Finding housing in the communities surrounding MIT can take some time and attention, but there are several resources to help you as an incoming postdoc at MIT.
MIT On-Campus Housing
On-campus graduate housing is prioritized for members of the MIT graduate student community. However, postdocs, visitors, affiliates and cross-registered students who are seeking to live on-campus may select housing through a Self-Selection process, subject to housing availability.
While on-campus housing is not subsidized, the cost includes all utilities and WiFi, and many of the units are furnished. Additionally, on-campus housing doesn’t require paying a broker’s fee.
There are two potential drawbacks to on-campus housing for postdoctoral scholars:
- Housing availability is typically quite limited given the high volume of MIT students who live on campus.
- On-campus leases are only guaranteed for one year (with all leases ending in August), after which you need to use the self-selection process again.
For these reasons, most postdoctoral scholars choose off-campus housing.
If you have questions, please connect with MIT Housing and Residential Services. Staff are available through a variety of channels, including drop-in virtual office hours.
Off-Campus Housing
The best informal source to identify housing is to leverage any networks you have in the Cambridge area. The key administrative contact in your MIT department may be able to put you in touch with other postdocs and graduate students who know the area.
After getting your MIT identification number (ask your key administrative contact before you arrive), you can join the MIT Postdocs Slack channel, which has a housing sub-channel, and make a profile on the Off-Campus Housing website. The Off-Campus Housing website has listings and the Resources page, including information about:
- rental scams to watch out for
- tips on working with realtors
- your rights
- leases
- security, neighborhoods, and more
Where to Look
Many MIT faculty, staff, students and postdocs live outside the immediate area of campus/Kendall Square where housing costs tend to be less expensive. Many postdocs recommend finding housing near public transportation.
Additional Resources for Off-Campus Housing
- MIT Postdoctoral Association’s Postdoc Housing Resource
- Additional information from the International Scholars Office (helpful to all newcomers)
Temporary Housing
Visitors, postdocs, affiliates and cross-registered students may also sublicense on-campus housing from a current resident during the summer or Independent Activities Period (IAP) breaks. This can be useful as temporary housing if you arrive in January or the summer, but does not influence your access to future on-campus housing.
Beware of Housing Scams
Please be alert to the possibility of common housing scams. Victims have reported two main types of housing scams:
- The victim sends someone a deposit for a property. In fact, the person receiving the money has no authority to rent, or the property does not exist. The person committing the fraud keeps the deposit check and disappears, and the victim does not find out until they try to move in.
- Someone pretends to be offering a sublet apartment or a roommate situation. The perpetrator will send a check to the victim for more money than is requested, and then ask that the balance be sent back. The original check bounces and the victim loses the money they thought they were returning to a potential roommate/sublet.