- Any student who has successfully secured approval to live off campus must complete this final step by electronically completing and signing the Off-Campus Housing Contract by February 15, 2027. This contract is binding and once signed, students will no longer be eligible to participate in the on-campus housing lottery in April.
- After submission of the completed contract, if the student’s off-campus plans change and the student needs to live on campus instead, regardless of the reason for the change of plans, the student is not eligible to enter any on-campus housing lotteries. The student can apply for on-campus housing after the housing lottery has concluded and will be assigned housing over the summer—if on-campus housing is available. On-campus housing is not guaranteed for juniors and seniors who submit a completed contract.
- Students who have been given permission to live off campus through the off-campus lottery are expected to live off campus for the entire academic year.
- Approval for living off campus is not automatically renewed each year; students must participate in both steps of this process each academic year and should sign only one-year off-campus leases.
Policy and Process
Students who wish to live off campus must meet all of the qualifying criteria and follow the two-step process in order to receive approval to live off campus. The Off-Campus Lottery app will be open November 24, 2026 through January 7, 2027 on the Bricks and Beyond housing portal.
Important note: Juniors and seniors interested in living off campus in private rentals must enter the Off-Campus Housing Lottery to seek approval to be released from their on-campus living requirement. The ability to live off-campus is a privilege, not a right, and approval is not guaranteed. Therefore, students should refrain from signing leases until after they receive written approval to live off campus from the Office of Residential Life. The Office of Residential Life and Office of the Dean of Students will review all lottery names and may deny anyone for whom living off campus may not be the best option for the student or for the local-area community.
Off-Campus Housing Agreement and Commitments
If a student receives permission to live off campus, the student will be required to submit to the Office of Residential Life a signed and completed Off-Campus Housing Contract. The contract will include the following acknowledgements:
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Living off campus is a privilege and not a right.
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Permission to live off campus can be revoked by the Office of Residential Life or the Office of the Dean of Students at any time.
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Permission to live off campus will be revoked by the Office of Residential Life should the student not complete all of the prerequisites listed below. If permission is revoked for failure to comply, students will be assigned on-campus housing over the summer.
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The College will not be held responsible for any financial commitments or losses related to a student’s off-campus rental.
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The student will abide by all applicable laws (local, state, and federal), especially those regarding noise and alcohol, and by the Bowdoin College Academic Honor Code and Social Code, which holds students accountable for their behavior on and off College premises.
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The student will attend all mandatory meetings sponsored by the College and/or law enforcement agencies regarding living off campus.
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If the student’s off-campus location changes, the student must, in a timely manner, notify the director of housing operations in the Office of Residential Life.
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By choosing to live off campus it is understood that Bowdoin Safety and Security, or other campus officials, will not respond to off-campus residences unless requested to do so by the Brunswick Police Department. In the case of an emergency, students must call 9-1-1.
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In choosing to live off campus the student acknowledges that the College has no responsibility for the condition or safety of their off-campus dwelling or for any other conditions or events occurring at their off-campus dwelling. The student explicitly assumes any and all risks associated with living off campus.