With an overall acceptance rate of 26.5%, University of California at Irvine admission is quite competitive. The university enrolled 36,908 students with 97.4% full-time students in the last academic session. Around 19% students at UC Irvine are from international origin.

  • Application Deadline: For admission to the undergraduate programs at UC, Irvine, the application submission period is between November 1 to November 30.
  • Number of Programs: Admission to University of California, Irvine is offered to the international students in more than 85 majors and over 70 minors. At graduate level, international aspirants are offered with more than 120 graduate programs at UC Irvine in 80 areas of study.
  • Admission Requirements: For admission to the UG programs at University of California, Irvine, official transcripts, standardied test scores and proof of finances are required. To apply to the graduate courses at UC, Irvine, students need a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution, GRE scores and a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (~83-86%) along with other supporting documents.

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University of California Irvine Admission Deadlines

The significant deadlines for University of California Irvine admissions are provided below.

Deadlines Dates
Undergraduate Application Deadline November 1-30
Student Intent to Register (SIR) and Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) Deadline New Transfer: June 1
Freshman: May 1
Official final transcripts due July 1

Explore: Intakes in USA

University of California Irvine Admissions: International Students

UC Irvine accepts international students on account of their equivalent secondary education, previous academic records, scores of internationally standardized tests and verified statement for supporting the academic course and living expenses.

The step-by-step application process for admission to UC Irvine is given below:

  • Step 1: Assemble the documents required for admission.
  • Step 2: Pay the 80 USD (~6,200 INR) international application fees.
  • Step 3: Apply online through the university application portal.
UC Irvine Application Portal

Admission Requirements: Academic requirements for admission to University of California Irvine:

  • Official/Certified High School and college transcripts both in the original language and in English
  • Grade point average (GPA) of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale (~89-90%)
  • GRE score
  • TOEFL/IELTS official score report directly sent to the University of California - Irvine
  • An affidavit of support
  • Detailed SOP
  • Academic requirements as per the country
  • US student visa
  • A confidential statement showing enough monetary resources (Tuition + living)
  • Academic and professional LOR as per the program.

Requirements for Indian Students: Indian applicants must complete both year X and XII state board or CBSE examinations, with average marks above 70 and no mark below 60.

English Proficiency Requirements

Proficiency in the English language can be demonstrated by meeting any of the following exam benchmarks.

Test Score
ACT combined English/Writing or English Language Arts (ELA) 24 or higher
SAT Reasoning Writing 560 or higher
Writing and Language in SAT with Essay 31 or higher
English Literature, or Language and Literature in IB Standard Level Examination 6 or 7
English Literature, or Language and Literature in IB Higher Level Examination 5, 6 or 7
IELTS 6.5 or higher
TOEFL TOEFL iBT: 80
TOEFL PBT: 550 or better
Revised paper-delivered test: 60 or better

Visa Application Requirements

Non- US students who have been offered admission by UC Irvine will require a F-1 or J-1  in order to be able to study there. Applying for a visa requires:

  • Having a valid visa document (I-20/DS-2019) 
    • Received from UC Irvine
  • Paying the SEVIS fee
    • Keep the printed receipt
  • Making a visa appointment at the nearest US Consular

To receive the visa documents, proof of sufficient funds and English language proficiency needs to be submitted.

University of California Irvine Admissions: Undergraduate Courses

University of California Irvine admissions are offered across more than 85 undergraduate majors and 70 minors. Academic requirements for various undergraduate courses at UC Irvine are as follows:
Application Portal: All candidates must apply through the UC Online Application
Application Fee: 80 USD (~6,000 INR) for international applicants
Admission Requirements: Following are the general requirements for admission to UC Irvine:

  • The number of college preparatory courses completed.
  • The required standardized national examinations.
  • To satisfy the subject requirement, students must complete a minimum of 15 year-long (or 30 semester) UC-approved college-preparatory courses with a letter grade of C. At least 11 year-long (22 semesters) courses must be completed prior to their senior year.
  • GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale (~83-86%) must be earned in these courses with no grade lower than a C.
  • Students applying for freshman admission can submit the SAT with essay or the ACT with writing (optional).
Test Score
ACT English Language Arts 30 or higher
ACT Combined English/Writing 30 or higher
SAT Reasoning Test Writing 680 or higher
EBRW SAT 680 or higher
English (Language or Literature) College Board Advanced Placement Examination 3 or higher
International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination 5 or higher
Standard Level Examination in English 5 or higher

University of California Irvine Admissions: Graduate Courses

Over 120 graduate and professional programs are offered to the international students by the University of California, Irvine. 44 of their 64 Ph.D. programs have been ranked in the top 25 percentile by Academic Analytics. Admission requirements and deadlines vary with each graduate program, applicants should carefully check their respective department pages.
Application Portal: UCI Online Graduate Application Portal
Application Fee: 140 USD, may vary depending on the program
Admission Requirements: The general requirements for UC Irvine admission are as follows:

  • The graduate record examination GRE scores
    • To be sent electronically from the Educational Testing Service directly to UC Irvine.
  • TOEFL or IELTS scores 
    • Must be sent directly to UC Irvine by the testing agency. 
    • A minimum of 80 is required in TOEFL iBT for consideration.
  • UC Irvine, Graduate Division only accepts scores submitted electronically by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test center.
    •  No paper Test Report Forms will be accepted.
  • An overall minimum IELTS score of 7 is required for admission
    • A score of no less than 6 on any individual module.

Supporting Documents: The supporting documents required for admission are as follows:

  • Professional and academic LOR can be submitted.
  • Copies of transcripts must be scanned and uploaded for all institutions attended since high school.
    •  Both the front and back sides of the transcript have to be uploaded.
  • Some programs require the submission of additional materials as well
    • Resume
    • Portfolio
    • Supplemental essays
    • Video essays
    • Interviews.

Note: Applicants who have opted for Law, Business, and Medical Schools must apply through the mentioned portals. Application for all other programs can be completed through the UCI Graduate Portal.
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University of California Irvine Graduate Courses Admissions

University of California Irvine MBA Admission Requirements

A personal interview will be conducted by invitation only.

Application Deadline February 1 (Final international deadline)
Application Portal Online
Application Fee 150 USD
Academic Requirements GMAT or GRE. Minimum GPA: 3.0
Supporting Documents Test scores, transcripts of previous academic work, work experience, essays, and letters of recommendation
Additional Requirements for International Students Minimum TOEFL iBT: 80 or better; or
Minimum PTE score: 53; or
Minimum IELTS score: 7
Course Fee (Annual) Resident: 45287 USD
International: 52708 USD

Admission Requirements for Civil Engineering, M.S.

Application Deadline January 15
Application Portal Online
Application Fee Resident: 105 USD
International: 125 USD
Academic Requirements A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 GRE scores
Supporting Documents Unofficial transcripts Personal History Statement Letters of Recommendation
Additional Requirements for International Students Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 80 or PBT: 550.
Overall minimum IELTS score: 7 with a score of no less than 6 on any individual module
Course Fee (Annual) Domestic: 11442 USD
International: 15102 USD

Master of Computer Science Admission Requirements

Application Deadline December 15
Application Portal Online
Application Fee Resident: 105 USD International: 125 USD
Academic Requirements Applicants should have the following prerequisites completed before submitting an application for admission:
A year of programming (preferred languages: Python, C++, or Java) Adequate knowledge of and proficiency in C/C++ Familiarity with discrete mathematics topics Familiarity with linear algebra topics Completion of an introductory statistics course GRE scores
Supporting Documents 3 LOR
Personal statement (for domestic students only)
A formal statement of purpose
Additional Requirements for International Students Minimum TOEFL score: 80; or
Overall minimum IELTS score: 7 with a score of no less than 6 on any individual module
Course Fee (Annual) 43709 USD

Admission Requirements for Graduate Program in Mathematical, Computational, and Systems Biology

Following an initial screening of applications, potential trainees are called for an interview at UCI.

Application Deadline December 1-January 15
Application Portal Online
Application Fee Resident: 105 USD
International: 125 USD
Academic Requirements A bachelor’s degree in one of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields and GRE scores
Supporting Documents Official university transcripts, letters of recommendation, and statement of purpose
Additional Requirements for International Students TOEFL or IELTS score
Course Fee (Annual) Resident: 11442 USD
International: 15102 USD

Admission Requirements for Medicine, M.D.

Interview by invitation occurs of shortlisted candidates

Application Deadline June 1-November 1
Application Portal Online
Application Fee 90 USD
Academic Requirements A minimum of 3 years of undergraduate coursework
A minimum of 1 full-time year at an accredited U.S. college or university.
An undergraduate degree
Supporting Documents 3 LOR and supplemental information forms
Additional Requirements for International Students TOEFL
Course Fee (Annual) Resident: 39,889 USD
International: 52,134 USD

UC Irvine usually mails the applicant after four weeks of receiving their application, acknowledging that their materials have been received. UCI also provides the applicants with their UC application ID number.

Applicants can check the status of their application online through the applicant portal. Admission notifications are sent via email once each material has been reviewed. With a low rate of acceptance, UC Irvine has a competitive applicant pool and requires above-average grades and performance. International students are not provided with much financial help at UCI; it is recommended they seek scholarships to study in USA from external sources.

FAQs

Ques: What is the GPA required for UC Irvine admissions?

Ans: International students need a GPA of at least 4.0 on a scale of 4.0 (~96-100%) for admission to UC Irvine. Majority of the students accepted at UC Irvine have an unweighted GPA between 4.0 to 4.6.

Ques: Is it tough to secure admission at UC Irvine?

Ans: University of California at Irvine displays an acceptance of 30%, indicating a competitive admission policy. Student need outstanding academic scores, GPA of 4.0, recommendations and proven leadership qualities to secure admission to UC Irvine.

Ques: Can i take admission to UC Irvine with a 3.9 GPA?

Ans: UC Irvine accept students who were toppers in their class. The university is strict about its GPA requirements and only accepts students with a minimum GPA of 4.0 on a 4.0 scale (~96-100%).

Ques: What are the popular majors for admission to UC Irvine?

Ans: The most popular majors at UC Irvine are Business/ Managerial Economics, Public Health, Biology or Biological Sciences, General Computer Science, Psychology, Political Science and others.

Ques: How many international students take admission at University of California at Irvine?

Ans: More than 19% accepted applicants at UC Irvine are international students, while the national average of international students in USA is only 4.6%.