Fall semester at the University of Minnesota begins Tuesday, September 8, 2026 — you can see the full schedule on the U’s official academic calendar. And in the weeks before classes start, the Twin Cities fill with people who all need the same thing: a comfortable place to land. Graduate students arriving before an apartment is ready. Families in town for move-in. Visiting faculty here for a single term. Students stuck in that awkward gap between an August lease ending and a September lease beginning.
If that’s you — or someone you love — a furnished, month-to-month studio in downtown Minneapolis solves the problem without a twelve-month commitment. Oaklands on 9th is a restored 1889 brownstone at 215 South 9th Street, about a mile and a half from the U of M’s West Bank, and you can stay a night, a week, a month, or the whole semester. No contracts, no furniture shopping, no utility setup.
A landing pad without a lease
Most housing near campus wants a year-long lease signed months in advance. Life doesn’t always cooperate. Every fall we host guests who need something more flexible: a grad student whose apartment isn’t available until October, an international student who’d rather choose a neighborhood after seeing the city, a visiting scholar teaching one semester, parents who want a home base for move-in week instead of a cramped hotel room. If you’re relocating for good, our guide on making your first weeks in Minneapolis easier walks through how a furnished studio bridges the move.
Medical, dental, and nursing students on rotations have an extra reason to look downtown: we’re close to both HCMC and the U of M’s medical campus, which is why so many healthcare travelers stay with us already.
Getting to campus from 9th Street
The West Bank is roughly a mile and a half away — a quick bike ride or a short hop on the METRO Green Line, which runs from downtown straight to the West Bank, East Bank, and Stadium Village stations. (Metro Transit has scheduled maintenance on the light-rail lines this summer, so check rider alerts before you ride; work is slated to wrap up before the semester begins.) If you’re keeping a car, our rundown of overnight parking downtown covers options for a night, a week, or a month.
What’s included in your studio
Every studio at Oaklands on 9th comes fully furnished with a full kitchen — a real one, with a stove and full-size fridge, so you can cook actual meals instead of living on takeout during syllabus week. WiFi, heat, and all utilities are included, laundry is free, and some units are pet friendly. Studios come in three tiers — Good, Better, and Best — so you can match the room to your budget. And because it’s month-to-month, when your lease finally starts or the semester ends, you simply check out.
Move-in week doubles as a city visit
Staying downtown means the fun part of move-in week is built in. You’re steps from the skyway, Nicollet Mall, and some of the best restaurants in the city — Meet Minneapolis keeps a running list of what’s happening around town. Parents making a proper trip of it sometimes split the stay: a practical studio here, then a night at 300 Clifton, our sister property — an 1887 mansion bed and breakfast a few minutes away. And if you want the full story of the city your student now calls home, Minneapolis Trolley Tours covers it in an afternoon.
Book your fall landing pad
September fills up fast between move-in, the State Fair, and football Saturdays, so it’s worth booking ahead. Check availability and rates at our booking page, or call us at (612) 314-5124 — we’re happy to help you figure out how long a stay you actually need.
Keep reading: if you’re coming to town before classes start, the Uptown Art Fair returns August 7–9, 2026 with free entry and free Metro Transit passes — an easy first weekend in Minneapolis.