Moving to Seattle
New in town? Here's some information to get you started.
Finding a place to live
Numerous housing options exist for graduate students at the University of Washington, and it is recommended that you begin your housing search early since the rental market can be competitive and on-campus openings fill rapidly.
Off-campus housing
There are a number of neighborhoods close to campus that are worth considering. A few of these include Ravenna, Wallingford, Montlake, Capitol Hill, Green Lake and Sand Point. All of these neighborhoods are within a 15-20 minute bus ride of the University. In addition, there is plenty of housing in the University District, and you may well find this is the most convenient option for you.
Some ways to find a place to live:
Craigslist: Craigslist is an American classified advertisement website with sections devoted to housing, items for sale, items wanted, discussion forums, and more. Before reaching out to sellers, make sure to read the ‘avoiding scams’ site on the sidebar.
UW Housing Facebook Group: The off-campus housing Facebook page for University of Washington, with posts about anything related to housing, roommates, parking, sublets, and property reviews in and around the University District. To avoid scams and fraud, use your university email and only rent from users with an official university email.
On-campus housing
The University of Washington also has a variety of on-campus residential communities consisting of residence halls or apartment-style buildings. On-campus housing offers building perks and resident-only spaces including a resident dining program. The close proximity to campus and opportunities for community engagement in on-campus housing may be the right fit for you. Learn more about living on campus.
Helpful resources:
- On-campus housing: UW Housing & Food Services
- On-campus housing photos and floor plans
- On-campus housing and dining rates
Planning your commute
By Bus
With your U-PASS, you have unlimited prepaid access to Metro buses, which you pay by tapping the farebox upon boarding the bus. You can also pay with cash, a Metro transfer, or a Metro ticket. In addition to checking the bus timetables online, we recommend downloading the application “OneBusAway” for real-time updates. Learn more about trip-planning on the King County Metro site.
By Light Rail
Your U-PASS also covers travel by Link light rail, which travels between UW Station and Sea-Tac Airport, making 13 stops along the way, including downtown Seattle. Link trains run every 6, 10 or 15 minutes depending on the time of day. Service is available from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Learn more about trip planning on the King County Metro site.
Parking
Students commuting to campus may purchase daytime or evening parking permits, as well as motorcycle permits. Resident permits are open only to students living in UW residence halls.
All student parking permits are issued quarterly and must be purchased and renewed in person at the Transportation Services office. Learn more about rates on the UW Transportation site.
Stuff to do
Seattle Teams
Dawg Pack season tickets grant full-time UW students access to all home football and men’s basketball games on a first-come, first-served basis based on availability. Students must be registered for the fall quarter to purchase Dawg Pack season tickets, on sale during the summer for the upcoming season. Learn more about season tickets.
Seattle is also home to several sports teams, including the Seahawks, Mariners, Kraken, Sounders FC, Reign FC, and the Storm. Learn more about game schedules and tickets at SeattleSports.org.
Museums and the Arts
On campus, all UW students receive free admission to the Henry Art Gallery, Washington state’s first art museum founded in 1926; and the Burke Museum, a natural history museum with a collection of more than 16 million artifacts.
Venturing off campus, here is just a small sample of museums in the area to explore:
- Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP): explore some of the most significant moments in rock music, science fiction, and popular culture.
- Northwest African American Museum: a history, culture and arts institution that explores what it means to be African American in the Pacific Northwest.
- Wing Luke Museum: The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience is a history museum that focuses on the culture, art and history of Asian Pacific Americans in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
- The Museum of Flight: The past, present and future of flight comes alive in a world-class collection, rich exhibits, and special programs.
Discover more museums and their current exhibits.
Where to eat
On-campus
Residents can enjoy more than 30 dining locations — including restaurants, cafés, food trucks, food courts, markets and a grocery store. Because all food purchases are a la carte, you can build your meals around your own eating habits. Learn more about on-campus dining options and meal plans.
University Way (The Ave)
University Way Northeast, colloquially The Ave, is a major street and commercial district adjacent to campus. The Ave resembles an eight-block-long global food court.
Staff picks on The Ave:
- Byrek & Baguette
- Chili’s South Indian Cuisine
- H-Mart
- Sizzle & Crunch
- Sultan Gyro Grill & Shawarma
- Ugly Mug Cafe
- Xi’an Noodle