One of the ten campuses of the University of California’s public education system, University of California, Irvine is ranked among Americas Top 10 public universities by the US News & World Report.

Founded in 1965, University of California, Irvine (UCI) is consistently ranked among the Top 50 universities of the US. One of the ten campuses of the University of Californias public education system, UCI is ranked #9 among American public universities and #42 overall by the U.S. News & World Report and among the Top 100 universities worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2018. The youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, UCI has produced many distinguished alumni including three Nobel laureates and several Pulitzer Prize winners.

Sprawled across a 1,000-acre campus named the San Joaquin foothills — sold by the Irvine Company to the University of California in 1960 for $1 — UCI offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgrad programmes in 16 academic verticals — arts, biological sciences, business, education, engineering, humanities, information and computer sciences, inter-disciplinary sciences, law, physical sciences, social ecology, social sciences, medicine, nursing, pharmaceutical sciences, public health — to 35,958 students mentored by 3,158 faculty.

UCI ranks among the Top 10 US universities — public and private — in the number of undergraduate admission applications received. For instance, for the fall term beginning in September 2018, UCI received a record number of 116,192 admission applications of which 32,000 freshmen have been accepted.

Irvine. Sited in Orange County, Southern California, Irvine (pop. 260,000) is widely acknowledged as one of the safest cities in the US with the lowest rate of violent crime per capita. It was also ranked the second best city to live in America by Money Magazine in 2016 for its welcoming neighbourhoods, educated citizenry, fine schools, world-class dining, shopping and recreation experiences. A hub of Southern Californias burgeoning tech sector, Irvine hosts one-third of Fortune 500 companies.

Ranked among Americas greenest cities, Irvine boasts 16,000 acres of preserved natural habitat and 60 parks. Located near the famed sailing and surfing beaches of Newport, Laguna, and Huntington and the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs, there are innumerable opportunities for recreation, sports and outdoor activities. Moreover Irvine enjoys 292 sunny days per year, with average temperatures ranging from 13°C in January to 22°C in August.

Campus facilities. UCIs 1,000-acre campus offers state-of-the-art academic, sports, recreational and residential facilities. At the heart of the campus is Aldrich Park, a tranquil botanical garden, encircled by the Ring Road. Almost every undergraduate school is sited on the Ring Road, creating a circular design allowing students free movement and fostering a collaborative learning culture.

The UCI library system comprises the Jack Langson Library, Ayala Science Library, Grunigen Medical Library and Libraries Gateway Study Center which together offer 3.7 million volumes, 151,000 journals, 110,000 government documents, 113,000 audio/visual materials, multimedia, maps, photographs, and other graphic materials. The Libraries Special Collections boasts 640 archival materials that include over 1 million original documents and photographs.

The Anteater Recreation Center, an 89,000 sq. ft indoor facility, is the centre of campus life. It houses three basketball and volleyball courts, nine badminton courts, indoor jogging track with a clock timer and rubber flooring, 36 high rock wall, a 7,000 sq. ft gym and an aquatics plaza with a 25 m x 25 m lap pool. This is supplemented by a 25-acre outdoor sports complex offering facilities for softball, soccer, football, rugby, lacrosse, basketball, roller hockey, and tennis.

Moreover, students have access to 600 clubs and organisations, reading groups and journal clubs.

Admission. The minimum eligibility criteria for admission into UCIs undergrad programmes are successful completion of class XII (minimum 70 percent average) and English language proficiency. Overseas students are required to submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores (minimum 550 on the paper-based test or 80 on the internet-based TOEFL), or a minimum score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Additionally, all applicants must submit scores of either ACT with writing or SAT with essay examinations. The completed application form must include standardised test results, certified copies of academic records from all secondary and post-secondary schools attended, a personal essay, proof of participation in extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendations from teachers/counselors together with an application fee of $80 (Rs.5,120). Students need to apply online through a Common Application Form (www.ucal.us/apply) which allows them to apply to all University of California undergraduate campuses. The admission deadline was November 30 for term beginning this September.

For graduate programmes, the minimum admission requirement is completion of a four-five year bachelors degree programme — BE, B.Tech, or Masters degree in a non-engineering field. The completed application form must include three letters of recommendation, official transcripts of post-secondary programmes, standardised test results (GRE, TOEFL/IELTS) and an application fee of $125.

For further information, contact University of California, Irvine, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 260 Aldrich Hall, Irvine, 92697. Ph: 949-824-6703; email: admissions@uci.edu; website: www.admissions.uci.edu.

Accommodation. UCI offers guaranteed on-campus housing to all international students. There are ten student housing communities on campus offering varied accommodation options. While residence halls for first-year students offer academic and special theme housing options in single gender suites, sophomore and graduate students live in fully furnished apartments with single or double occupancy bedrooms and attached kitchens.

Degree programmes. UCI offers 87 undergraduate degree programmes, 59 Masters and 46 Ph D programmes.

SCHOLASTIC OPTIONS AT UCAL, IRVINE

University of California, Irvine, offers 87 undergraduate and 59 graduate programmes in 16 academic units. They include: Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Francisco J Ayala School of Biological Sciences, Paul Merage School of Business, School of Education, Henry Samueli School of Engineering, Programmes in Health Sciences, School of Humanities, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, School of Medicine, Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing, School of Physical Sciences, School of Social Ecology, School of Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary programmes

Bill of costs (annual)
Tuition and fees $40,644
Books and supplies $1,200
Living (room and board) $15,400
Personal/transportation $1,900
Health insurance $2,300
Total $61,644 NB: $=Rs 64

Sruthy Susan Ullas