Housing

Arrange On-Campus Housing before Arrival

On-campus apartments are now assigned prior to May 15 of each year. IF YOU WISH TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ON-CAMPUS HOUSING AND ITS POTENTIAL OPENINGS, you should have received your visa and notified the Housing department prior to May 14th to be put on their waiting list.  If they have an apartment opening, you will need to arrive by June 1st to secure it and commence summer classes within thirty days.

*** 1 Bedroom apt. = 2 child limit; 2 Bedroom apt. = 3-4 child limit, depending on the age
IF YOU HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP, then you need to arrive by July 1st to commence the next summer session.  You can arrive as early as June 1st, especially if you wish to secure on-campus housing (see above). July 1st is the deadline for sending us all required documents for entering in the fall semester in mid-August.  Attending the International Student Orientation is REQUIRED and falls two days prior to the general DTS orientation (international students have two orientations to attend).  On-campus housing will not be available, so you will need to find housing in the nearby area before you arrive. Email the Housing Office for suggestions.

Live as close to the seminary as possible.  Living away from seminary could require the immediate purchase of a car costing $3,000-4,000 USD (minimum). In addition, the maintenance costs, insurance, and gas could add thousands more to your expenses. Staying close to campus would defer and minimize any costs in this area. If you cannot stay in on-campus housing, seek off-campus accommodation within walking distance (see below).  More than 50% of DTS international students live within walking distance of the campus.

Remember that you cannot live in a rent-free home where you are required to work in any way for the owner, i.e. free rent in exchange for service.  That would be an illegal form of off-campus employment prohibited for your F-1 non-nonimmigrant status.

International Driver's License

You may wish to obtain an international driver’s license (must be valid for the USA) before you leave.  You will have mobility for 30 days until you can complete the paperwork for a Texas Driver’s License.  Keep your current national driver’s license with your international license until both are replaced with your Texas license.

DTS Campus Housing Advice

  1. Swiss Tower leases are an annual lease. All leases generally begin on June 1st (except those moving in over the summer and during December/January), and all leases end on May 31st (except for graduates in December and/or summer).
  2. Campus Housing renews leases in April of each year with the deadline being April 30th. All who live in the apartments are given the opportunity to renew their lease, and must do so in April. Those who move in after April 30th have their lease begin at the date they actually move in. Therefore they may not have a full 12- month lease. Those who move in for the spring semester in December or January will still have their leases expire on May 31.
  3. Dormitory contracts (available only to male single students) are aligned with the actual school year.  They begin when fall begins and end when spring ends, generally running from August to May.  The fees are per semester, not including summer or winter breaks.  For winter break, you will be charged at an additional weekly charge for the number of weeks you wish to remain.  For the summer, you will be charged a weekly rate for any of the 13 weeks that you would stay.
  4. Dorms do not open for international students until the day before their International Student Orientation.  Anyone wishing to arrive earlier would need to pay possible additional weekly charges.  Confirm the Housing Office all details of your plans for confirmation before you arrive.  There is no cafeteria food service during the two weeks before the fall semester starts.

Please contact the Student Housing Office  as soon as you have received your finalized visa to enter the US.

Short-Term Hotel Accommodation

La Quinta Inn
4440 North Central Expressway (map)
Dallas, Texas 75206 (1.2 miles from DTS)
(214) 821-4220
Directions: On the eastern side of the feeder road to Highway 75 (Central Expressway): Between Henderson Street to the north and Fitzhugh Street to the south.

Off-Campus Housing

After you are accepted to DTS, call these apartments to check for availability and to sign up on the waiting list.  Be sure you have your visa from the consulate ensuring entry into the US before you sign a lease committing you to pay rent!

Apartments within walking distance of the Seminary:

  1. Swissaire Apartments*****: 4125 Swiss Ave. 75204. Phone 214-824-5500, Fax 214-821-1496. 1-minute walk from the seminary. $500 - $700  Efficiency, 1 BR and 2 BR apartments are available. The waiting lists are usually long, so apply early. Ask for the seminary discount.
  2. The Hamptons*** (214)-818-0900.  Ask for the seminary discount. They have 1-bedroom unfurnished air conditioned apartments only! It is within 3 minutes’ walk of the seminary. It is a gated community, but less safe as it is located a bit further away from seminary.  Recommended for single males or couples without children.
    (Asterixes *** indicate quality)