List of residential colleges


Residential colleges are found at universities around the world. This list is sorted by country, and by university.
There are various different definitions of what makes a residential college, including: "Residential colleges are collegia in the original sense: societies, not buildings, and their members may reside anywhere" ; "A residential college is a collegiate residential environment in which live-in faculty play an integral role in the programmatic experience and leadership of the community" ; and "A college is, at its heart, an association or community of people having a distinctive sense of common purpose: in the university context this common purpose is the pursuit of scholarship and understanding through education and research." Overall, residential colleges demonstrate a wide diversity in their natures.
This list does not follow a particular definition but includes university residential institutions identified as colleges or residential colleges in reliable sources. It does not include academic colleges of universities, although it does include residential colleges that participate in academic teaching. It also does not include residential further education colleges, such as the Royal National College for the Blind, or other non-university residential colleges.
Due to the diversity of residential college systems, not all universities on this list are collegiate universities where all students are members of a residential college. Many universities run residential colleges alongside other forms of residential accommodation, at others residential colleges are only offered after the first year of undergraduate studies, or only in the first year. Post-graduate students are not always included in collegiate systems. In at least one instance, the collegiate system runs primarily within a single faculty of the university. Where this information is available, these differences are described in the list entries below.

Australia

South Australia

Independent colleges in Adelaide

There are four independent colleges in north Adelaide associated with the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia and Flinders University. The oldest, St. Mark's College, opened in 1925.

Australian Capital Territory

Australian National University

There are two independent residential colleges associated with the Australian National University:

Tasmania

University of Tasmania

There are four residential colleges at the University of Tasmania's Hobart campus. Christ College became the first residential college of the university in 1933.

Victoria

La Trobe University

There are three colleges on La Trobe University's Melbourne campus:

University of Melbourne

The first residential college at the University of Melbourne, Trinity College, opened in 1872. As of 2025, the residential colleges are:

Monash University

There is one private residential college associated with Monash University:

New South Wales

Macquarie University

There are three affiliated residential colleges at Macquarie University:

|University of New England

There are five residential colleges at the University of New England:

University of New South Wales

There are eight university-operated colleges and four independent colleges at the University of New South Wales.
University operated:
Independent:

University of Sydney

Following the foundation of the secular University of Sydney in 1850, the New South Wales government supported the foundation of residential colleges at the new university by the main Christian denominations in the colonye, with the earliest being St. Paul's College in 1856 and St. John's College in 1857. As of 2025, there are seven residential colleges at the University of Sydney, two of which have associated graduate houses:

Queensland

Independent colleges in Brisbane

There is one independent residential college in Brisbane, affiliated to the Uniting Church of Australia:

James Cook University

There are two colleges on the James Cook University Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus:
  • Saints Catholic College
  • The John Flynn College

University of Queensland

There are ten colleges at the University of Queensland:

Western Australia

Curtin University

There is one independent college at Curtin University:

University of Western Australia

There are five colleges at the University of Western Australia:
  • St Catherine's College
  • St George's College
  • St Thomas Moore College
  • Trinity College
  • University Hall

Canada

University of British Columbia

There are four residential colleges on the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia:

Trent University

There are five colleges at Trent University, with a sixth planned to open in 2028:
  • Catharine Parr Traill College
  • Champlain College
  • Lady Eaton College
  • Otonabee College
  • Peter Gzowski College
  • Gidigaa Migizi College

University of Manitoba

The colleges affiliated to the University of Manitoba are:

University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo has four residential university colleges on its campus that also offer academic programmes:

University of Toronto

The University of Toronto has seven constituent and federated colleges on its St. George campus. All undergraduates in the faculty of arts and science are members of a college, but students in other faculties have only limited connections with the colleges. The first college, University College, was established in 1853 but students did not come into residence until its building was completed in 1859.
;Constituent colleges:
; Federated colleges:

York University

There are seven colleges at York University. All undergraduate students are assigned a college based on their programme of study:

China

Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen

Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, has seven colleges, with an eighth due to open in 2025:

Germany

Constructor University

Constructor University in Bremen has four residential colleges: All pre-degree and undergraduate students are members of a college, while postgraduate students are housed off-campus.
  • College Nordmetall
  • College 3
  • Krupp College
  • Mercator College

Hong Kong

Chinese University of Hong Kong

There are nine colleges at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. All full-time undergraduates can apply to join one of the colleges.

University of Hong Kong

There are two clusters of residential colleges at the University of Hong Kong, the Jockey Club Student Village III and Jockey Club Student Village IV. Both clusters have 4 colleges.

Jockey Club Student Village III

Source:
  • Shun Hing College
  • Chi Sun College
  • Lap-Chee College
  • New College

Jockey Club Student Village IV

Source:
  • College 1
  • College 2
  • Karson Choi College
  • D. H. Chen College

Italy

University of Bologna

There is one independent residential college at the University of Bologna, for students from Spain, founded in 1364:

University of Pavia

The University of Pavia has 18 residential colleges, with the oldest dating back to 1429, before closing in 1805 and being re-established in 1954, and the two longest in continuous operation dating from 1561 and 1567 respectively. Twelve are state-owned, run by the autonomous Ente per il Diritto allo Studio Universitario organisation, four are independent colleges "recognised by the Italian Ministry of University and Research" and two are private colleges. Students are not required to be members of a college.
  • Collegio Alessandro Volta
  • Collegio Benvenuto Griziotti
  • Collegio Borromeo
  • Collegio Camillo Golgi
  • Collegio Castiglioni Brugnatelli
  • Collegio Don Bosco
  • Collegio Fratelli Cairoli
  • Collegio Gerolamo Cardano
  • Collegio Ghislieri
  • Collegio Giasone del Maino
  • Collegio Lazzaro Spallanzani
  • Collegio Lorenzo Valla
  • Collegio Maria Ausiliatrice
  • Collegio Nuovo
  • Collegio Plinio Fraccaro
  • Collegio Quartier Novo
  • Collegio Santa Caterina da Siena
  • Collegio Senatore

Macau

University of Macau

The University of Macau has ten residential colleges:
  • Chao Kuang Piu College
  • Cheng Yu Tung College
  • Cheong Kun Lun College
  • Choi Kai Yau College
  • Henry Fox Pearl Jubilee College
  • Lui Che Woo College
  • Ma Man Kei and Lo Pak Sam College
  • Moon Chun Memorial College
  • Shiu Pong College
  • Stanley Ho East Asia College

New Zealand

University of Otago

The University of Otago has 14 residential colleges, of which 11 are undergraduate only and 3 take both postgraduates and undergraduates.

Singapore

National University of Singapore

There are four residential colleges at the National University of Singapore, among other residential options:
  • College of Alice and Peter Tan
  • Ridge View Residential College
  • Residential College 4
  • Tembusu College

South Africa

University of the Free State

The University of the Free State instituted residential colleges to promote better racial integration following widespread outrage in 2008 over a racist video made by four white students at the Reitz hostel at the university. There are now five residential colleges at the university:
  • Central College
  • East College
  • North College
  • South College
  • West College

South Korea

POSTECH

First year students and some second year students at POSTECH live in the residential college:
  • Residential College

Yonsei University

There are twelve houses within the 'residential college' at Yonsei University. This is a residential programme, separate from the actual dormitories at the university.
  • Evergreen House
  • Wonchul House
  • Underwood House
  • Yun Dong-Joo House
  • Muak House
  • Chi Won House
  • Baek Yang House
  • Cheongsong House
  • Yongjae House
  • Avison House
  • Allen International House
  • Appenzeller International House

Handong Global University

There are six residential colleges at Handong Global University:
  • Torrey College
  • Kuyper College
  • Sonyangwon College
  • Philadelphos College
  • Jangkiryeo College
  • Carmichael College

Spain

Following the establishments of the Collegio di Spagna at the University of Bologna in Italy, the first college to be established in Spain itself was San Bartolomé College at the University of Salamanca in 1404, with further colleges being founded after this at other Spanish universities. The colleges were suppressed in 1798. An attempt to re-establish the tradition was made with the Residencia de Estudiantes in 1910, which ended with the Spanish Civil War. The Franco regime restored the colleges in the 1940s, but these then became a focal point for dissent and formed people who played a leading role in Spain's transition to democracy.

Autonomous University of Madrid

There are three colleges at the Autonomous University of Madrid:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Castilla
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Somosierra
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Juan Luis Vives

University of Barcelona

There are four colleges at the University of Barcelona:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Mater Salvatoris
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Monterols
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Pedralbes
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Penyafort-Montserrat

University of the Basque Country

There is one college at the University of the Basque Country:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Miguel de Unamuno

University of Cádiz

There is one college at the University of Cádiz:

CEU San Pablo University

There is one college at CEU San Pablo University:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario San Pablo

Charles III University of Madrid

There are three colleges at the Charles III University of Madrid:

Comillas Pontifical University

There is one college at Comillas Pontifical University:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Berrospe

Complutense University of Madrid

There are five colleges owned by the Complutense University of Madrid:
There are also 28 affiliated independent colleges:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Alcalá
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Alcor
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Aquinas
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Argentino Nuestra Sra. de Luján
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Barberán y Collar
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Casa do Brasil
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Chaminade
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Elías Ahúja
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Fundación SEPI
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Isabel de España
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Jaime del Amo
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Jorge Juan
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Juan XXIII Roncalli
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Loyola
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Mara
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Marqués de la Ensenada
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Mater Salvatoris
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Méndel
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Moncloa
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Montalbán
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Ntra. Sra. de Guadalupe
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Pio XII
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Poveda
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario San Agustín
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Santa Mónica
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Sta. Maria del Pino
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Vedruna
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Zurbarán

University of Córdoba

There is one college at the University of Córdoba:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Ntra. Sra. de la Asunción

University of Deusto

There is one college at the University of Deusto:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Deusto

Francisco de Vitoria University

There is one college at Francisco de Vitoria University:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Francisco de Vitoria

University of Granada

There are six colleges at the University of Granada, one university-owned and five affiliated:
University owned:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Isabel la Católica
Affiliated:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Albayzín
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Cardenal Cisneros
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario JESÚS-MARÍA
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Santo Domingo
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Sta. María

Independent colleges in Barcelona

There is one independent college in Barcelona:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Bonaigua

Independent colleges in Valencia

There is one independent college in Valencia:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario La Asunción de Nuestra Señora

Independent colleges in Granada

The is one independent college in Granada:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Alsajara

University of León

There is one college at the University of León:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario San Isidoro

Mondragon University

There is one college at Mondragon University:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Pedro Biteri

University of Navarra

There are nine colleges on the main Pamplona campus of the University of Navarra:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Aralar
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Belagua
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Goimendi
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Goroabe
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Larraona
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Mendaur
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Olabidea
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Santa Clara
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Sta. Maria del Lago
There are also two college on the San Sebastián campus:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Ayete
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Jaizkibel

University of Salamanca

There are three colleges at the University of Salamanca:
There is also one independent college affiliated with the university:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Montellano

University of Santiago de Compostela

There are two colleges affiliated with the University of Santiago de Compostela:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Arosa
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario La Estila

University of Seville

There are five colleges at the University of Seville:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Alborán
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Almonte
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Guadaira
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Hernando Colón
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario San Juan Bosco

Technical University of Madrid

There is one college at the Technical University of Madrid:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Ntra. Sra. de África

University of Valencia

There are five colleges at the University of Valencia:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Albalat
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario La Alameda
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario San Juan De Ribera
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Saomar
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Rector Peset

University of Valladolid

There are three colleges affiliated with the University of Valladolid:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario María de Molina
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Peñafiel
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario San Juan Evangelista

Villanueva University

There is one college at Villanueva University:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Santillana

University of Zaragoza

There are six colleges at the Zaragoza campus of the University of Zaragoza:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Cardenal Xavierre
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario La Anunciata
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Miraflores
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Peñalba
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Virgen del Carmen
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Pedro Cerbuna
There is one college on the Huesca campus:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Ramón Acín
There is one college on the Teruel campus:
  • Colegio Mayor Universitario Pablo Serrano

Taiwan

National Tsing Hua University

There is one college at National Tsing Hua University:
  • Tsing Hua Residential College

Thailand

King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi

There is one residential college at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi:
  • Residential College at KMUTT Ratchaburi Learning Park

United Kingdom

British universities divide into collegiate universities where every student is a member of a college and non-collegiate universities that do not have residential colleges. The collegiate universities define the status of their colleges in their constitutional documents.

University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge has 31 colleges, with the oldest dating back to the 13th century. All undergraduate and postgraduate students are members of a college.

Durham University

There are 17 colleges at Durham University, with the oldest dating back to 1832. Two are independent "recognised colleges" while the others are university-owned "maintained colleges". The university has also announced plans to add two more colleges. All students are members of a college.

Lancaster University

There are nine colleges at Lancaster University. Every student is a member of a college.

University of Oxford

The University of Oxford has 36 colleges, three societies and four permanent private halls. All undergraduate students and matriculated graduate students are members of a college.

University of Roehampton

There are four constituent colleges, all founded in the 19th century, that federated to form the University of Roehampton and continue as colleges within the university. All students are members of a college.

University of York

There are eleven colleges at the University of York, including one postgraduate-only college, and all students are members of a college.

United States

There are a wide variety of residential college systems in the United States, although none that completely follow the British model of having all students be members of a college. Residential college provision is primarily undergraduate, with Princeton being a rare example of a university with a graduate residential college. There are a number of universities that are fully collegiate at the undergraduate level, but many others that offer a small number of residential colleges alongside other residential options, or restrict residential colleges to first year students, or to second year and above.

Northeast

Binghamton University

Binghamton University has six residential communities, four of which are identified as colleges:
  • College-In-The-Woods
  • Hinman College
  • Mountainview College
  • Newing College

Colgate University

Colgate University has four residential commons based on the residential college model. All undergraduate students live in one of the commons for their first two years.
  • Brown Commons
  • Cicone Commons
  • Dart Colegrave Commons
  • Hancock Commons

Cornell University

Cornell University has a variety of housing options, including residences halls, program houses and co-op houses. Two of the program houses are identified as residential colleges:
The houses of the West Campus House System have also been identified by the university as a "residential college initiative", again for second year and above.

Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College has six houses in its house system and all undergraduate students are members of a house while academic staff, other staff and graduate students can request affiliation:
  • Allen House
  • East Wheelock House
  • North Park House
  • School House
  • South House
  • West House

Fairfield University

Fairfield University has three sophomore residential colleges that offer both residence and academic programmes to sophomore students:
  • Service for Justice Residential College
  • Ignatian Leadership Residential College
  • Creative Life Residential College

Fordham University

Fordham University has a number of integrated learning communities, divided into first year and upper classes. Two of the first year communities and one of the upper class communities are identified as residential colleges.
First year residential colleges:
  • Loyola Residential College and the Manresa Program
  • Queen's Court Residential College
Upper class residential colleges:
  • Campbell and Salice-Conley Residential College

Franklin & Marshall College

Franklin & Marshall College has five college houses:
  • Bonchek College House
  • Brooks College House
  • Roschel College House
  • Ware College House
  • Weis College House

Harvard University

Harvard University's house system covers upper-level students. There are twelve residential houses, or upper class students can chose to join the Dudley Community for non-residential students and students resident in the Dudley co-op:

New York University

New York University has two residential college for first year students, among a variety of other housing options:
  • The Residential College at the Paulson Center
  • The Residential College at Othmer Hall

Princeton University

Princeton University has seven undergraduate colleges and one for postgraduate students. All undergraduates are members of a college, while the Graduate College is one of a variety of options for graduate students, which also include applying to be a resident graduate student in one of the undergraduate colleges.

Rutgers University

Rutgers University had a single residential college:

Yale University

Yale University has 14 residential colleges and all undergraduates belong to a college. Graduate students may apply to be non-residential members of a college through the graduate affiliate program.

Midwest

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan University has a number of themed "Living Learning Communities and Residential Colleges", six of which are identified as residential colleges:
  • Business Residential College
  • Education and Human Services Residential College
  • Health Professions Residential College
  • Public Service Residential College
  • School of Music Residential College
  • Science and Engineering Residential College

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, has one residential college:
  • Residential College

Michigan State University

Michigan State University has three themed residential colleges.

Northwestern University

Northwestern University has ten themed undergraduate residential colleges, along with other residential options.
  • 2303 Sheridan – Residential College of Cultural and Community Studies
  • Ayers Hall – Residential College of Commerce and Industry
  • Chapin Hall – Humanities Residential College
  • East Fairchild – Communications Residential College
  • Hobart House – Women's Residential College
  • North Mid-Quads – Public Affairs Residential College
  • South Mid-Quads – Shepard Residential College
  • Slivka Hall – Residential College of Science and Engineering
  • West Fairchild – International Studies Residential College
  • Willard Hall – Willard Residential College

University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame residence halls have some elements of a residential college system.

South

Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University has ten residential learning communities, one of which is identified as being a residential college:

Baylor University

Baylor University has a mix of residential communities, including four residential colleges:
  • Alexander Hall
  • Brooks Residential College
  • Memorial Hall
  • Teal Hall

University of Georgia

The University of Georgia has a number of 'living learning communities', including one identified as a residential college, associated with the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences:
  • Franklin Residential College

Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University offers ten themed residential colleges, bringing together first year students with similar majors, among its housing options. Upper class students live in campus apartments.
  • Agriculture Residential College
  • Business Residential College
  • Honors House
  • Human Sciences and Education Residential College
  • Humanities and Social Sciences Residential College
  • Mass Communications Residential College
  • ROTC Pentagon Community
  • Science Residential College
  • Visual and Performing Arts Residential College

Murray State University

Murray State University has eight residential colleges. All undergraduate students living on campus join a college.
  • Clark College
  • Elizabeth College
  • Hart College
  • Hester College
  • Regents College
  • Richmond College
  • Springer-Franklin College
  • RH White College

University of Miami

The University of Miami has five residential colleges among its housing options:
  • Coral Residential College
  • Eaton Residential College
  • Ibis Residential College
  • Mahoney Residential College
  • Pearson Residential College

University of Mississippi

The University of Mississippi has two residential colleges:
  • Residential College South
  • Luckyday Residential College

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has four residential colleges among a variety of housing options:
  • Ashby Residential College
  • North Spencer Residential College
  • South Spencer Residential College
  • Strong Residential College

University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma has two residential colleges:
  • Dunham College
  • Headington College

Rice University

There are 11 residential colleges at Rice University, with a 12th planned to open in 2026. All undergraduate students are assigned a college and remain part of that college throughout their time at the university.

University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina has one residential college
  • Preston Residential College for Leadership

Southern Arkansas University

Southern Arkansas University had one residential college:
  • Residential College

Southern Methodist University

All undergraduate students are members of one of Southern Methodist University's 11 residential commons, which they refer to as their "implementation of the residential college system".
  • Armstrong Commons
  • Boaz Commons
  • Cockrell-McIntosh Commons
  • Crum Commons
  • Kathy Crow Commons
  • Loyd Commons
  • Mary Hay/Peyton/Shuttles Commons
  • McElvaney Commons
  • Morrison-McGinnis Commons
  • Virginia-Snider Commons
  • Ware Commons

Tulane University

There is one residential college at Tulane University:
  • Wall Residential College

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University has six residential colleges for undergraduate students past the first year.
  • E. Bronson Ingram College
  • Moore College
  • Nicholas S. Zeppos College
  • Oliver C. Carmichael College
  • Rothschild College
  • Warren College

University of Virginia

The University of Virginia has many forms of upper-class housing including traditional dormitories, apartment-style housing, language houses, and 3 residential colleges:

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech has a number of living-learning programmes, three of which are considered residential colleges:
  • Residential College at West Ambler Johnston
  • Honors Residential College
  • Leadership and Social Change College

West

California Institute of Technology

The California Institute of Technology runs a house system with eight undergraduate houses, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate residences not affiliated with houses:
  • Avery House
  • Lloyd House
  • Page House
  • Venerable House
  • Blacker House
  • Dabney House
  • Fleming House
  • Ricketts House

University of California, San Diego

There are eight colleges at the University of California, San Diego, and all undergraduate students are assigned to a college.

University of California, Santa Cruz

There are ten residential colleges at the University of California, Santa Cruz. All undergraduates are members of a college.

University of California, Berkeley

There is one residential college at the University of California, Berkeley:

Universities by number of colleges

Number of collegesUniversity nameCountry
43University of OxfordUnited Kingdom
33Complutense University of MadridSpain
31University of CambridgeUnited Kingdom
18University of PaviaItaly
17Durham UniversityUnited Kingdom
14University of OtagoNew Zealand
14Yale UniversityUnited States
12Harvard UniversityUnited States
12University of New South WalesAustralia
12Yonsei UniversitySouth Korea