TTU Housing does not offer any type of temporary housing options between move-in or during winter break. You are responsible for ensuring you have somewhere to live during this time. This is part of your lease agreement if you signed a non-12-month lease with on-campus housing. 

TTU International Student Life has put together a Temporary Hotel Discount Program to help students during these times. We have also compiled a list of options that might help you find somewhere to stay. 

Hotel Partnership Program

Furnished Housing Resources:

• Airbnb
• Travel Nurse Housing (Yes, we know you are not nurses, but this might still be a viable option for you to try)
• Furnished Finder.com
• Tripping.com
• Home-to-go
• Vrbo
• Short-Term Housing.com
• Extended Stay America

Cost: Dorms vary in their prices based on a variety of variables. All prices are for the academic year. Prices are billed 60% in the fall, and 40% in the spring. Some dorms will come with furniture, some will not. Some will be only for girls and only for boys, and some will be mixed. Some will have two beds and some will have more. There are many things that affect the cost of your dorm.


Use the Rate Calculator to calculate your costs

This is a very important thing to understand when looking for on-campus living. 

Leases are as follows:

• Academic Year - Fall and Spring semester (this does NOT include the Winter break.
  • YOU WILL NEED TO  FIND SOMEWHERE TO LIVE DURING WINTER BREAK

• 12-Month Contract - This does include Winter break! You do not have to move out during the winter break and may stay in your dorm. Only two dorms offer this lease, West Village and Carpenter Wells.These two dorms also include kitchens! https://www.depts.ttu.edu/housing/year-round-housing/index.php

• Summer Housing - https://www.depts.ttu.edu/housing/summer-housing.php

We are happy to give you advice about living in on campus, but we do not work directly with Student Housing so we will not be able to assist you with leasing, roommates, or anything related to your living situation. The best thing to do is to reach out to housing directly to get the quickest and best assistance. 

However, if you are unsure you are always welcome to reach out to us and we can help direct you to the best person! Whether that be someone here in International Affairs or in student housing.

You can Chat with Student Housing Representatives here!

Whether you are planning on living on or off campus, you need to have your living arrangements booked BEFORE you arrive in the USA. 

You do not want to be one of the many students we have had arrive with nowhere to live, and in a panic, because all the dorms are full and/or apartments do not have any available leases for the new few months. Yes, this has happened and continues to happen every year, which leads the students to experience high hotel costs as we do not have any free temporary living arrangements. 

Tips for how to choose where to live. 

• Read the online reviews or ask advice from other students. 
• Take a virtual tour of the TTU Dorms. Get an idea of exactly what your dorm will look like! (many apartments now offer this same online service)
• Learn more about each dorm through the Residence Selection Guide. Want to know more about the bathrooms, roommates, and activities, this guide has everything! 
• Learn about the Student Housing Contracts. It's a good idea to read the fine print and familiarize yourself with how Student Living works. Don't worry if you can't memorize it all, that's what these great websites are for! 

Letter from housing that allows students to move in on the 7th of January 2023. Letter Link. 

Dorm Closures

It is important to plan ahead for certain holidays and breaks when the campus and dorms will be closed. This means you will need to find somewhere else to live during this time. 

Holidays/Breaks when the dorms require you to leave:
Winter Break (December)

Holidays/Breaks with limited Services:
Spring Break (March)
Thanksgiving (November)


Dining on Campus

There are also certain holidays and breaks when there are limited on-campus dining options or dining is closed completely. If you live in a dorm without a kitchen this can be very challenging because the dorms do not allow hot plates and other kitchen appliances. There are VERY LIMITED vegetarian options so be sure to purchase groceries ahead of the breaks.  

Holidays/Breaks when dining is closed:
Thanksgiving (November)
Winter Break (December)

Holidays/Breaks When Dining is limited:
Spring Break (March)

What you can bring to your dorm to "cook"

• Coffee Maker (6 cups or less)
• Microwaves
• Mini Fridge
• Rice Cooker

WHAT IS RED RAIDER EXPRESS PASS?

Red Raider Express Pass is an opportunity for incoming students who are fully admitted to Texas Tech University to sign up for housing and select a residence hall and room prior to the official room selection launch date.

Visit the Express Pass webpage to learn more!

Everything you need to know in one place! 

TTU Housing Magazine

As international students are flying often several hours and days and have little control over their arrival date/time, International students may move in starting on August 14th outside of their Dorm move-in slot.

Do I still need a Move-in Slot with Housing? Yes! You still need to schedule a move-in slot with housing. Do not cancel your move-in slot even if you plan to move in early. These move-in slots show that you are planning to move into the dorms and need help tracking numbers for Housing. 

Move-in times and Roommates: International students with a copy of this letter may move into their dorms outside of their move-in time slot. This means if you need to move in late at night you may. However, if you plan on arriving late at night, past 9:00 PM please contact your roommate(s) and gain permission from them to move in late. It would not be a good idea to arrive late without their knowing and upset them as part of your first meeting. 

Please be sure to Print out a COPY of the letter to hand to the Housing Staff when you arrive. 

Get Letter From Orientation webpage

Texas Tech is a no-cash campus. This means that you cannot pay with cash for anything on campus, such as food, merchandise, and so on. 

All TTU students who live on campus will need to sign up for a dining plan. You will use your TTU ID like cash to pay for meals on-campus.

Adding Money to your Dining Account: While your dining plan will have a certain amount of money on it, you can always add money to your account. Your family can also add money to your account at any time. Simply click the Manage Your Dining Bucks link to add funds to your dining plan.  

Here is an estimated breakdown of the dining plan levels:

• RED & BLACK
  • Biggest eaters with lots of on-campus snacking
• MATADOR
  • 'Middle-of-the-road' eaters, almost all meals with snacking
• DOUBLE T
  • Lightest of eaters; miss meals due to off-campus job or specialized dietary needs

Adjusting to the American diet can often be a big change for many international students. School foods are most likely very different from what you eat back home. However, there are some options on campus to make this experience a little easier. 

For Gluten Free and Vegan/Vegetarian Students:

*One thing to note is that in the USA we might define Vegan & vegetarian differently than you do back home. In the USA Vegan means you do not eat any meat, dairy, or eggs. Vegetarian means that you do not eat meat, however, you do eat milk and eggs. Many American breads are made with milk and eggs. If you are unsure if something contains milk or eggs be sure to ask the server.  

Special Dietary Needs

Halal Students:
Eating Halal in Lubbock can be a little difficult, However, it is not impossible! Please click on the guide below to see a list of all the places on campus that offer Halal options. 

TTU Halal Guide

 Start your search EARLY (so you have options to work with)
 Know your priorities before starting your search
Ask yourself what you most care about: Is it living with fellow grad students, having your own bathroom, the cost of the rent + utilities, proximity to campus, safety, etc.?

Identify what needs are vs. wants are

What's your preference?

What's a necessity?


Look at website photos and contact apartments about their current pricing, because rent prices can fluctuate daily. Many run specials ahead of fall move-in!

Utilize Texas Tech's Student Legal Services Office BEFORE SIGNING YOUR LEASE
These lawyers will look over the lease with you so that you understand all you agree to, and to ensure that what you are signing is in accordance with the law.
 ASK QUESTIONS & DO NOT feel rushed or forced to sign a lease before you're ready

Be on the lookout for scammers:
Tips for avoiding housing scams on forums like Craigslist:

1. Prioritize posts with photos over text-only posts
2. Do a reverse image search on Google to check if the pictures have been downloaded from the internet
3. Google the address and make sure it exists
4. Meet the landlord in person before doing any transactions
5. Don't pay for anything in cash — you can cancel a transaction if you feel it's suspicious but you can't do the same with cash
6. Better safe than sorry—call us (at the Office of International Affairs, 806-742-3667, or TTU's Student Legal Services, 806-742-3289) BEFORE you complete any financial transaction if you are concerned about making a payment or signing a lease!

A property manager or landlord's job is to work alongside you throughout the term of your lease. Prior to signing the lease, you need to confirm that your future landlord or building manager will hold up their end of the bargain. Here are some questions to ask when considering a rental:

• Questions to ask...
  • What space is my own and what spaces are shared with others?
  • What furniture items, if any, are included in the space?
  • What kitchen amenities (microwave, refrigerator, oven, stovetop, etc.) are included in the apartment?
  • What is the total square footage and room configuration?
  • Do you provide roommate-matching services?
  • Can I make specific requests about my roommates, like living only with others of my gender, educational level, age level, etc.?
  • Am I allowed to add roommates to my lease?
  • What are the available lease timeframes?
  • When is rent due and what form of payment is required?
  • What are the penalties for late rent?
  • What is the penalty for lease-breaking?
  • What is the policy regarding subleasing?
  • What utilities are included in my rent?
  • What are the average utility costs that are not included in monthly rent costs?
  • As an international student, what documents do you need from me at lease signing?
  • As an international student without US credit history, must I have a co-signer with US credit history?
  • Will I have walking access or bus access to campus?
  • How long is the average walk or bus ride to campus, and do I have to switch buses before arriving to campus? Do these buses run year-round as part of the city bus system, or are they a part of the TTU bus system, and thus only run when classes are in session?
  • Am I walking distance to a grocery store, Walmart, and/or pharmacy? If not, are there buses in close walking distance to the apartment that could take me to these destinations every day of the week?
  • What safety precautions does the complex take to ensure my safety within my apartment as well as on property?
  • Are there additional costs for vehicle parking for myself or friends who visit?
  • Is there on-site*** maintenance, security, and/or property managers?
    • ***this means they live on-property and would be available 24/7 for emergencies
  • Are there any safety or health concerns associated with the property (mold, lead paint, etc)?
  • Are there bike storage areas?
  • What is the refund policy for security deposits?
  • Is there a secure area for mail and inbound packages?
  • What types of customizations can I make to a property (paint, nails for hanging pictures, etc)? Which ones are prohibited?
  • What are the rules/restrictions surrounding temporary guests?
  • What pets are allowed on the property, and what are the rules surrounding their care while on property (for example, are dogs required to be on a leash)?
  • Can I guarantee that I live with roommates that DO NOT own pets?

The neighborhoods known as Tech Terrace (south of campus, from Indiana to University Ave and 19th to 34th streets) and Overton (east of campus, from University Ave to Ave. Q and 4th to 19th streets) have individual family homes that are popular with Texas Tech students due to their proximity to campus.

These homes are likely not furnished, but many areas are walkable to campus. Tech Terrace also has a bus line that serves it.

Many student apartments offer more than a typical apartment residence, and these additional perks could be things like roommate-matching services, furnishings, academic year leases, community programming, bus routes to campus, etc.

Off-Campus-Housing Marketplace - Find an Apartment!

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NOTE: Signing a contract or lease agreement is a binding legal document. Be sure you have selected the place you want to live and understand all the information in the document before you sign. SIGNING IS BINDING.

Disclaimer: This map, though not exhaustive nor an endorsement of any kind by Texas Tech University or the Office of International Affairs, acknowledges these apartments' proximity to the university and as a result their popularity with the Texas Tech student body. Many of these apartment buildings also exclusively serve college students* and are within walking distance of the campus.

Texas Landlord/Tenant Rights: Know the law when you rent!

Living Off Campus - Common Difficulties  

Housing Discrimination in Texas - Know your rights

What is an Addendum? - An addendum is an item of additional information or material added at the end of a document, typically in order to supplement something. 

A Lease Cancellation Addendum for international students who need to sign a lease for an apartment before arriving in the country but are not 100% sure they will be attending in the coming semester. 

For Example: Shravani is planning on attending TTU in the Fall, but due to some visa issues, there is a chance she might not be able to come until Spring. 

She still would like to book an apartment. She signs a lease with a cancellation addendum that provides her a 100% refund if she cancels before a certain date in September. Now Shravani feels secure that she has an apartment ready for her if she comes to TTU in the Fall, but if she has to defer and come in the Spring she can cancel her lease with no financial loss. 

Apartments that offer a Lease Cancellation Addendum

Centre Suites Student Living

"Living well, made easy!"

Contact for more information:Makayla.martinez@assetliving.com
Justin.lopez@assetliving.com 

(806) 747-7700

Address: 2300 Glenna Goodacre Boulevard,
Lubbock, Texas 79401

The short answer: Yes

The long answer: "The university requires enrolled first-year students to live in the university residence halls. Institutional research suggests that students who live on campus are significantly more inclined to remain in college and achieve higher GPAs in comparison to students living off campus." 

"The on-campus residency requirement applies to Lubbock campus students enrolled in more than six hours for the fall or spring semesters and/or enrolled for three hours per summer session."

Source:  Texas Tech Operating Policies and Procedures

Only two dorms on campus have kitchens for students to cook in. 
Carpenter-Wells & West Village offer kitchens. 

The other dorms do allow you to bring certain kitchen tools into the dorm, however, there are many restrictions due to fire safety. Students are strongly to bring a mini-fridge (easily purchased on Amazon) and a microwave. 


See all prohibited items on page 7 of the residence Hall Procedures Manual

The dorms only close for the Winter Break in December. During this time you will need to either return home, stay with a friend, in a hotel/Airbnb or you can opt to extend your housing contract. 

Dorm Contract Extension
If you decide to extend your housing contract so you can live on campus during the break you will need to know the following information. 

• You will need to request this in advance! Be sure to let your housing team know your plans for the break well ahead of when they close. 
• You will be moved to another dorm temporarily. 
• You will be charged a daily fee (like how a hotel charges per night). 

OFFICE HOURS/NOTARIES

Student Legal Services (SLS) is fully open.
Please call (806) 742-3289 to set up an appointment with an attorney. 

Notary services are available too. You only need a notary appointment if you have numerous documents.  Please walk in if you only have one or two documents.  

Location:
Student Union Building Rm. 307 Lubbock, TX 79409-1017

Email:studentlegalservices@ttu.edu

Texas Landlord/Tenant Rights: Know the law when you rent!

Living Off Campus - Common Difficulties  

Housing Discrimination in Texas - Know your rights

TTU Student Legal Service - Landlord/Tenant Questions 

Walkscore.com: An invaluable tool that allows you to insert an address and find out how friendly the location is for walking, biking and/or using public transit to reach needed resources and locations, like the TTU campus. It evens allows you to look at a "travel time map" and see your accessibility by foot, car, or public transport within a given amount of time.

Citibus 

• Citibus provides on- and off-campus bus service in Lubbock under the direction and guidance of Texas Tech's Student Government Association.

• On-campus service is free to anyone on the Texas Tech campus. Students may ride for FREE on any Citibus off-campus route by showing their Texas Tech ID card. For up-to-date schedules and maps,  visit http://www.citibus.com/texas-tech-route-schedules.php 
  
  • DoubleMap Bus Tracking App: Citibus offers DoubleMap for live bus tracking. Download the app through the App Store or Google Play store. Search for "Citibus (Lubbock)" in the location selection after downloading.

*Note: Public transportation is not used widely, outside of the student population. Because of the vast area Lubbock covers, many people use cars to get around. Consider also exploring Lubbock via a car share service or by sharing rides with a friend or roommate. 

Seeking a roommate or want to hear perspectives from current students? These forums could help you:

• Roomsurf Roommate Matching site 

• Livesomewhere.com's Roommate, Subleases & Apartment group 

• TTU Parent's Off Campus housing forum