Housing

Duke-Approved Programs

Duke students are required to live in study away program-provided housing, if offered. Students are required to apply for program housing within one week of the program housing portal/application becoming available. 

Exceptions to the GEO housing policy will only be considered for the reasons listed below. Please note that failing to apply for program housing by the program deadline is not an exception-granting reason. Failure to apply for program housing could result in administrative withdrawal from the program. Requests for housing exceptions should be emailed directly to geodirectors@duke.edu and include all required documentation outlined below. Students will be notified of their request status by email from GEO Directors. 

Disability Accommodation:  

• A letter from the institution/provider that states that they cannot meet your accommodation needs.  
• An up-to-date Duke SDAO accommodation stating the needs that must be met.  
• Your in-country address and in-country contact information for emergencies. If you are still searching for housing at the time of your request for an exception, you may state that in your email. If approved, your exception request will be “conditionally approved,” until GEO receives your in-country address. Failure to submit this information before 2 weeks of the program start date could result in administrative withdrawal from the program.  
• A signed independent housing form by student and guardian. Please email geodirectors@duke.edu for a copy of this form.  

Living with a Family Member Abroad:

• A letter from the family member who is a permanent resident of the country, stating you can live with them for the duration of the program. 
• Proof of residency from the family member (for visa purposes). Proof of Residency includes: 

                        *Copy of family member’s in-country ID/or residence permit with current address matching the address of housing you are requesting to live in
                        *Copy of lease or other document with family member’s name that shows the address listed on the id/residence permit 

• Your in-country address and in-country contact information for emergencies. 
• A signed independent housing form by student and guardian. Please email geodirectors@duke.edu for a copy of this form.
• Note: You cannot live with any other student on the program. 

Institution/Provider Runs Out of Housing:  

• Confirmation from the program that the student submitted housing materials within 1 week of the provider making it available.  
• Your in-country address and in-country contact information for emergencies. If you are still searching for housing at the time of your request for an exception, you may state that in your email. If approved, your exception request will be “conditionally approved,” until GEO receives your in-country address. Failure to submit this information before 2 weeks of the program start date could result in administrative withdrawal from the program.  

• A signed independent housing form by student and guardian. Please email geodirectors@duke.edu for a copy of this form.   
• Note: You cannot live with more than one other Duke student who has not secured program housing. Students who received program housing are not permitted to leave the program housing to live with other Duke students. 

Duke students who are granted a housing exception should consider Duke’s Office of Global Health and Safety’s recommendations on alternative accommodations, https://oghs.duke.edu/administrators/guidance/lodging-housing/alternative-accomodations/.  

Duke students requiring a housing accommodation should follow the instructions outlined here: https://globaled.duke.edu/student-experience/requesting-disability-accommodations to request that accommodation on their program. 

If a student requires a housing accommodation, they should follow the instructions outlined here: https://globaled.duke.edu/student-experience/requesting-disability-accommodations.