resident student (ˈrɛzɪdənt ˈstjuːdənt) noun. 1. US. a student of a school, college, university, etc, who lives or has resided in the state or district of that school, college or university for a set period of time. 2. a student of a school, college, university, etc, who lives or boards in that school, college, or university. resident commissioner.