In 1965, the University of California, Irvine (UCI) was founded with a mission to catalyze the community and enhance lives through rigorous academics, cutting-edge research, and dedicated public service. Today, we draw on the unyielding spirit of our pioneering faculty, staff and students who arrived on campus with a dream to inspire change and generate new ideas. We believe that true progress is made when different perspectives come together to advance our understanding of the world around us. And we enlighten our communities and point the way to a better future. At UCI, we shine brighter.

As we look toward the future, UCI is poised to tackle the world’s great challenges and serve our community in truly meaningful ways. An anchoring institution of Orange County, UCI is a powerhouse of groundbreaking research and discovery – actively partnering with community and business leaders to enhance lives and make a difference. We envision a world where society is enriched by the cultural hub of art, science and learning only possible at a public university; where the economic structure of Southern California explodes with opportunity as UCI innovation meets industry; and where humanity is changed for the better by the brilliant ideas and work produced at UCI.

At the core of the University of California's mission are three imperatives: education, research and public service. These principles are reflected in our pursuit of academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and leadership and character development.

We teach - educating students at all levels, from undergraduate to the most advanced graduate level. Undergraduate programs are available to all eligible California high-school graduates and community college transfer students who wish to attend the University of California. Instructional programs at the undergraduate level transmit knowledge and skills to students. At the graduate level, students experience with their instructors the processes of developing and testing new hypotheses and fresh interpretations of knowledge. Education for professional careers, grounded in understanding of relevant sciences, literature and research methods, provides individuals with the tools to continue intellectual development over a lifetime and to contribute to the needs of a changing society. Through our academic programs, UC helps create an educated workforce that keeps the California economy competitive. And, through University Extension, with a half-million enrollments annually, UC provides continuing education for Californians to improve their job skills and enhance the quality of their lives.

We do research - by some of the world's best researchers and brightest students in hundreds of disciplines at its campuses, national laboratories, medical centers and other research facilities around the state. UC provides a unique environment in which leading scholars and promising students strive together to expand fundamental knowledge of human nature, society, and the natural world. Its basic research programs yield a multitude of benefits for California: billions of tax dollars, economic growth through the creation of new products, technologies, jobs, companies and even new industries, agricultural productivity, advances in health care, improvements in the quality of life. UC's research has been vital in the establishment of the Internet and the semiconductor, software and biotechnology industries in California, making substantial economic and social contributions.

We provide public service - which dates back to UC's origins as a land grant institution in the 1860s. Today, through its public service programs and industry partnerships, UC disseminates research results and translates scientific discoveries into practical knowledge and technological innovations that benefit California and the nation. UC's agricultural extension programs serve hundreds of thousands of Californians in every county in the state. Open to all Californians, UC's libraries, museums, performing arts spaces, gardens and science centers are valuable public resources and community gathering places. The University's active involvement in public-school partnerships and professional development institutes help strengthen the expertise of teachers and the academic achievement of students in communities throughout California.

Why the University of California, Irvine

• Location: The University of California, Irvine enjoys an incomparable coastal location with many advantages for recreational and cultural activities. Our campus is a short bike ride from the famed sailing and surfing beaches of Newport, Laguna, and Huntington, and is centrally located to hundreds of miles of bike and hiking trails, desert camping, and mountain resorts for snowboarding and skiing. Just a few miles from the campus are internationally famous venues such as Disneyland and Angel Stadium, and we are less than an hour from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Hollywood, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs.

• Multicultural community: The University of California, Irvine is a multicultural community of people from diverse backgrounds. We are enriched by our mutual respect for one another, and we strive to learn from our differences in an atmosphere of positive engagement. Universities exist to provide the conditions for hard thought and difficult debate so that individuals can develop the capacity for independent judgment. For that reason, tolerance, civility and respect for diversity of background, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, political beliefs, sexual orientation and physical abilities are crucially important for our campus community to thrive.

• Events and activities: The Activities team creates a quarterly calendar full of various events, trips, sports, and activities both on and off-campus for students to enjoy. Previous pre-planned activities usually included city tours to famous locations, theme parks, museums, beaches, and performances.

• Housing: Depending on your needs and the type of experience you want during your stay, International Programs offers you different housing options, all of which ensure that you enjoy a safe, clean, fully furnished living environment, including University Apartments (which allow you to interact with and explore the community while practicing your English in real-life situations), Homestays (which will immerse you in American culture within a family environment), and UCI Dorms (which give you the opportunity to live on the UCI campus near classrooms, with meal plans available - dorms only available in the summer quarter). No matter which one you choose, you’ll be sure to enjoy an authentic American living experience!