will be reviewed together at the end of each window. Both windows offer students an equal chance at attaining housing.
- Assignment priority will be given to 1st time graduate professional students on 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 20 are processed on a rolling basis.
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.
Please note: Once students receive their housing assignment via their Duke email, they will have one week to confirm or cancel their assignment. If Duke receives no communication from the student, the housing assignment will be automatically canceled.
301 Swift Rates
*6-Month Rate: $10,159.50 (**Monthly Rate $1,693.50)
*6-month rate is for fall (July 1 - December 31) and spring (January 1 - June 30).
If you move in after July 1 and prior to August 1, the rate will lower based upon your move-in date. If you move in after August 1, you will be billed for August 1 - December 31 regardless of your move-in date.
**Monthly rate is for budgeting purposes ONLY. Charges will be billed to your student account 6-months at a time.
- PhD students will not receive monthly bills with their housing charges, but charges will be reflected in their Bursar's accounts. PhD students can set up payroll deduction or NelNet.
- Master's students will receive monthly bills via email to their Duke email address. Master's students can also set up monthly payments via NelNet.
- A fee will be charged for late payments (1.25% of the outstanding balance).
- Unpaid bills will result in a hold being placed on students' bursar accounts, preventing students from registering for classes for the next term.
- All 301 Swift graduate apartments are two-person occupancy. Each resident has their own private bedroom and shares the living room, kitchen, and bathroom.
- Students have the opportunity to name a preferred roommate or be assigned a random roommate.
- If you do not have a preferred roommate, Housing Assignments will assign a roommate to the other space in the apartment.
Included in the Rate:
- All Utilities: water, electric, and high-speed internet
- Laundry Facilities
- Basic furnishings: Common Area-
- Dining room table and chairs,
- Stove
- Refrigerator
- Couch
- Lamp and end tables
- Basic Furnishings: Bedroom -
- Full-size bed
- Chest of drawers
- Desk
- Chair
Students are responsible for: Linens, housekeeping supplies, cookware, and laundry charges.
Pets are not allowed, except for registered service animals.
-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, 2024 through June 30, 2025). Release from your License is granted only if you are no longer an active student at Duke. Please review the 2024-2025 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 301 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 (across from 301 Swift). 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 301 Swift. Students can purchase a parking permit with the Duke Parking and Transportation Services. This is needed in order to park in the 301 Swift apartment lot.
-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 301 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 301 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, 2025.
301 Swift Photos
What If...
Assignment priority will be given to 1st time graduate professional students on 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.
If you have a partner or spouse who is not a Duke student, you will need to reach out to housing@duke.edu once you apply to inform our office that you are applying with a partner or spouse on your application.
Students will be charged for the occupancy of both spaces if assigned with a partner or spouse.
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.
Please send packages using the address setup below. This information will be visible in your Housing Portal.
There is a mailbox on site so you will not need to go onto main campus to retrieve packages.
Example Address Below
First and Last Name: Blue Devil
Address Line 1 - Residence Hall Street Address: 301 Swift Ave
Address Line 2 – 301/Apartment #: 301/99
City, State, Zip: 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 a deadline 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. Students can submit maintenance concerns via the Maintenence request page.
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 Residence Coordinator with any questions or concerns. Contact information should be sent to you prior to move in.
HRL programs are rooted in the concepts of mutual respect and civility and recognize and celebrate the dignity and self-worth of all members.
All graduate apartments are two-person occupancy. Each resident has their own private bedroom and shares the living room, kitchen, and bathroom. 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.
Other Information
Transportation:
301 Swift distance from:
- Harris Teeter - 0.7 mile
- Whole Foods - 0.3 mile
- Duham Co-Op Market - 0.9 mile
- Compare Foods - 2.1 miles
- Food Lion - 1.4 miles
- Dollar General - 0.6 mile
- Wells Fargo - 0.5 mile
- FedEx Shipping - 0.4 mile
- UPS Shipping - 0.6 mile
- Nasher Museum - 0.6 mile
- Duke Graduate School - 0.8 mile
- Duke West Campus - 0.5 mile
- Duke East Campus - 0.6 mile