Frequently Asked Questions

The Main Lounge, HR Commons, the Map Lounge, the Dodge Room, the Frohlich Gymnasium, the Game Room and the Study Center are all open 24 hours, 7 days a week. The Dining Hall is open Monday-Friday for breakfast from 7:30-11:30am, lunch from 11:30am-2:00pm, and dinner from 6-9pm. On Saturdays, the Dining Hall is open for brunch from 9am-2pm. The Pub is open every Wednesday-Friday evening from 9pm-1am.

A small load of laundry costs $2.75, while a dry load will cost $0.85 per every 10 minutes.

Both I-House South and North have their own laundry rooms with washers and dryers. International House provides many machines for our Residents.

The mail room is open from Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM, and Saturdays from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. We have a package locker system in the event that a resident needs to pick up a package outside of business hours. When their package is placed in a locker, the resident will receive an email with a code to open their locker.

To send yourself a package to pick up upon arrival, residents must have paid their room reservation deposit and must arrive within one week of delivery. We do not allow residents to send themselves packages greater than a week before move in.

The Pub is open every Wednesday-Friday evening from 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM.

Yes! Residents that are able to work in the US can apply to be a pubtender. This is the only job International House offers for residents.

Storage spaces are available for rent for any I-House residents that will be returning after a brief period away from the House. To request a storage space, please visit the Claremont desk.

No. Prospective residents are not able to store their items prior to check-in.

There is a daily charge required for all residents, regardless of length of stay. That amount is given as dining credit on the resident’s ID, available for use as the resident wishes in the dining hall. Residents can choose from one of the following tiers:

Prepared meals that rotate every meal are available for purchase by weight. Other options, like prepared sandwiches and grill options have set prices. A standard breakfast will cost approximately $3-$6; a typical lunch averages around $7-$10; an average dinner can cost anywhere from $9-$15.

No. The minimum daily charge will typically last a resident about halfway through their stay if they are eating two meals a day in the dining hall. It is not meant to serve as a resident's full food cost for the time that they stay at I-House.

Residents can always add more dining credit to their ID card at the Bursar Office.

The dining hall will be closed on the following dates:

Summer break: August 5th – August 19, 2024

Winter break: December 22nd – January 4, 2025

Both residence halls have been designed to to facilitate cross-cultural understanding through a lived experience that consists of organic encounters with fellow members of the I-House community. Because the buildings are connected and many amenities are located on the lower floors of the South building, International House is able to facilitate global community-building regardless of where one lives.
During the application process, you will be required to rank up to five room preferences. It is always recommended to list at least one room from both the North and South buildings for the best chance at receiving one of your desired room types. 

Noise that disturbs others is prohibited at all times. Quiet hours are between 11:00 PM - 9:00 AM on all floors.

Bathroom facilities are shared by 15-20 people on the same floor. Each bathroom has 3-4 toilets and 3-4 shower stalls.

No, the House does not have central AC. In-window air conditioning units are available to rent from International House for the duration of your stay.

A bed, desk, chair, dresser, bookcase, lamp, ceiling fan, linens, blanket, pillow and towel are provided in room upon check in. We recommend bringing or purchasing another set of linens and towels.

Cleaning services provided by our Housekeeping team are available for a fee.

If your stay begins in the summer and extends through September, or if your stay begins in the Spring and extends into May, please complete an Academic Year application. If your stay is ONLY through May-August, and does not extend into September, please complete a Summer term application.

Proof of eligibility is important for your application, and your application will not be considered complete without official documentation. Please refrain from submitting your application until you have uploaded all the proper documentation, as you will not receive a notification of admission if your application is incomplete. Your letter of eligibility must be from within 6 months of submission of your application and it must indicate your full name and the term or dates of your program/internship.

We allow for residents to live with spouses or families only in a Studio or a One-Bedroom North building apartment. To apply with a spouse/partner/family, complete the “Family Members” section of the application. The spouse should create a new application and fill out the personal information section, including the “Family Members” section. Children do not need to complete their own applications.

Unfortunately, we do not allow pets at International House. Emotional support and service animals must be approved to live in the House. Please review our Disability Accommodations Policy for more information on this process.

Admitted applicants whose programs begin in the summer and extend through all or part of the fall term will be approved to live at I-House until the end of the summer term, in mid-August. Upon arrival to the House, summer residents can submit an extension/renewal request to continue their stay through all or part of the fall term; however, it is possible that this request will not be able to be honored. In the event that we cannot extend/renew the summer resident's stay due to occupancy or eligibility, the summer resident will be expected to depart on their departure date.

If you are staying all summer and into the following academic year, you do not need to move out between August 15 and September 1. Later in the summer we will fill in the gap in your booking and your fall semester charges will begin on August 15.

Arrival dates can only be edited once a room reservation deposit has been submitted. Arrival date changes must be made 30 days in advance and are subject to approval based on occupancy by the Admissions Committee. It is possible that we may not be able to accommodate changes of up to five days, as arrival date changes are permitted based upon room availability. Incoming residents may only make one change to their arrival date, and residents that change their arrival date more than once might incur a penalty fee.

Check-in for new arrivals is Monday-Friday between 2:00pm-7:00pm.

If you are anticipating arriving after business hours or over the weekend, the Claremont Avenue desk is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and will provide you with a temporary ID that is valid for 3 days until you are able to formally complete check-in with the Bursar.

See the Accepted Applicants page for more information regarding our arrival procedure.

Yes, you may bring a guest to help you move in.

If you do not arrive on your arrival date and you have not notified us in advance, we will cancel your reservation and you will forfeit the $1,400 room reservation payment.

Upon arrival, residents will visit the Bursar Office to complete the check in process and make a full payment of fees for one semester or the length of their stay, whichever is shorter.

Full payment includes:

1. The remaining balance of the refundable security deposit (equivalent to one month's room fees minus the room reservation deposit). The security deposit will be returned to you after your departure provided all outstanding charges have been paid and the room is left clean and in good condition.
2. Room Fees from the date of your scheduled arrival through your scheduled departure date.
3. Meal plan charges.

To request an early departure, please visit the application portal and select "Cancel my application/Early departure". From there, you'll fill in your new departure date and why you're leaving. Once your request is processed, usually the next business day, your departure date will be changed.

Please note our Early Departure Policy.

There are three steps to complete the check out process:

1. Log on and complete the Departure Form.
2. Clean your room and common areas, place furniture in its original position, remove all of your belongings from your room, the storage areas and the bike room, on or before your departure date.
   Failure to do these things may result in a charge.
3. Drop off your photo ID card, temporary ID card and mail room key at the Riverside Front desk/Claremont Desk upon departure.

If you would like to defer your departure ≤ 30 days, please submit an extension request.

If you would like to renew your membership for a period ≥ 31 days, please submit a renewal request.

No, they are not. If you wish to stay for any part of the summer and for the upcoming academic year you must complete both the summer extension process and the readmission application.

Residents can request an extension anytime and we will do our best to honor the request.

When completing the readmission application please indicate your return date, despite it being before the beginning of the Academic Year term. We will then set that date as your return date.

Yes; our room rates are prorated, so residents can check in or out when it is necessary for their schedule. Please note that priority in admission is given to those who, at the time of applying, meet all eligibility criteria and intend on living at the House for the full academic year.

Yes, residents must stay at International House for a minimum of 30 days.

So long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements, you can live at International House for a maximum of three Academic Years. They do not have to be consecutive.

When completing the readmission application please indicate your return date, despite it being before the beginning of the Academic Year term. We will then set that date as your return date.

You should submit a readmission application for the academic year before the deadline. By submitting the application we will hold a room for you and you have until July 1 to cancel your booking without penalty.

You can still apply for readmission but your room may no longer be available and, depending on when you do apply, availability of rooms may be limited.

After your readmission application is approved you will be asked to pay a $1,400 room reservation payment which will be refundable until July 1. If you cancel before July 1 you will receive a refund of the room reservation payment. If you cancel after July 1 you will forfeit the full $1,400 room reservation payment.

To submit a room change request for the Academic Year, please visit the Admissions Office and complete a Room Change Request Form. You will then be placed on a waitlist and notified if your desired room type becomes available during your stay.

When completing the readmission application skip the section that renews your current room. This will submit your readmission application. You will then be given a timeslot between March 6-10 when you will be able to select your room from available rooms for the academic year.

When the reservation deposit has been submitted, readmission applicants will receive a confirmation email denoting they should email kvaughan@ihouse-nyc.org to schedule their room change.

We do not allow for room changes during the Summer term.

No. If you are anticipating living at I-House during BOTH the summer and the following academic year, please submit an academic year application. In the application, you will be able to fill in your desired arrival date, which can be during the summer term.

If you are staying all summer and into the following academic year, you do not need to move out between August 16 and September 1. Later in the summer we will fill in the gap and your fall semester charges will begin on August 16.

To avoid paying for your room while you are gone you must be gone a minimum of 40 days. During the period you are gone you need to completely remove all of your belongings and make the room available to someone else to stay there while you are gone. You may return to your room upon your return after 40+ days. This is only offered during the summer term, and I-House does not allow residents to leave the House and come back to their same room during the winter months.

No, you do not have to move out during winter break.

No, this is only offered during the summer term. If you would like to leave I-House in December and come back for the spring term without paying room fees, you will need to reapply for the spring term. Admission for admission for spring applications is not guaranteed.

During the pandemic, I-House strived for a 100% fully vaccinated community in order to be able to offer as many in-person programs and opportunities to build community as possible. As of June 2023, residents are encouraged, but no longer required, to be vaccinated against COVID-19. If a resident is not vaccinated upon arrival but is interested in getting a COVID-19 vaccine while in New York, I-House's Office of Global Health and Wellness can assist with finding a reputable location to receive the vaccination.

All incoming residents are encouraged to get a COVID-19 test prior arrival but it is not required at this time.

International House has been working since the beginning of the pandemic to stay up to date on public health data and best practices to ensure the health and safety needs of the members of our community. Along with specific protocols for quarantine and guidelines to follow if you have symptoms, the Office of Global Health and Wellness is available during your stay to provide support if necessary. While our COVID-19 precautions have relaxed in the 3 years since the beginning of the pandemic, all common areas continue to be cleaned at least once per day.

Yes, fellowships are available for returning residents. Please visit the Fellowship opportunities page for further information.

Fellowships are awarded to returning residents before the beginning of the Academic Year.

Unfortunately not; fellowships are awarded at the beginning of the Academic Year (August/September), and fellows are expected to live at I-House for the duration of both the fall and spring terms.

The financial aid application opens during the Spring term before the Academic Year.

For new applicants, an announcement will be made on the I-House website and across I-House social media when the application becomes available.

Current residents can apply for financial aid during the same cycle as readmission.

International House does not provide financial aid during the summer term.

Financial aid applications should be submitted at the same time as the housing application.

Yes, group members must be graduate students, visiting scholars, interns, or trainees to live at International House during the Academic Year.

No. All residents living at I-House, regardless of affiliation, must stay for our minimum length of stay of 30 days.

The maximum number of group members that can be accommodated is approximately 50 people; this way, we can ensure that there is availability for other groups and single applicants to become a part of our global community. International House does not have a minimum number of group members we can accommodate.

International House recommends reserving rooms in the South building for group accommodations. It is more likely all group members can be assigned to live on the same floor and can have the same sized rooms when living in the South building.

Unfortunately, that is not possible; all North suites are made up of 2-4 different-sized rooms: small, medium, large, and extra-large. If a group is interested in having their members live in the same suites together in the North building, group members would need to live in different-sized rooms from each other. If a group is interested in having their members live in the same sized rooms in the North building, the group members would not be able to live in the same suites together.

Upon arrival, residents will visit the Bursar Office to pay for their rent, dining fees, and any other additional fees for one semester or the length of their stay, whichever is shorter.

The Bursar Office accepts payments in cheques (drawn on US bank), money order, traveler’s check, wire transfer or credit card (Mastercard or Visa only). All payments must be in United States dollars.

Yes. Upon check-in, residents will pay a full semesters’ rent or the rent for the length of their stay, whichever is shorter. Monthly payment plans are only offered to residents that are working/earning wages.

The Bursar Office is open Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM.