Does Bursley Hall have air conditioning?

No — Bursley has no central air conditioning, which matters because it's the largest hall on campus and its upper floors can hold heat in late August and early September. Michigan bans personal window AC units in every hall, so a fan is your cooling plan here (a medical accommodation through Housing is the only route to a unit). Bring a good fan and set up your room for airflow. The North Campus location is a touch cooler and breezier than the dense Central Campus blocks, but you'll still want the fan running the first few weeks.

Where is Bursley and how do I get to class?

Bursley is on North Campus, near the College of Engineering, the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and Pierpont Commons. Most first-year lecture classes are on Central Campus, so you'll use the university bus system to get back and forth — it's a short, frequent ride, but you should build the bus schedule into your morning routine, especially for early classes. If your program is on North Campus (engineering, music, art & design, architecture), Bursley puts you closest to it; if your classes are mostly Central, weigh the commute against the hall's other perks.

Is Bursley a good dorm for engineering students?

It's one of the most popular choices for engineering first-years, precisely because it's on North Campus next to the College of Engineering — you can roll out of bed and be in a lecture or lab quickly, and your neighbors are often in the same courses. The School of Music, Theatre & Dance is close too, so Bursley draws a mix of engineering and arts students. The trade-off is that general first-year requirements and many electives are on Central Campus, so even engineers ride the bus regularly. If your first year leans heavily North Campus, Bursley is hard to beat.

How big is Bursley Hall?

Bursley is the largest residence hall at Michigan, housing roughly 1,270 students — mostly first-years — across eight named houses. That scale means a built-in social scene, its own dining hall, and lots of programming, but also community bathrooms and busy elevators on move-in day. Pack a shower caddy and shower shoes for the shared bathrooms, a fan for the no-AC rooms, and storage bins that fit under a lofted bed. In a building this size, getting involved in your house early is the easiest way to make it feel smaller.

Ann Arbor, MI · Top 10 · Selective

Bursley Hall Dorm Checklist 2026

University of Michigan

Doubles, triples & singles, community bathrooms — Michigan's largest hall (~1,270), mostly first-years on North Campus

Verified Jul 27, 2026 · housing.umich.edu

Michigan's largest residence hall — about 1,270 mostly first-year students on North Campus, next to the College of Engineering, the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and Pierpont Commons. It has its own dining hall and is a short bus ride from Central Campus. No central AC, so a fan is essential for the first warm weeks.

Bed SizeTwin XL · 36"×80"
Under-BedLoftable modular frame
ACNo
On-Campus~97% of first-years

✓ In the room

Bed frame & Twin XL mattressdesk with attached shelfdesk chairdressercloset or wardrobe (loftable modular furniture)

✗ Not provided

Beddingtowelsshower caddyhangersdesk lampfridgemicrowave

⊘ Prohibited

Candlesincensewax warmersdiffusersburning sagehalogen lampspersonal AC unitsspace heatershumidifiersdehumidifierstoasterstoaster ovenshot platesopen-coil cooking applianceshoverboardse-scooters indoorsnatural cut trees or greenery

Personal air conditioners are banned in Michigan Housing — you can't bring a window unit to any hall. Where there's no central AC, a fan is your only option (Housing installs a unit only with an approved medical accommodation).
Humidifiers and dehumidifiers of every kind are prohibited (electrical load + fire-alarm risk) — leave them home even for dry Michigan winters.
Personal refrigerators must be 5.5 cubic feet or smaller and under 1.5 amps, or they're turned away at move-in. Housing rents MicroFridge units (fridge + microwave in one) if you'd rather not buy.
Bursley is on North Campus with no central AC — great for engineering and music/theatre/dance first-years, but you'll ride the bus to Central Campus classes and want a fan for warm September nights.

Living in Bursley Hall: what to know before you pack

The room

Bursley is Michigan's biggest residence hall, and its rooms come in doubles, triples, and some singles with the standard loftable modular furniture — an extra-long twin bed (36"×80"), a desk with attached shelf, a chair, a dresser, and a closet. Loft the bed to reclaim floor space; in a triple especially, it's the highest-leverage move you can make. Bathrooms are shared by the floor. There's no air conditioning, and Bursley's stretch of North Campus can feel warm in late August, so a fan is essential — and remember you can't bring a window unit to make up for it. Buy Twin XL sheets for the 80-inch mattress.

Day to day

Bursley sits on North Campus, which reshapes daily life: you're steps from the College of Engineering, the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and Pierpont Commons, and the hall is popular with first-years in those programs. Its own dining hall means meals without a trek, and the campus bus system connects you to Central Campus in a short ride — factor the bus schedule into your class planning, since most first-year lectures are on Central. The building is big and social, with a genuine North Campus community; the trade-offs are the commute to Central and the lack of AC.

Move-in day

Move-in is the last week of August, before classes start Monday, August 31, 2026, with an assigned time slot from your housing portal. Bursley is the largest hall on campus, so arrivals are tightly staggered — being on time for your window keeps the elevators and loading zones moving. North Campus move-in is generally a little less congested than Central, and parking is easier, but late-August heat plus no AC means the fan comes off the car first. Set your loft height early, and keep any personal fridge to 5.5 cubic feet or smaller.

A styled dorm desk, furnished and shoppable

Room ideas

See dorm rooms styled

4 looks, every object linked to the exact listing.

Styled render — not a photo of Bursley Hall.

Dorm shopping guides: Mini fridge · Surge protector · Storage bins · Mattress topper · Desk lamp · Bedding sets · Twin XL sheets · Shower caddy · Towels · Shower shoes · Laundry hamper · Area rug · Mirror · Over-door organizer · Closet organizers · Fans (no AC) · Loft bed setup

Sources & verification — last checked Jul 27, 2026

Bursley Hall FAQ

Does Bursley Hall have air conditioning?: No — Bursley has no central air conditioning, which matters because it's the largest hall on campus and its upper floors can hold heat in late August and early September. Michigan bans personal window AC units in every hall, so a fan is your cooling plan here (a medical accommodation through Housing is the only route to a unit). Bring a good fan and set up your room for airflow. The North Campus location is a touch cooler and breezier than the dense Central Campus blocks, but you'll still want the fan running the first few weeks.
Where is Bursley and how do I get to class?: Bursley is on North Campus, near the College of Engineering, the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and Pierpont Commons. Most first-year lecture classes are on Central Campus, so you'll use the university bus system to get back and forth — it's a short, frequent ride, but you should build the bus schedule into your morning routine, especially for early classes. If your program is on North Campus (engineering, music, art & design, architecture), Bursley puts you closest to it; if your classes are mostly Central, weigh the commute against the hall's other perks.
Is Bursley a good dorm for engineering students?: It's one of the most popular choices for engineering first-years, precisely because it's on North Campus next to the College of Engineering — you can roll out of bed and be in a lecture or lab quickly, and your neighbors are often in the same courses. The School of Music, Theatre & Dance is close too, so Bursley draws a mix of engineering and arts students. The trade-off is that general first-year requirements and many electives are on Central Campus, so even engineers ride the bus regularly. If your first year leans heavily North Campus, Bursley is hard to beat.
How big is Bursley Hall?: Bursley is the largest residence hall at Michigan, housing roughly 1,270 students — mostly first-years — across eight named houses. That scale means a built-in social scene, its own dining hall, and lots of programming, but also community bathrooms and busy elevators on move-in day. Pack a shower caddy and shower shoes for the shared bathrooms, a fan for the no-AC rooms, and storage bins that fit under a lofted bed. In a building this size, getting involved in your house early is the easiest way to make it feel smaller.
Is Bursley Hall a good hall to live in?: That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: Bursley Hall has Twin XL · 36"×80" beds with Loftable modular frame of under-bed storage, and is not air conditioned. University of Michigan provides Bed frame & Twin XL mattress, desk with attached shelf, desk chair, dresser, closet or wardrobe (loftable modular furniture) in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how Bursley Hall stacks up against University of Michigan's other halls above.

Thinking About Living in Bursley Hall Next Year?

If you're choosing housing for next year rather than packing for move-in, here's what's already verified about Bursley Hall: it has Twin XL · 36"×80" beds with Loftable modular frame of under-bed clearance, and there's no AC, so plan around that. On top of that, the room comes with Bed frame & Twin XL mattress, desk with attached shelf, desk chair, dresser, closet or wardrobe (loftable modular furniture); you'll need to bring Bedding, towels, shower caddy, hangers, desk lamp, fridge, microwave yourself; Candles, incense, wax warmers, diffusers, burning sage, halogen lamps, personal AC units, space heaters, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, toasters, toaster ovens, hot plates, open-coil cooking appliances, hoverboards, e-scooters indoors, natural cut trees or greenery isn't allowed. The full day-to-day breakdown above covers the room, the building, and move-in day in more depth.

Still weighing this hall against others? Our guide on how to pick a dorm covers what actually matters, or see University of Michigan’s other halls below.

More University of Michigan halls

Each hall has its own verified checklist — pick yours for room-specific dimensions and packing lists.

← All University of Michigan halls

Bursley Hall Dorm Checklist 2026

Living in Bursley Hall: what to know before you pack

The room

Day to day

Move-in day

See dorm rooms styled

Everything for your Bursley Hall room

Fan — pack first

Bedding

Bathroom

Personal Care & Grooming

Self-Care Essentials

Storage & Organization

Closet Space-Savers

Tech & Power

Laundry

Desk & Study

Health & Safety

Comfort & Room

Kitchen & Dining

Misc Essentials

Move-In Day Gear

Bursley Hall FAQ

Thinking About Living in Bursley Hall Next Year?

More University of Michigan halls