Graduate Student Life

Housing for Graduate Students

Graduate students have three different campus housing facilities: Rice Graduate Apartments, Rice Village Apartments, and Rice Village Townhomes. All properties are within walking distance from the campus, and also provide easy transportation to and from campus and all shopping needs on the weekend through a shuttle service. They also provide social activities and events to help students take a break from their studies. Each community is unique in its own way and provides a broad living environment. For all property information, please visit https://graduate.rice.edu/housing.

Rice Graduate Apartments is a garden style complex located just north of campus on Bissonnet. The community includes quick and easy access to campus, study rooms, laundry facilities, bike rooms, two courtyards, and recreational areas. Electronically controlled access gates for pedestrian and vehicular paths are provided. ADA accessible units are available to students requesting reasonable accommodations. Each apartment is furnished with a bed, desk, desk chair, night stand, chest of drawers, and a bookshelf. In addition, each unit includes streaming TV service, water, and Wi-Fi Internet. Housing is assigned through a lottery, with a high placement rate given to incoming graduate students. For further information, visit the website above, call 713-348-GRAD (4723), or email gradapts@rice.edu.

The Rice Village Apartments is a four-story contemporary style community located on Shakespeare Street within a short walk of the Village. It offers four ADA accessible units for students requesting reasonable accommodations, and also offers family housing. Each unit offers appliances equipped with Energy Star efficiency to conserve energy and protect the environment. In addition, it is furnished with a dresser, nightstand, desk, chair, and bed. Streaming TV service, Wi-Fi Internet, and water also are included. A laundry facility is on site. Other amenities include common areas, study rooms, a recreational area, and bike room. Controlled security access is provided by a keyless front door using a key fob system. Housing is assigned through a lottery, with a high placement rate given to incoming graduate students. For more information, call 713-348-4050, or email rvapts@rice.edu.

The Rice Village Townhomes is a modern three-story, 20 townhome community located south of the Rice Village Apartments on Shakespeare Street. It offers one ADA accessible unit with an elevator for students requesting reasonable accommodations, as well as family housing. Each unit is fully equipped with wireless internet, an individual washer and dryer unit, couch, coffee table, end table, entertainment stand, kitchen table with four chairs, full size bed, desk, chair, night stand, and chest of drawers. Each townhome has 2 bedrooms and 2 ½ bath with a parking garage for two cars and garage door opener. Housing is assigned through a lottery, with a high placement rate given to incoming graduate students. For more information, call 713-348-4050, or email rvapts@rice.edu.

Students who would like more information about housing options beyond these three campus options can visit the Rice University Off-Campus Housing website. Students participating in Rice’s online and hybrid graduate programs are not eligible for university owned graduate student housing.

Meal Plans

Campus Dining provides access to graduate students on a limited basis each semester to participate in student meal plans. Additional services are listed below:

Assistance with food allergies confirmed and clearly diagnosed by a physician
Alternate menu entrées, whenever possible, to accommodate students’ religious practices

Meals are served cafeteria style. Campus dining provides four meals per day Monday through Friday and three meals per day on weekends. Meals are not served during the winter break.

Rice Student Center

The Student Center provides services and developmental opportunities to build community and enrich the Rice experience through facilities, events, student run businesses, and student activities. It houses a variety of retail and dining operations including the campus store, Sammy's, and Ambassador Cafe. The Graduate Student Lounge, Student Resource Center and the Clubs offices are all located in the lower level, with other student life offices throughout the building, including meeting rooms for departments, clubs, and organizations. Visitors can also make use of an ATM located outside the store and ask questions of the Information Desk staff located near the circle drive. Students and visitors alike can enjoy a beverage of their choice and fellowship with their peers at the Rice Coffeehouse, purchase a late night snack from the Hoot, or visit the new Rice Bikes location in the Multicultural Center Garage located on the inner loop to rent a bicycle or get repairs.

For more information on the Student Center, visit https://studentcenter.rice.edu.

Passport to Houston

Passport to Houston is a program designed to engage the Rice community with the city of Houston in order to encourage students to be more community-oriented, socially-engaged, and culturally-aware. Through this program, Rice students are provided memberships to local museums and free admission to Rice Night Events. For more information, please see the Passport to Houston website here: https://riceprogramcouncilsite.wordpress.com/passport/.

For information regarding services and resources for graduate students, please visit https://graduate.rice.edu/lifeatrice.