University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA · Official website ↗
University of California, Irvine is in Irvine, CA, United States. Language: IELTS 6.5. Applying: intake: Fall; application fee $95.
✓ 19 facts from 7 official pages, each with the exact sentence it comes from · checked 2026-11-12 · How we verify
Public university: the tuition shown is the rate for U.S. students from other states. International students usually pay this rate or more, and need extra funds for health insurance and visa costs — check the college's international cost page.
Quick summary
| Cost per year | not yet determined — public universities publish in-state costs; international students pay more. |
|---|---|
| Money from the college | Need-based aid: none for international students. Merit scholarships: international students can receive them. No named scholarship is confirmed open to international students yet. |
| Chances of admission | selective: about 1 in 4 applicants is admitted. English minimum: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL (1–6) 4.5, Duolingo 115. |
| Application deadlines | Earliest: Nov 30 (Regular Decision — The normal round; not binding.) |
| Where and how students live | Irvine, CA · Large city · summer highs about 27°C, winter lows about 9°C · 4 km from SNA airport |
| Housing | First-year housing: Guaranteed |
| Working while studying | F-1 students may work on campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in session. Other work needs authorization: curricular practical training (CPT) during the program, or off-campus employment for economic hardship after one full academic year, approved by the DSO and USCIS. |
| After graduation | Optional Practical Training (OPT): 12 months of work in the field of study after a bachelor's degree; a 24-month extension applies to DHS-designated STEM degrees. |
Plain-language summary of the verified details below. Where it says “not yet determined”, we have not found it on an official page yet.
Financial aid & requirements for international students
| Aid & admission for international applicants | No need-based aid for international undergraduates International students are not eligible for need-based institutional aid; only merit awards or outside funding. Sources (1)“UC Irvine does not offer financial assistance for international students. However, you may search for external scholarships for financial assistance.”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
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| Meets full financial need | No — does not promise to meet full needSources (1)“UC Irvine does not offer financial assistance for international students. However, you may search for external scholarships for financial assistance.”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
| Merit scholarships | Yes — international students can receive merit scholarshipsSources (1)“International students may still apply for scholarships. They do not qualify for need-based aid, but they may still qualify for merit-based scholarships.”ofas.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
| SAT / ACT policy | Test-blind (scores not considered)Sources (1)“UC Irvine does not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarship purposes.”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
| English proficiency | English test required unless an exemption applies
Sources (4)“If you have had less than three years of instruction in English by the time of high school graduation, then you will be required to demonstrate English proficiency.”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Internet-based test (iBT) or iBT Home Edition: Minimum score of 4.5 or better (effective January 2026); Minimum score of 80 or better (prior to January 2026)”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Score 6.5 or higher on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Duolingo English Test (DET): Minimum score of 115”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
| Conditional admission / English pathway | Not yet determined — check the college site ↗ |
| Degree programmes taught in English | Yes (reference)Sources (1)“If you have had less than three years of instruction in English by the time of high school graduation, then you will be required to demonstrate English proficiency.”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
Programmes
| Bachelor's programme | Business Economics · 4 years Source (4)“Freshman Fall Winter Spring ECON 20B Intro. Soc. Sci. course MATH 2B ECON 25 Lower-Division Writing General Education”catalogue.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Sophomore ECON 15A ECON 15B ECON 100B ECON 100C SOC SCI 3A”catalogue.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Junior ECON 122B U-D Econ. course Electives”catalogue.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Senior”catalogue.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12Computer Science · 4 years Source (2)“Freshman Fall Winter Spring I&C SCI 32 I&C SCI 33 MATH 2B WRITING 40 WRITING 50 General Education III WRITING 60”catalogue.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Senior CS Project General Education IV”catalogue.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
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Applying
| Intakes (start months) for first-year entry | Fall Source (2)“The UC application for admission to UC Irvine opens August 1. The submission period is October 1 - November 30.”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Freshmen enrolling for fall 2026 are eligible for two years of on-campus housing if the housing application is completed by May 15, 2026 .”housing.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $95 one-time Source (1)“Once you have completed the online application, submit it along with a nonrefundable college application fee of $80 for domestic applicants or $95 for international applicants.”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
| Application requirement | English proficiency test: Required (reference) Source (1)“If you have had less than three years of instruction in English by the time of high school graduation, then you will be required to demonstrate English proficiency.”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12Teacher recommendation: Not accepted Source (1)“UC Irvine does not accept nor consider letters of recommendation for admission to the university.”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12School transcript / academic records: Required (reference) Source (2)“Your entire academic history must be reported on your UC application even if you do not intend to utilize the coursework for your current degree.”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“UC Irvine does not request official transcripts/records until you are admitted and after you submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) .”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
Deadlines (fall 2027 entry)
| Regular Decision — Application | Nov 30 The normal round; not binding. Source (1)“The UC application for admission to UC Irvine opens August 1. The submission period is October 1 - November 30.”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
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Dates as published by the college; check the official page for time zones and supporting-document deadlines.
Costs for international students
| Living costs (college estimate) | $26,467 per year (2026–27 figure) (reference) |
|---|---|
| Student health insurance | Not yet determined — check the college site ↗ |
| Proof of funds for the I-20 | Not yet determined — check the college site ↗ |
Sources (3)
“Estimated Budgets for 2026-27 New Undergraduate Students”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Living At Home Living On Campus* Living Off Campus”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Subtotal $16,316.00 $26,467.00 $29,841.00”admissions.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12Where students live
| First-year on-campus housing | Guaranteed Source (1)“Freshmen enrolling for fall 2026 are eligible for two years of on-campus housing if the housing application is completed by May 15, 2026 .”housing.uci.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
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Work and after graduation
| Work allowed while studying (rule as stated by the government) | F-1 students may work on campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in session. Other work needs authorization: curricular practical training (CPT) during the program, or off-campus employment for economic hardship after one full academic year, approved by the DSO and USCIS. government rule Source (4)“If you participate in on-campus employment, you may not work more than 20 hours per week when school is in session.”studyinthestates.dhs.gov ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“F students are eligible for curricular practical training (CPT) at either the undergraduate or the graduate level during the program of study. CPT employment must be an integral part of an established curriculum and the position must directly relate to your major area of study.”studyinthestates.dhs.gov ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Off-campus employment is only available to you if you have completed at least one full academic year of your program of study and have an economic hardship that qualifies for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's emergent circumstances.”studyinthestates.dhs.gov ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“To work off campus, you must receive approval from your DSO, obtain an updated Form I-20 and apply for and receive employment authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).”studyinthestates.dhs.gov ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
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| Work hours allowed per week during term (student visa) | 20 (reference) government rule Source (1)“If you participate in on-campus employment, you may not work more than 20 hours per week when school is in session.”studyinthestates.dhs.gov ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
| Post-study work visa (name and length) | Optional Practical Training (OPT): 12 months of work in the field of study after a bachelor's degree; a 24-month extension applies to DHS-designated STEM degrees. government rule Source (4)“Twelve months of Regular OPT is available for each higher level of study. (For example a student may have 12 months for a bachelor's degree and another 12 months for a master's degree.)”studyinthestates.dhs.gov ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Optional practical training is one type of work permission available for eligible F-1 students. It allows students to get real-world work experience related to their field of study.”studyinthestates.dhs.gov ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“For students who majored in designated Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) degrees approved by DHS. This type of OPT is a 24-month extension of OPT.”studyinthestates.dhs.gov ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Have earned a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from a school that is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency and is certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) at the time you submit your STEM OPT extension application.”www.uscis.gov ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
Earnings by field of study
| Field | After 1 year | After 4 years |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering STEM | $89,393 | $132,357 |
| Computer Science STEM | $98,883 | $127,404 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $95,269 | $119,502 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $63,127 | $108,038 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering STEM | $82,997 | $106,871 |
| Materials Engineering STEM | $76,070 | $106,547 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering STEM | $65,391 | $100,537 |
| Mechanical Engineering STEM | $75,741 | $99,111 |
| Chemical Engineering STEM | $73,766 | $97,656 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering STEM | $69,246 | $96,874 |
| Civil Engineering STEM | $73,616 | $96,354 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General STEM | $57,136 | $96,347 |
Median yearly earnings of graduates of this college's bachelor's programme in each field, 1 and 4 years after finishing. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (retrieved 2026-11-11). Only graduates who received U.S. federal student aid are counted, so international students are not included. “STEM” = the field includes majors on the U.S. DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List (updated 2024-07-22); graduates of those majors on F-1 visas may apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Check your exact major's CIP code with the college.
Location
| City / state | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|
| Setting | Large city |
| Nearest major airport | John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA), about 4 km in a straight line |
| Map | View on OpenStreetMap ↗ |
Setting from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard); airport from OurAirports (public-domain data).
Climate
| Warmest month (Aug) | average high 27°C (80°F) |
|---|---|
| Coldest month (Dec) | average low 9°C (48°F) |
| Precipitation per year | 284 mm |
Month by month
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 19° | 19° | 20° | 21° | 22° | 23° | 26° | 27° | 27° | 25° | 22° | 19° |
| Low °C | 9° | 10° | 11° | 13° | 15° | 17° | 19° | 20° | 18° | 15° | 12° | 9° |
| Rain mm | 66 | 67 | 41 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 20 | 52 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at the Santa Ana John Wayne Ap, Ca Us weather station, about 4 km from campus. Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals.
Cost, admission rate, test-score ranges and earnings come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (retrieved 2026-11-11). SAT range adds the 25th/75th-percentile section scores, so it is approximate. Scorecard earnings are for federal-aid recipients.