Student Housing

Do you want to walk to school, use public transportation, or drive to school?

• Walking – Beacon Hill, Back Bay, the South End, and parts of South Boston are considered walking distance to campus.
• Driving – See “Having a Car in Boston”
• Public Transportation – The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), better known as “the T,” operates the public transportation system in Boston and the surrounding communities. Options include buses, subway, and commuter rail trains. Commutes via public transportation vary depending on place of origin. Discounted monthly T passes are available at the Bursar’s Office. For more T info, check their website at http://www.mbta.com.
  • Bus routes 9, 11, 43, and the Silver Line all stop in front of Tufts Medical Center.
  • The four subway lines in Boston (Orange, Red, Green, and Blue) all have stops within walking distance of school, though Blue line commuters find it easiest to change to the Orange line instead of walking to campus.
  • The commuter rail serves communities outside of the immediate Boston area. These trains run on specific daily schedules arrive at various subway stations within the city. Check the MBTA website for more information.

Please note, while many of our students live in the downtown/Chinatown area, rental costs have risen significantly over the past five years in these neighborhoods. It is not imperative that you live within walking distance to the school. Students who live in more moderately priced neighborhoods have learned to plan their commutes to and from school around peak-commuting times in order to avoid significant delays with public transportation. Simple adjustments to your schedule can allow you to save thousands of dollars over the course of your time here at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

Many apartments are listed with realtors who charge a standard fee equal to one month’s rent if you end up renting an apartment they showed you. It is possible to find apartments without a fee. These are usually listed directly by the owner on craigslist or found by word of mouth.

Be sure to ask the realtor or landlord if anything is included with the rent. If the current tenants are available, ask them how much they typically spend on utilities each month to help you estimate your budget. You can also contact utility companies to ask for average costs for the previous 12 months.

You can expect to pay a small application fee to apply for an apartment you like (Approx. $75). It will usually take one month’s rent as a deposit to have the realtor de-list the apartment. This should generally be refundable if you choose not to sign, but make sure to ask first before giving them a check. At least two additional months’ rent will be due at lease signing; all together, you may pay:

• First month’s rent
• Last month’s rent
• Security deposit (Three months’ rent at signing; the security deposit is returned to you at lease end, less assessment of apartment damage)
• Some realtors also charge a key deposit, which is a small fee returned to you at lease end when the keys are turned in.

The decision to have a roommate should be based on how willing you are to share your space with another person and how much you are willing to spend on the apartment. Living alone, without sharing costs, can be an expensive proposition. With increasing numbers of roommates, costs go down. On the other hand, more roommates can lead to conflicting schedules, lifestyles, and personalities. We urge you to carefully consider roommate prospects before signing a lease.

If you decide to find a vacant apartment either for yourself or for you and a roommate, there are a few ways to go about this:

• Students most commonly use on-line resources such as www.boston.com, www.craigslist.org, www.padmapper.com, etc. These are good place to start, as you can get a general sense as to cost, location, and amenities available in different areas. On the other hand, many of these apartments are listed through realtors and will charge a fee, usually equal to one month’s rent, to sign a lease. Also, contacting a rental agent on a specific listing may induce them to try and sell you other listings that may not be right for you. Your best judgment will serve you well while using online resources.
• Trustworthy, no-fee realtors are available in Boston. However, it is a good idea to contact more than one as each realtor has different listings. With a realtor, you tell them what you are looking for (i.e., how much you are willing to spend, number of bedrooms, amenities, etc.) They will often have a good idea if their listings can match your needs, but it is not uncommon that they will take your contact information to get back to you if they find something later on. Your best chance to see multiple units on one visit will happen while using a realtor. They will also drive you to each unit, which cuts down on your stress level and travel time.
• Check out JumpOffCampus: Tufts University School of Dental Medicine has partnered with JumpOffCampus, an online housing resource available to all Dental students. The site offers a variety of features to assist you with searching available apartment listings, search and post sublets, and offers a Marketplace for you to advertise furniture, electronics, etc. that you are trying to sell.

• DON’T put down a deposit on an apartment unless you are really sure you want it. If you are interested in an apartment but still want to see others, you should only fill out an application.
• DON’T let the realtor pressure you into making any commitment you are not ready to make. YOU control this process, not the realtor. But on the other hand…
• DON’T wait too long for the perfect apartment – there is no perfect apartment! A really good one you saw but waited too long for could end up rented by someone else!
• DO bring references with you. The rental application will ask for past landlords, employers, credit information, and sometimes personal references. Feel free to use the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine Office of Admissions (617-636-6639) as a reference to verify your acceptance to the DMD program - please note that the Admissions Office will only be able to verify your acceptance because until you matriculate you cannot be considered an enrolled student. You can also use a copy of your acceptance letter and/or New Student Form for this purpose. You may also contact the Financial Aid Office if you need proof that you will be receiving student loans to cover any of your living costs.
• DO bring a few checks with you – if you find a place you really like and wish to rent you can fill out the application and leave a deposit. Once a deposit has been made, the realtor will take the apartment off the market while a background check is done and the landlord reviews your application.
• DO read the lease before signing it. While Massachusetts requires all rental agencies to use a standardized form (called the “RHA lease”) for apartments, you should still familiarize yourself with the contents of the lease to know your rights. If you should do an unofficial rental contract, say with someone who is renting their condo to you; make sure that you are protected legally in the contract if something should go wrong.
• DO ask if the above can be done through the mail if you must leave Boston before finalizing your apartment. While the preliminary agreement process can be done by phone/fax, originals are required for formal lease signing. Most agencies are willing to accommodate mail business.
• DO ask your parents to co-sign the lease if required. Many landlords are reluctant to rent to students because they do not have a source of income. They will, however, rent to students if someone else cosigns, and the landlord has the right to demand this before entering into a lease. The cosigner will pick up the payments if you are unable to make them.
• DO ask for an explanation if you are not accepted for an apartment you applied for, as it will help you in your future search. If this happens, you should get your deposit back.

Location and Information

The Posner Hall Dormitory was built in 1954 with renovations occurring regularly, resulting in a well-maintained facility. It houses our Medical School students including Public Health and Professional Degree students and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students in a building located at 200 Harrison Avenue, Boston. The dormitory is located on Tufts University's Health Sciences Campus where most classes are held and is next to Tufts Medical Center.

The rooms are located on the third and fourth floors of the Posner building and each floor houses students from various degree programs and class years. The floors are co-ed and the overall atmosphere of the dorm is similar to what you would find in a "quiet study" affinity group. (Residents are graduate and professional students with full-time course loads who will often use the dorm as a place to study.)

The rooms are single occupancy measuring 11 X 13.5 feet with one window and two closets. All rooms are furnished with an air conditioner, twin bed, dresser, desk and chair with a bookshelf. Floors have been updated in the common kitchens and bathrooms (separate facilities for men & women). Rooms are equipped with telephone and TV jacks and the resident must contact the service companies to activate. Additionally, there is a common lounge with a study area on the second floor and an exercise room and a laundry room in the basement. Additional information and photos of Posner Hall are available here. Our Facilities staff maintains the dormitory on a daily basis.

2023 Spring Month-to-Month Lease Terms and Costs

We are also currently able to offer month-to-month lease terms for rooms in Posner Hall during the 2023 Spring Semester. The rate for a monthly lease is $1250.00 with move-in on the first of the month and move-out on the last day of the month. Extension of the lease term can be added at a rate of $325 per week for a 7 day period. Please note that a monthly lease of a room in Posner Hall is only available to matriculated Medical/PHPD/Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students. The lease is for single occupancy and long-term overnight guests are not allowed. (Contact the OSA at med-osa@tufts.edu for inquiries and to request a monthly housing agreement.)

Fall 2023/Spring 2024 Lease Terms

Lease terms for the academic year are August 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024. (MD students who have orientation in the last week of July 2023 can add the additional week(s) to their lease at a prorated cost.) We will also accept summer lease contracts from students who wish to continue residing in the room dorm during June 2024 and/or July 2024 based on availability. The lease is for single occupancy and long-term overnight guests are not allowed.

Fall 2023/Spring 2024 Cost

The cost for the 2023/2024 academic year is $12,300.00 for a 10 month period.  Housing charges will be posted to the student account by the Bursar’s Office in two equal payments.  The fall semester charge of $6150.00 is billed in July 2023.  The spring semester charge of $6150.00 is billed in November 2023.  Any resident who chooses to leave the dormitory earlier than the lease end date of May 31, 2024 will not be eligible for a refund unless the student or OSA can secure a replacement resident for the duration of time that the room would be vacant (see Housing License Agreement section below).

Housing License Agreement

For 2023/2024 academic year housing, a signed Housing License Agreement must be submitted with a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit in order to secure a dorm room. Agreements with deposits that are received by April 30, 2023 will receive priority room assignment for the upcoming academic year. Agreements with deposits that are received after April 30th will be assigned a room in order of submission date. Students are responsible for all room charges once a Housing Agreement has been submitted. Housing Agreements will only be cancelled in the situation that the dorm is full and a replacement resident is found for the entire term of the contract. (Replacement residents must be Medical School/Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students approved by the Office of Student Affairs.) A cancelled contract will release a student from future housing charges but DOES NOT result in a refund of deposits or of charges already incurred.

Only matriculated Medical School/Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students or students who have been formally admitted to the Medical School/Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences are eligible to submit a Housing Agreement to reserve a room in the dorm.

Note: By signing and submitting a Housing License Agreement, the student is agreeing to the requirements listed, including being responsible for housing payments for the full lease term. You should only submit your Housing Agreement AFTER you have made a final decision to live in the dormitory.

A completed agreement and deposit check made out to "Trustees of Tufts College" should be returned to:

Tufts University School of Medicine
Office of Student Affairs
Medical Education Building, 4th Floor
145 Harrison Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02111

Inquiries

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at 617-636-6534 or email med-osa@tufts.edu.

Renters insurance is important to have and can protect you against fires, snow and water damage, theft, and more. Get a quote here. 

There are many wonderful aspects of life here in Boston; unfortunately, owning and driving a car is not one of them. Especially within Boston city limits, off-street parking is usually an expensive proposition, while on-street parking is often difficult to find consistently. If you do not have a specific need for a car in your first year (such as a commute requiring one), we strongly recommend that you leave it at home.

Some things to keep in mind as you consider whether to bring your car to school:

• Within 30 days of moving to Massachusetts, you must either:

1. Register your car with the police department of the city you live in and with Tufts University Police here on the Boston campus. The relevant form for the city is located at: http://www.massrmv.com/.
2. Register your car with the state of Massachusetts as a Massachusetts resident at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Failure to comply with this state law may result in a fine. To register a car in Massachusetts, you must first obtain an insurance policy through a licensed Massachusetts insurance agent. Insurance rates are set by the state but vary according to where you live, what kind of car you have, and your driving history; these rates tend to be quite expensive within Boston city limits. Registration Conversion fees and title fees, plus a license conversion fees apply . If you never paid a sales tax on your car in your home state (NH residents, for example), you will be required to pay a 6% tax on the sale price of your car. For more information on registering your car, check the RMV website at http://www.massrmv.com/.

• If you live in a Boston neighborhood that requires an on-street resident parking permit, you must follow one of the above procedures before you can qualify for a permit. Resident parking permits are obtained at Boston City Hall and are free of charge. For more information about resident parking permits, please visit the city of Boston website: http://www.cityofboston.gov/parking/residentparking/
• Posner Hall residents will NOT qualify for a Chinatown resident permit. You would have to store your car at a private garage, which in the vicinity of campus will cost upwards of $350 per month. We strongly discourage students intending to live in Posner from bringing a car.
• Students who commute by car may park at the Tufts-NEMC Herald St. garage (located ¼ mile from campus, open Monday-Friday 5am to 2am) for a fee of $9.00 per day. Spaces are available on a first come first served basis. You must bring your student ID and car registration to the Tufts-NEMC parking garage in order to be issued a decal. The Parking Office is open Monday through Thursday from 7am to 6pm, and Friday from 7am to 4pm. It is located on the first floor of the Tufts-New England Medical Center Parking Garage at 274 Tremont Street. For more information, contact the Parking Office at 617-636-5580.

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine has partnered with JumpOffCampus, a new online housing resource available to all Dental students. The site offers  a variety of features to assist you with searching available apartment listings, search and post sublets, and offers a Marketplace for you to advertise furniture, electronics, etc. that you are trying to sell. Please visit tusdm.jumpoffcampus.com and register. For more more videos and information about security deposits, simplifying the search, inspecting apartments and more,  visit the jumpoffcampus.com learning center.