Official On-Campus Housing
Move In
Greetings from Campus Living
On behalf of the entire Campus Living staff, welcome to UB! We look forward to having you call UB your home away from home. We are committed to providing a vibrant community where you can excel personally and academically from the moment you arrive here.
Living on campus provides you with built-in connections to academic programs as well as opportunities to become involved with student clubs and organizations all while making friends that will last a lifetime.
New Student Arrival Date: August 20, 2026
Returning Student Arrival Date: August 21, 2026
- Students who need to arrive at UB before the dates listed above must apply and be approved for early arrival.
- Early arrival application will be available in the Housing Portal in August or sooner.
- The earliest possible date to arrive for Fall 2026 is Saturday, August 15, 2026.
- The Early Arrival Application deadline is Friday, August 7, 2026 at 5 p.m.
- Additional nightly charges apply.
- If you are moving in after 5 p.m. on the first day of classes, please complete the late arrival notification form (available in August or sooner) so that the Campus Living Housing Services office may hold your room.
The information below is subject to change. Please check back in July for final information.
This helpful section details the items you may want to consider before your move to campus. The following tabs detail the items included in residence hall rooms and apartments.
Campus Living recommends the below items for your rooms:
- Approved Power Strips (extension cords are not allowed in residence halls or apartments)
- Alarm Clock
- Area Rug
- Bed Sheets (Twin Extra Long for Residence Halls & Creekside East/Full Size for all other Apartments)
- Blankets
- Boot Tray
- Calendar
- Cell Phone/Charger
- Cleaning Supplies
- Clothes Hangers
- Coffee Maker (Keurig-type coffee maker with an automatic shut off feature is recommended)
- Comforter/Bedspread
- Crates and/or Storage Bins
- Dishes, Bowls, Cups, Silverware, etc.
- Desk Lamp
- Ethernet Cord
- Flashlight/Batteries
- Headphones/Ear Buds
- Hot Pot or Electric Tea Kettle with Auto Shut-off
- Identification
- Iron with Auto Shut-off/Compact
- Ironing Board
- Laptop Computer/Charger
- Laundry Basket
- Laundry Detergent/Supplies
- Medications
- Organizers/Planners
- Paper Towels
- Pictures from Home
- Pillows
- Recreational Equipment
- Robe
- Sewing Kit
- School Supplies
- Shower Caddy
- Shower Sandals
- Small First Aid Kit
Below are items you may want to coordinate with your roommate to avoid duplicates:
- Additional cleaning supplies (broom, dustpan etc.)
- Carpet/Area Rug
- Compact Refrigerator | Residence Halls: refrigerators are limited to two per quad or triple and one per double or single and can be no larger than 4.5 cubic feet. (Apartments include a refrigerator)
- Game Consoles/Electronic Equipment
- Fan
- Posters/Wall Decorations (See Guide to Campus Living)
- Snacks/Food Items
- TV (antenna needed for local channels, no cable service provided)
Connecting your new technology is a big part of getting settled!
UB provides encrypted Wi-Fi access with the eduroam network, available in on-campus apartments and residence halls. Configure your devices before you arrive on campus.
- Looking to make move in day easier?
- The MicroFridge is a energy conservative microwave & fridge combination permitted in our residential rooms. See more information on MicroFridges.
- Order by August 1 and it will be delivered to your room before you arrive.
- Orders can be placed at the link below or by calling 800-525-7307
*Please note that MicroFridges are not permitted in Greiner Hall due to the building’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification and sustainability commitments.
- Campus Living will begin accepting letters and packages for Fall 2026 students on August 10, 2026; please do not ship items to your campus address before that date.
- Students who have items shipped to campus prior to their arrival will be sent an email with details on how to pick up their mail.
- All mail and packages sent prior to your arrival on campus should be picked up as a part of your check in process during your assigned move in window.
- Letters and packages that are not picked up during the initial check-in process may not be available until after the first day of classes.
Each residential area on-campus has its own mail and package area. Students are provided their own mailbox for flat mail. Notifications are NOT sent out to students for flat mail placed in their mailboxes. It is up to the student to check their mailbox periodically to retrieve it.
Students will be notified via their ‘buffalo.edu’ email with details of where to retrieve packages.
All USPS mail is first delivered to our centralized Campus Mail center, located on North Campus. From there it is processed and sent to our individual residential areas for delivery. All packages are ready for pick up within 2 business days of arriving on campus.
- The University utilizes a License Plate Recognition (LPR) system that has replaced physical parking hang tags.
- All residents who choose to have a car on campus must register for their virtual parking permit at no additional cost.
- If you live in the residence halls, you can park in one of the nearby lots (weekend visitors can park in a residence hall lots without a permit after 3 p.m. Friday).
- If you have a guest visiting you, please have them visit the Parking and Transportation office to receive a guest parking tag.
Purchase renters insurance if you are not covered by your parent/guardian's policy. Buy coverage before you get to UB. This is highly suggested for both residence hall and apartment residents.
Move-In Appointments
In order to streamline the move in process, all students will be required to make a move-in appointment in the housing portal. After arriving during your appointment time, you will have three hours to complete your move in.
Appointment times will be staggered in one-hour increments. Each appointment time will be limited to a set number of students in each building.
| Student Type | Dates | Times |
|---|---|---|
| New Students | Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
| Returning Students | Friday, August 21, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. |
| Saturday, August 22, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. | |
| Sunday, August 23, 2026 | 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. |
*These times are subject to change. Finalized times will be released with the official move-in guide in July.
The Move-In Appointment Process will open in early August or sooner.
To select (or cancel/change) a timeslot:
- Log into the Campus Living Housing Portal at https://buffalo.starrezhousing.com/StarRezPortalX
- Click “Fall Arrival" and follow the instructions to schedule your move-in appointment.
- Select one 1-hour timeslot from those available. The appointment is for your arrival time at your check-in location. You may arrive anytime during the 1 hour block.
- Timeslot appointments are limited and available on a first come/first serve basis, so you may not get your first choice.
- Timeslots may be cancelled/changed until 5 p.m. on Monday, August 17, 2026. To do this, repeat steps 1 through 3 above.
- You will receive an email confirming your request, cancellation or change.
If you have extenuating circumstances requiring you to move in at a time not offered, please email campusliving@buffalo.edu and our Housing Services staff will try to accommodate you.
If you must arrive earlier than the dates listed above, you need to submit an Early Arrival application as described below.
When can I start using my meal plan?
For new students, your Meal Plan (meal swipes, meal exchanges, dining points) are active beginning Saturday, August 15, 2026.
For more details visit the Campus Dining & Shops website.
What do I need to use my meal plan?
Everything is accessed using your UB Card. But you can also download the GET App, a mobile platform that provides convenience by linking your UB Card right to your smartphone. You can order food, make reservations, add funds, even pay with your phone all with the app.
Use the “Scan Card” feature for contactless payment, and online ordering to skip waiting in lines.
- Search “CBORD GET” in the App Store
- Install and open “GET Mobile”
- Select “University at Buffalo”
- Allow access to photos on your device
- Login in with your UBITName and password
Connecting your new technology is a big part of getting settled!
UB provides encrypted Wi-Fi access with the eduroam network, available in on-campus apartments and residence halls. Configure your devices before you arrive on campus.
Download Free Software
Software like Microsoft 365 and more is available, including secure cloud storage from OneDrive, UBbox, and other services.
Trouble Connecting Your Device?
We are here to help!
FOCUS
Thursday, August 20, 2026
After you get settled into your room it's time to get involved and meet people. Join us for a student-led parade from Hayes Hall (South Campus) followed by a party featuring a live DJ, games, and international food outside Goodyear Hall.
Welcome Back Blast
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Celebrate the new school year with UB's biggest spirit rally of 2026! This free event features UB athletes, the Thunder of the East Marching Band, incredible entertainment, ice cream compliments of Perry’s and a spectacular fireworks finale. .You won't want to miss this!
New Student Assignments begin in June.
Your selection appointment time determines the date and time you can start the self-selection process. Times are based on the date of your completed application. Selection appointment times will be sent to your buffalo.edu address.
If you do not choose a room by the end of the self-selection process, you will be automatically assigned an available room. You will be notified by email if this occurs and your assignment will be visible in the housing portal.
Room assignment and roommate information can be found in the Housing Portal.
Students may select any type of housing for which they are eligible, starting at their housing selection appointment time until the end of the process.
Room assignment and roommate information can be found in the Housing Portal in July.
Assignment Changes
At UB, we will work with you to try to accommodate housing change requests. However, these changes may take time, and are not always possible due to room availability and other considerations.
Cancel Housing
The housing cancellation deadline is March 31 for returning students and May 8 for new students. Cancellation requests received after this date will be evaluated on a case by case basis and if approved may incur a financial penalty.
All cancellation requests should be submitted directly through the Housing Portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
BILLING AND RATES
HOUSING OVER BREAKS
Meet Your Community
