Transfer Students: Student Housing Apartment Option
Eligible incoming transfer students may elect to live in Student Housing Apartments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to frequently-asked questions on the SHA FAQ webpage.
What Are Student Housing Apartments?
Student Housing Apartments, or SHA, incorporates all apartment options available to students. Student Housing leases space from privately owned and operated apartment complexes in order to guarantee that housing is available. SHA has designated apartments specifically for first-year transfer students to aid in their transition to UC Davis.
What Is The SHA Student Experience?
Student Housing Apartments have dedicated support staff available to help connect students with various campus resources as well as build community through planned social programs. For example, the staff coordinates inter-mural sports teams, produce a monthly newsletter, host a campus resources scavenger hunt, meet with every apartment to discuss living agreements, and help mediate conversations when issues do arise. They also coordinate a variety of on-going social and informational programs to help students feel supported and included in their communities. By partnering with the apartment complexes, Student Housing Apartments offer a unique experience that combines the "off-campus" independence transfer students want with the academic and transitional support incoming students need to be successful at a research university.
What Are The Apartments Like?
Size
The size and layout of each apartment varies. Each apartment features single- and double-occupancy bedrooms (see note), a living room, a dining room, a full kitchen, 1-4 bathrooms, and closet space.
Note: There are a limited number of double-occupancy bedroom options available.
Furnishings
All apartments are fully furnished: they include an extra-long twin bed and mattress, desk and chair, dresser, desktop bookshelf, desk lamp, and waste containers in each bedroom. In addition, the living room is furnished with a couch, chair, and coffee table, and the dining room has a dining room table and chairs.
SHA Features
- Single- and double-occupancy bedrooms
- Furnished 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom apartments
- Utilities included (Cable TV is not included)
- Access to Student Housing resources including Academic Advising Centers, Computer Centers, and Professional Staff
Benefits of the SHA Program
- Access to Student Housing resources including Academic Advising Centers, Computer Centers, and Professional Staff
- Social networking opportunities with other transfer students who can relate to the transitional process
Apartment Amenities
- Community Room
- Pool
- Fitness Center
- On-Site Parking
- Near Unitrans bus routes
- Easily access campus via bike paths
The Apartments
The following map illustrates where SHA apartments are located in the community and relative to the UC Davis campus.
Unitrans bus line information is available on the Unitrans website. Unitrans also provides a Route Map, which shows all of the Unitrans bus lines.
How SHA Works
Assignments
Students who accept an offer to live in Student Housing Apartments will be assigned to a "space", which refers to a single-occupancy or single bed in a double-occupancy bedroom in an apartment; each apartment will be either two, three or four bedrooms and house between two and six students. SHA apartments will house Student Housing first-year transfer students; transfer students will not be paired with non-student residents.
Requesting Roommates & Apartment-mates
SHA defines roommates as students that share a double-occupancy room within an apartment. Apartment-mates refer to all of the residents sharing an apartment. Some residents will have a roommate and apartment-mates.
SHA applicants may submit a request to live with a roommate (only those choosing a double occupancy room) and/or an apartment-mate(s) of their choice. While they are not guaranteed, in most cases Student Housing is able to honor roommate and apartment-mate requests.
Students who choose not request a roommate or apartment-mate(s) will be offered an opportunity to complete a voluntary lifestyle preference survey about living habits, the results of which may be used to determine roommates and apartment-mates. Otherwise, students will be randomly assigned to spaces.
Requesting Apartment Options
Students are assigned randomly to the apartment communities and may not request a particular apartment complex.
Advantages of Living in Student Housing Apartments
A primary advantage of selecting to live in Student Housing Apartments is that they are an excellent solution to a historically competitive Davis apartment market. Davis apartments tend to have low vacancy rates. Additionally, continuing students traditionally begin their search for next year's apartment in February, leaving far fewer apartments available to students who begin their search in the summer.
Other advantages:
- Great solution for finding an apartment in a competitive apartment community
- Best of both worlds: live in a regular Davis community apartment but still have access to all residence hall resources
- Support for students as they transition to the university
- Master's level professional staff available to assist with a variety of topics
- Academic support through Student Housing Academic Advising Centers
- Choice of having a dining commons meal plan or not having a meal plan (in contrast, residence hall contracts include a meal plan); those who select a meal plan may also choose whether or not to add on the popular and convenient 'Aggie Cash' declining debit account
- Access to on-campus Student Housing computer centers
- All apartments feature high speed Internet access
- All utilities are included
Additional Information
Tours
Student Housing does not facilitate tours of the Student Housing Apartments; please visit the apartments' websites for more information
Parking
Refer to the Student Housing Parking Regulations webpage for information
Contracts
Contracts are from September 21, 2013 through August 15, 2014. Review the Student Housing calendar, and/or review or download the Student Housing Apartments calendar (pdf) for specific details. Contracts are non-renewable, although space for the 2013-2014 year may be available pending admissions results for next year's incoming students.
Apply
- Learn how to apply for housing
- Review the Student Housing Apartments Fees information, including rates and payment information
For more information, contact Student Housing at studenthousing@ucdavis.edu or 530-752-2033.