Frequently Asked Questions

All residents are required to be college students either enrolled in classes during their stay in the dormitory (full or part-time) or participating in an internship that provides beneficial learning during their time in the dormitory and be registered for classes in the following term.

Reservations in the dormitory are only provided to students who will be 18 years of age or older at the time of move in.

All residents must also certify that they are not currently and have never been listed on any state, district, commonwealth or territory sex offender registry. If the applicant is not a resident of the United States of America, the applicant has not been convicted of any sexual offenses that are punishable by the laws of the State of New York. Residents must also have not been previously convicted of a felony.

No! Students from other institutions are welcome to join the Bard NYC community as long as they meet the eligibility criteria of being either a part-time or full-time college student studying in New York City or a college student with an internship in New York City.

Yes. International students studying in the US who meet the eligibility requirements of dormitory residents are invited to join our community. Students studying outside the US with Internships in New York City who meet our eligibility requirements are welcome to join our community. Unfortunately, Bard College is not able to provide visa support for international students seeking internships in the United States.

No, only students enrolled (taking classes) in colleges or universities, or who are interning and will resume studies the following term are eligible to live in the dormitory.

The cost of living in the dormitory can be found on this page.

You should speak with your home institution when applying for financial aid, and let them know that you will need funds for living expenses. Since financial aid is typically paid to you directly, you need to coordinate how the funds will be paid to Bard College for Bard NYC housing.

Payments may be made in cash, by check, money order, cashiers check, credit/debit card, electronic check International IFT, wire payments and electronic transfers. 

Reservations may be cancelled at any time, however payments are non-refundable. 

Residents will be billed for each term of stay after a reservation is made. Generally 50% of the total cost of stay is due at least 60 days prior to the posted move-in date, 50% is due 30 days prior to the posted move-in date. Payments for reservations made less than 60 days prior to the move-in date are due as specified in the bill. 

Once an application is received and eligibility and room availability is confirmed, applicants will be sent a confirmation, a bill for the period of stay and a facility use agreement. Reservations are not confirmed until payments have been processed and a signed facility use agreement has been submitted.

Bard NYC does not offer a meal plan. However, there is a modern shared kitchen and dining room in the dormitory designed for students to prepare and enjoy their own meals. Dorm rooms also include a kitchenette with a mini fridge, microwave, and sink. Williamsburg is home to a wealth of diverse restaurants and eateries to suit every taste. 

Bard NYC has a security guard on duty 24 hours a day seven days a week. There are security cameras throughout the common areas of the dormitory and keycards are required to enter the dorm, access the elevators and access dorm floors. Live in ResLife staff members are on-call 24 hours a day in case of emergency situations.

Residents planning to stay in the dormitory for consecutive terms of stay do not need to move their belongings out of the dormitory during intercessions. However, if a student plans to reside in the dormitory during intercessions additional fees will apply.

While there are no health services at Bard NYC, medical services are available wthin walking distance of the dormitory. 

No, but there are several branches of the Brooklyn Public Library nearby. Staff are available to assist residents in getting library cards. 

No, but there are two NYC recreation centers walking distance from the dorm, both with gyms and one with an indoor pool. NYC Rec centers are free for those under 25 and there is a small fee for those over 25. McCarren Park a short distance away offers a track, playing fields, an outdoor gym and pool and handball and tennis courts.

You may ship items prior to your arrival, but no earlier than one week prior to check-in. 

No storage is available outside of each resident’s room. Please check with ResLife staff on what may or may not fit in dorm rooms. No items may be stored in the dormitory before move-in or after move-out.

Sure! If you know you will be living in the dormitory at the same time as someone else, we would be happy to put you together. Just be sure to name your preferred roommate on the housing form. We will only match individuals with their roommate of choice if the other party has also requested to live with them. 

Pets are not allowed in the Bard NYC dormitory, except for service and emotional support animals. 

You are permitted to have a bicycle, however no bikes are allowed inside the dormitory facility. There is limited on-site, outdoor bike storage available on a first come, first served basis. 

Both daytime and overnight guests are permitted. Please refer to the dormitory policies found here for more details. 

No, only people 18 and over are allowed to stay in your room as a guest.

Alcohol is permitted in the dormitory for those over 21. Please check the dorm policies for more details. 

The Bard NYC Williamsburg Residence is a Smoke-Free facility. Smoking and vaping is prohibited in all areas of the building, including Residence rooms and the outdoor patio.

The communal kitchen has major appliances (freezer, refrigerator, induction ranges, ovens, microwaves, toasters, kettles, coffee maker), but no cookware, dishware, cooking or eating utensils are provided. Sponges, scrub brushes, paper towels and dish soap are provided in the communal kitchen, but not for student rooms. You should bring your own cooking and eating utensils to be stored in your room.

You are welcome to use the microwave and select appliances in your room to cook, however hotplates and air fryers are not allowed. Please see our dorm policies for more details. 

Yes, heat and air conditioning in each dorm room are controlled by individual thermostats.

Room rates do not include housekeeping of student rooms, only of common areas. Common cleaning tools are provided on each dorm floor including vacuums, brooms and dust pans and spray mops for residents to maintain cleanliness in their own rooms. 

Bard College strongly encourages residents to carry insurance on their personal property. In an unlikely event of fire, theft, water damage or natural disaster, Bard College does not accept responsibility for any damage incurred to personal property. Parents are encouraged to check to see if their homeowners policies cover their children’s belongings while at school and if not, there are several companies that are specialized in the area of dorm residents.

New York is one of the safest large cities in the United States, and Williamsburg is one of the City’s safest neighborhoods. However, as in all big cities, crime does occur. Residence staff provide general advice and tips on staying safe during dorm orientation and are available 24 hours a day in emergency situations. The Williamsburg dormitory has 24-hour security, with key cards required for access throughout the building and security cameras covering all public areas.

Rooms are assigned on a first come, first served basis. We cannot guarantee views, floor numbers, closeness to elevators, etc.; however, if you have any special requests, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate. ResLife staff make roommate placements based on our housing questionnaire, which takes into account various factors including sleep schedules, various habits and comfort levels.

No, all rooms in the dormitory are double occupancy, designed to foster connections and community among program participants. Students wishing to book both beds in a double room should reach out to [email protected] to discuss availability.

Yes, Bard NYC is ADA compliant. There are no stairs to enter the building or to access any of our floors or rooms. A limited number of accessible dorm rooms are available on a first come first served basis.

No, all dorm floors are mixed gender. 

Yes, students may opt into gender neutral housing when completing the housing questionnaire. Choosing gender neutral housing means you may be paired with a roommate whose gender identity may not match your own.

Yes, the common restrooms at Bard NYC are gender neutral. 

The room rate includes all utilities (water, electric, trash, high-speed wifi, AC/heat), 24-hour security, social activities in the dormitory, a fully furnished room ( bed, desk with chair, closet, dresser), en suite kitchenette (mini-fridge, sink, microwave), and access to Bard NYC’s common areas, including a communal kitchen and dining room, laundry facilities (there is a fee for using washers and dryers), student lounge and patio, study space. Bard NYC does not provide bedding or linens, cook or dishware and does not provide toilet paper or housekeeping for student rooms. Outside furniture is not permitted in the dormitory.

Once your reservation has been confirmed, ResLife staff will email you information on arrival, check-in and what you may want to bring with you. At check-in you will need to show a valid photo ID. An approved government-issued photo ID can be either a driver’s license or other state-issued ID. Non-US persons can present a passport.

Reservations are generally for the fall, spring or summer terms. Bookings are available for the fall and spring semester, spring and summer term, and summer and fall term, as well as 12 months. Please see the room rates and availability page for more details. Additional dates of stay (early arrival, late departure) may be available beyond these dates (based on availability) for an additional fee. 

No reservations for less than 30 days are allowed.

There may be times when we can offer 30-day reservations. Please contact us at [email protected] to inquire.

No, we do not offer daily or weekly reservations. 

No, unfortunately we do not offer any prorated room rates during set terms of stay.