# Living in Cambridge

**Source**: https://biology.mit.edu/graduate/prospective-students/living-in-cambridge/
**Parent**: https://biology.mit.edu/

> “MIT is in a great location; Boston and Cambridge are full of so many schools and so many potential connections, both personal and professional.”\
> **Gina Mawla PhD ’20**

## Cambridge

MIT’s campus is situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is right across the [Charles River](https://esplanade.org/the-esplanade/ "https://esplanade.org/the-esplanade/") from Boston. Many of the Biology labs are located in [Kendall Square](https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/econdev/aboutcambridge/kendallsq), which is home to the greatest concentration of biotechnology companies in the world. Cambridge is also [home to museums](https://www.visit-massachusetts.com/boston/museums-and-galleries/) like the [MIT Museum](https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/) and [Harvard’s Museum of Natural History](https://hmnh.harvard.edu/ "https://hmnh.harvard.edu/"), as well as [outdoor spaces](https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/parks) like the [Alewife Brook Reservation](https://www.mass.gov/locations/alewife-brook-reservation), and an active music scene with multiple [performance venues](https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=musicvenues&find_loc=Cambridge%2C+MA). New Hampshire’s [hiking trails](https://www.nhstateparks.org/activities/hiking "https://www.nhstateparks.org/activities/hiking") and scenic landscapes are less than 50 miles North, and [Cape Cod’s beaches](https://www.capecodchamber.org/things-to-do/beaches/ "https://www.capecodchamber.org/things-to-do/beaches/") are just to the East. For more information, visit the [City of Cambridge website.](https://www.cambridgema.gov/)

## Housing

On-campus housing options are available for single students, and students with eligible spouses, partners, and/or families, with priority given to first-year students. Many graduate students live off campus, primarily in the nearby neighborhoods of Cambridge, Boston, Somerville, and Arlington.

## Transportation

The MBTA bus and subway systems make commuting easy. To encourage the use of public transportation, MIT subsidizes the cost of monthly passes for students. There is a limited amount of parking available on campus and students may choose to apply for a permit (fees apply). MIT also hosts a [car-sharing program](http://web.mit.edu/facilities/transportation/car_sharing.html) on campus.

## MIT Graduate Assistance and Information Network

A free and confidential service for graduate students and their families that provides information about:

- Relocation assistance
- Financial advice
- Childcare
- Other essential services