Winter Break & Spring Early Arrival Housing

All students must vacate their rooms by 12pm on December 19, 2025, UNLESS APPROVED FOR WINTER BREAK HOUSING. Students who are not returning in the spring must fill out a check-out form when leaving for winter break.

Students who do not have a Spring 2026 semester housing assignment are not eligible for Winter Break Housing.
Students who do not vacate their residence hall by 12pm on December 19, 2025, and are not approved for Winter Break Housing will be charged a $150 fee for an improper checkout.
Students with Spring 2026 housing that are not staying for Winter Break are not required move all belongings out of room during Winter Break.
Residents with a Spring Only assignment, who wish to return to campus before January 9 must request Early Arrival housing and cannot arrive any earlier than Wednesday, January 7.

Failure to plan accordingly for the published Winter Break period does not constitute sufficient grounds for Winter Break or Spring Early Arrival housing.

The Winter Break Housing Policy allows students to remain living on campus during the winter break period or students to return early for the spring semester. Only students who have requested and been approved for Winter Break or Spring Early Arrival housing will have GWorld access to their residence hall and their room during this time. All students must complete the online request form. This includes students working for a GW department, participating in university-sponsored events or activities, individual requests, and international students.

Please note that from December 19, 2025 through January 9, 2026 students approved for Winter Break Housing could be relocated to a different residence hall. Determination of relocation will be made based on the number of students staying in each building and will ensure resident safety during a period when residence hall occupancy is typically low.

Students will be able to request Winter Break and Spring Early Arrival housing via an online form beginning in early November via GW Home Portal. Winter Break Housing must be requested by Tuesday, Dec. 2 for students on the Foggy Bottom Campus, and Wednesday, Nov. 19 for students on the Mount Vernon Campus.

Winter Break Housing

Winter Break Housing allows students currently living on campus continuous access to their residence hall between December 19, 2025 - January 9, 2026
Only students who have a fall and spring housing assignment may request Winter Break Housing
There is no additional housing charge for students to stay on campus during winter break.
The Winter Break Housing request form is available via the GW Home Portal. Winter Break Housing must be requested by Tuesday, Dec. 2 for students on the Foggy Bottom Campus, and Wednesday, Nov. 19 for students on the Mount Vernon Campus.

The following are approved reasons to remain living on campus over Winter Break:

I am an exchange student
I am an international student
I will be working for a GW department or other employment
I am participating in a University-sponsored program
I am a student-athlete
GW is my permanent address
Transportation availability or cost

Spring Early Arrival Housing

Spring Early Arrival Housing allows students currently living on campus the opportunity to return early for approved reasons
Students with approved Spring Early Arrival may not return prior to Wednesday, January 7.
Student-athletes needing to return before January for team activities will be informed by Campus Living & the Department of Athletics
There is no additional housing charge for students to return early.
The Spring Early Arrival Housing request form is available via GW Home Portal.

The following are approved reasons to return early:

I will be working for a GW department or other employment
I am participating in a University-sponsored program
I am a student-athlete
Transportation availability or cost

Frequently Asked Questions: Winter Break and Spring Early Arrival Housing

If I'm not staying for Winter Break, do I have to move all of my belongings out of room during that period?

If you are leaving for Winter Break and living on-campus during the Spring 2026 semester, you do not need to move your belongings out of your room.

If you are not living on-campus during the Spring 2026 semester, you are required to fully move out of your room by December 19, 2025 at 12pm.