There are no housing facilities on the Rosenstiel School's Virginia Key campus or the main campus of the University. Graduate students must choose rental housing in the Miami area. Students should plan to provide their own transportation, as the Miami public system can be inefficient
One thing to note: The Rosenstiel School offers a free shuttle service between the Viscaya MetroRail station and the campus during the regular academic semester (from the first day of classes to the last day of classes each semester). It does not operate, however, on University holidays, breaks or summer. The shuttle schedule is available here.
The Rickenbacker Causeway, along which the School is located, is a toll route. The entrance fee at the mainland end of the causeway is $1.75 per entry. A card or transponder, allowing unlimited entry to the causeway, can be purchased from the Rickenbacker Causeway Office at the mainland entry point for $60.00 per year for non-residents and $24.00 per year for Key Biscayne residents (subject to change). A deposit will also be required for the entry devices.
Since Miami is such a large metropolitan area and traffic can be a problem, most students tend to live fairly close to the Rosenstiel School campus. When you begin your hunt for housing, you will find that most ads are broken down into “neighborhoods”.
Once you have confirmed your attendance at the Rosenstiel School, the Graduate Studies Office will start sending you, via e-mail, all postings for rentals that come through our campus. A lot of these are current students looking for roommates. You may also complete a Housing Release Form that allows us to give your contact information to other students who are looking for roommates. This form will be sent to you in your initial orientation package (early June).
One of the most important factors to consider when embarking on a housing search is location. Where you live will affect your commuting time, accessibility to services and recreational opportunities, personal safety, and living costs. Miami offers a variety of neighborhoods and communities, each with their advantages and disadvantages. Some strategies you can utilize to assure that you pick the right place for you include:
Below are some brief descriptions of Miami communities. The information is designed to give you some insights on the neighborhoods, but nothing equals a personal visit.
Coral Gables is home to the University of Miami main campus. It is primarily a residential area, with some apartments, condos, efficiencies, duplexes and ‘mother-in-law’ suites for rent. There are also some estate homes with guest cottages that are prized by renters—these are very popular and you will be ‘competing’ with professionals from the community (and not just other students) for these units. Coral Gables has very low crime, quiet streets, and is home to some of Miami’s best restaurants and little art galleries.
Coconut Grove is north of Coral Gables, a five- to 10- minute easy commute to campus. ‘The Grove’ as it is known is a great mix of clubs, bars, shops, restaurants, big annual art festivals and popular bayfront parks. There are small houses, duplexes and apartments for rent. The Roads (so named because all the streets are actually roads as opposed to streets and avenues) is an area located just off the Rickenbacker Causeway. It is one of Miami’s oldest neighborhoods. You will find houses, some small apartment complexes, and cottages/efficiencies usually located behind some larger homes.
Houses usually have the most space, a yard for which you may have the responsibility of upkeep, and perhaps a carport or garage. Houses also afford more privacy than any other form of housing. Groups of students often rent entire houses.Apartmentsprovide the most services and require the least responsibility on your part. The landlord takes care of the mechanical systems, yard work, redecoration (such as painting), and repairs. Laundry facilities are usually available in the apartment unit or elsewhere in the complex. These are small apartments with a private bathroom, limited cooking facilities, and a studio-type living room, which also serves as a bedroom. There are many efficiency apartments in older Coral Gables homes. Owners of homes that have extra space provide room rentals. Most owners allow the student the complete use of their homes. Be sure to clarify whether or not you share the utility expenses, have a private bath, have kitchen privileges, and use of such amenities as the telephone, laundry, or pool. Determine how many people live at the address, and if you are expected to clean more than your room. Deposit money means any money held by the landlord on behalf of the tenant, including but not limited to, damage deposits, security deposits, advance rent deposits, pet deposits, or any contracted deposit agreed to between landlord and tenant either in writing or orally. A standard to go by in South Florida would be a deposit equal to your first month and last month of rent. It is typical to pay the equivalent of two to three month’s rent upon moving into an apartment. A cleaning deposit is a separate deposit, which allows the landlord to use the money to clean or paint the rental after you move. The landlord usually does not refund a cleaning deposit. The damage deposit must be returned when you leave the premises unless you caused physical damage beyond normal wear and tear. An inspection inventory signed by both landlord and tenant will help determine the conditions of the premises before moving in or our. The original inspection should be used to evaluate the occupancy before moving out. The Florida Landlord and Tenant Act defines a security deposit as any monies held by the landlord as security for performance of the rental agreement including, but not limited to, monetary damage to the landlord caused by the tenant’s breach of the lease terms.Houses
Efficiencies
Room rentals
Rental Deposits
As you go about your housing search, you will also want to keep in mind issues pertaining to you commute and the transportation options available to you. Your transportation options, the costs, and the accessibility of those options are all important factors to weigh when deciding where to live. Extending from Hialeah to Dadeland/Kendall. The MetroRail is Dade County’s rail system and it is primarily a north-south route. If you live close to a MetroRail station, or to a bus that can get you to a station, MetroRail can take you to the Viscaya Station where you can pick up the Rosenstiel School Shuttle during the semester or the Brickell Station where you can pick up the “B” bus anytime. Student Metro passes are available for purchase at the Rosenstiel School Facilities Admin Office. In addition to MetroRail, Metro-Dade Transit offers 100 bus routes, which crisscross Dade County daily. Many buses connect with the MetroRail, and the cost is included in the college student Metropass. A discounted student Metro-Pass can be purchased at the UC, first floor, at the Ticketmaster/Information Desk window or at the Facilities Office here at the Rosenstiel School. Bike racks are located just underneath the Science and Administration building. To protect yourself against bicycle theft, lock your bike with a high quality lock whenever leaving it unattended.MetroRail
Buses
Bicycles