Life on Campus

Notre Dame is well known for its outstanding sense of community and active student body. In order to have a positive transition to life in the US and an active intercultural engagement with the wider Notre Dame community while you are at Notre Dame, we encourage you to get involved!

Housing   Meals   Student Life   Explore South Bend

Housing

Exchange and visiting international students live both on and off campus. Due to a shortage of on-campus accommodations at ND, exchange and visiting international students are not guaranteed on-campus housing. A lottery process is in place to determine on-campus assignments. However, some students will need to secure their own off-campus housing. During winter break, academic year students will have to move out of the dorms. For this reason, we highly encourage academic year students to search for off-campus housing, ensuring you still have accommodation during the break. Please see below for further information on housing options on and off campus.

On-Campus Housing	Off-Campus Housing
30+ Residence Halls (single sex) 2-4 students share a room, shared facilities on the floor Fully furnished Meal Plan included Strong community with built in social network, support network to adjust to campus and the United States Distinct dorm culture and character with strong traditions Walking distance to classrooms and dining Parietals apply	Apartment style Individual bedrooms & bathrooms, shared kitchen & living room Furnished or unfurnished Meal Plan not included, but can be added Ability to cook meals at home Options in walking distance from campus available or with campus shuttle. However, some apartments may be further from campus - please carefully consider safety and transportation Independent living
Dorm Life Dorm life at The University of Notre Dame is unique. Degree seeking students are required to live on campus for three years which fosters a strong sense of community and traditions in the dorms. Dorms are at the center of social life on campus, with weekly activities with your hallmates, intramural sports and study groups. Every dorm is equipped with a kitchen, study spaces and a lounge for the students convenience. Dorms are secure with front desk staff and Resident Assistants (RA’s) and doors are locked at all times. Roommates are assigned at random and a request for a specific dorm or roommate cannot be accommodated.	Fischer Graduate Housing The Fischer Graduate Residences are a popular option among students as these apartments are located on campus, are affordably priced, fully furnished, and typically house a variety of international students and scholars. You may visit their website. Other Off-Campus Options You can explore options for off-campus housing by visiting the off-campus resources website at offcampus.nd.edu for local apartment and house listings, a roommate finder, message boards, and general information about living off-campus. Please do careful research before signing a lease for off campus accommodation and be aware of roommate restrictions, lease options (including the length of the lease term), and if it is furnished or unfurnished. PLEASE NOTE: The University does not endorse private off-campus facilities. Students are encouraged to investigate potential landlords/complexes and to review potential leases thoroughly.

Meals

Notre Dame’s campus features two dining halls (North Dining Hall and South Dining Hall) as well as several eateries and fast food chains such as Starbucks, Smashburger, Subway, and Taco Bell. If you are living on campus, you are automatically enrolled in a meal plan. If you are living off campus, a meal plan is not required; however, if you wish to purchase a meal plan, please visit this website.

Student Life

As a Notre Dame student, you will have access to a variety of extracurricular activities, organizations, and clubs. Campus is known for fervent traditions, intramural dorm sports, and a variety of cultural, intellectual and social clubs. In the past, students have been involved in various choirs, faith based organizations, and a variety of sports clubs. Explore the University's Student Life website to discover all of the possible ways you can get involved. You can also find a full calendar of Notre Dame’s campus events here.

Student Clubs and Organizations

There are over 500+ student clubs and organizations on campus for our visiting international students to take advantage of. You can visit the full list here. We encourage students to find activities they are interested in, whether that is a language round table, cultural group, or something fun like the lego club or quidditch team!

Notre Dame International Sponsored Activities

Throughout the semester, you can participate in various events and activities organized by the Global Engagement Team and International Students & Scholar Affairs (ISSA). In the past, these have included:

• Welcome & Farewell Dinners
• International Student Coffee Hours
• Ice Skating at Compton Family Ice Arena
• Exchange Student Meet & Greet
• Chicago Trip
• Bowling
• Thanksgiving & Easter Events
• Subsidized Fall break and Spring Break trips (ei. Washington D.C.)

You can also check out ISSA’s events to see what opportunities are available to meet other international students, American students, and Notre Dame faculty and staff.

Explore South Bend

South Bend has a lot of activities, events, and sights to offer. To learn more about exploring South Bend, visit our Why ND page.