The Barn Residency Program gives current UC Davis students the opportunity to “live-in” at one of the 9 animal facilities on campus. In exchange for approximately 10 hours of work per week, you will receive free rent for one year, and potentially a second year (re-application is necessary).
The animal facilities, which have either private or shared rooms available in exchange for animal care, are:
Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year are now open. Please email Kristy Portillo (knsmith@ucdavis.edu) with any questions about the program. Application and sample lease can be found below for reference:
Criteria For Selection
If you are interested in participating in the Barn Residency Program, please review the following criteria to determine the strength of your application:
- Must be a Currently Enrolled UC Davis Student
- Applicants Should be Enrolled in Animal-Oriented Majors*
- Applicants Must Have Appropriate Animal Experience
- Applicants Must be willing to Work Holidays, Weekends and Evenings
- Applicants Must Possess a Valid California Driver’s License
- Applicants Must be Able to Lift a Bale of Hay
*Priority will be given to currently enrolled students in the Animal Science, Animal Science and Management, and Agricultural and Environmental Education Majors.