Housing

For reasons of student convenience and well-being, the YCMES requires all students studying under its visa to reside in the YCMES housing facilities.  This has been decided from the college’s past experience with independent student-living, and to prevent problems or hassles with things such as landlords and rent, utilities, neighbor-relations, and disruptions to the student’s and college’s reputation. Stemming from this policy, student housing is included in the study abroad package at a cost comparable to local market prices (based on the quality and amenities provided).  Except for pre-approved reasons, exceptions are rarely made and students are placed into the YCMES student housing based on their preferences and requests.

Location & Buildings

Accommodation

Student Housing Policies

Laundry

Water/Electricity

Location & Buildings

The YCMES owns three buildings used for housing.  The 26th of September Dormitory, the largest, and the Guest House are located near the Main College Building, just a couple of minutes down the road on 26^th of September.  The Bab al-Sabah dormitory offers students a more private residence in the Old City. 

The six-story 26th of September Dormitory is composed of two buildings connected by a small, enclosed bridge (referred to as the YCMES’ own “Shahara Bridge”). It contains over 30 dormitory rooms, accommodating up to 90 students in singles to quintuples. Shared bathrooms are on each floor as well as communal kitchens on the first and top floors.  Quiet study rooms, common areas, and a computer lab with 24 hour high-speed internet access and word processing (in both Arabic & English) are found on the ground floor.  A wireless network has been installed for students with laptops, with in-room connectivity. A small exercise gym is currently being planned to offer students a convenient location for working-out.  The top floor on the larger building contains a traditional mafraj sitting area with satellite TV, and a large terraced roof that offers a spectacular view of the city and its surroundings. Laundry machines can be found on the roof of the smaller building.

The Bab Al-Sabah dormitory is about a 10-minute walk from the Main College Building, located in the old Goldseller’s District on the edge of the Old City.   A traditional Yemeni house from the outside, the inside has been completely modernized. The house contains ten rooms accommodating up to 25 students in singles and shared rooms.  Most rooms have private bathrooms, and shared bathrooms are provided for those without. The top floor is a mafraj with satellite T.V. and a beautiful view of the Old City. From the mafraj, residents have access to a private, outdoor roof-terrace with an eating/sitting area. The bottom floor is a fully modern, shared kitchen and a dining area. A washing machine and a laundry line are provided.

The Guest House is located just down the street from the 26th of September Dormitory and is used for housing professors, senior students, and other visitors. Three studio apartments have been added in this facility along with a mixture of single and shared rooms, some with private bathrooms and the others with shared bathrooms. One the ground floor there is a shared kitchen and living room with satellite television and computers with internet hookup.  Many guests choose to use the wireless connection available in-room or while sitting in the beautiful, private garden. As with all of our facilities the bathrooms and the kitchen are Western style and a washing machine is provided for residents to wash their clothes.

Accommodation

The college offers comfortable single and shared rooms with shared bathrooms on each floor. Single rooms must be requested during the application process and are at a higher cost.  Shared rooms range from doubles to quintuples, depending on the size of the room.  All rooms are furnished with a bed, desk, and closet for each student. Students are also provided with sheets, a pillow, and a towel.  Telephones and wireless internet are accessible in all rooms.  All student housing requests, including building and roommate selection, will be accommodated as best as possible, though can not be guaranteed.

A cleaning service is provided for communal areas, but residents are responsible for cleaning their own rooms.  Students have access to shared, fully-equipped modern kitchens, but must clean up after themselves when cooking. For the general safety of the residents, 24-hour guards and emergency services are provided.

YCMES housing facilities include public areas for socializing and studying, such as the open roof area of dormitories, communal areas, gardens and mafrajs (Yemeni living room). 

Student Housing Policies

For reasons of security, non-YCMES persons are not allowed on YCMES property beyond the common entrance areas, unless with approval from the YCMES security and/or administration. Absolutely no one unaffiliated with the YCMES, Yemeni or foreign, is allowed in student residential areas.  Alcohol and illegal drugs are forbidden in the student housing complex by Yemeni law, and so is coming back to the dormitories intoxicated.  Smoking is not allowed in the rooms.

All YCMES housing facilities are mixed-gender. Although an effort is made to make each floor gender-specific, students should be prepared to share bathrooms and common spaces with members of the opposite sex.  Students do not have a curfew while living in YCMES facilities. 

Laundry

All YCMES student housing facilities have Western washing machines and clothes lines for student use.  These machines are free of use; students supply their own laundry detergent.  The YCMES also has an agreement with a local laundry-mat across from the 26th of September Dormitory, where students receive a discount on laundry cleaning services.  Both are inexpensive ways to wash your clothes during your stay with the YCMES.

Click here for a list of prices at the local laundry-mat.

Water/Electricity

Yemen continues to have problems with water shortages and electrical blackouts. The problem of electrical blackouts has been improving over the last few years and such events are now, thankfully, infrequent. Water, however, becomes scarcer every year. We ask our students and staff to help ease this crisis by conserving water and electricity as much as possible.