University of California, IrvineStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for University of California, Irvine. Core organization is free for students.

Public Research University in Irvine, CA. Operating on a semester system.

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Free for all University of California, Irvine students. No credit card required.

37K+

Total Enrollment

Research University

Institution Type

24

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Fall Quarter 2026

The semester, explained for University of California, Irvine

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Fall Quarter 2026
Campus terms
35
Local details
21

Academic calendar

Fall Quarter 2026 runs Sep 21, 2026 – Dec 11, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

15 entries
  1. Fall Quarter 2026Relevant now
  2. Winter Quarter 2027
  3. Spring Quarter 2027
  4. Summer Session I 2027
  5. Summer 10-Week Session 2027Summer Session 10-Week 2027Summer Session 10WK 2027
  6. Summer Session II 2027
  7. Fall Quarter 2027
  8. Winter Quarter 2028
  9. Spring Quarter 2028
  10. Summer Session I 2028
  11. Summer Session 10-Week 2028Summer Session 10WK 2028
  12. Summer Session II 2028

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

35 terms

A

ACC
American Campus Communities, the private company that manages several on-campus apartment complexes.
AGS
Associated Graduate Students; the representative body for graduate students.
Aldrich Park
The large circular park in the center of campus, surrounded by Ring Road.
ASUCI
Associated Students of the University of California, Irvine; the undergraduate student government.
AV
Arroyo Vista, a housing community consisting of themed and Greek life houses.

B

BC's
BC's Cavern Food Court, a dining area located in the lower level of the Student Center.
Brandy
Brandywine, the primary dining hall located in Middle Earth.
Brandywine
The primary dining hall located in the Middle Earth housing community.

C

Camino
Camino del Sol, an ACC-managed apartment community often called 'CDS'.
CARE
Campus Assault Resources and Education, providing support and prevention services.
CDS
Camino del Sol, an undergraduate apartment community known for its lodge-style amenities.

K

KUCI
The campus radio station broadcasting at 88.9 FM.

M

Mesa
Mesa Court, one of the two primary freshman housing communities.
Middle
Middle Earth, a freshman housing community themed after Lord of the Rings.

P

PDS
Puerta del Sol, an apartment community primarily for upperclassmen and graduates.
Petr
An unofficial mascot (Petr the Anteater) associated with surprise sticker drops on campus.
Pippin
A former dining hall in Mesa Court, now used as a study and community space.
Puerta
Puerta del Sol, an ACC-managed apartment community located near the campus core.
Puo
Puerta del Sol, an ACC apartment complex typically housing graduate and upperclassman students.

R

Ring Road
The 1-mile circular pedestrian path that connects all the major academic schools.

S

SPOP
Student Parent Orientation Program, the mandatory orientation for incoming freshmen.
Swag Man
A local legend known for walking around campus and UTC in a distinctive outfit and gait.

T

The Anteatery
The primary dining hall located in the Mesa Court housing community.
The Bridge
The pedestrian bridge connecting the main campus to the University Town Center (UTC).
The Circle
A common reference to Aldrich Park, the circular green space at the center of the campus.
The Hill
The campus bookstore and retail hub which includes various food options.
The Pub
The Anthill Pub & Grille, a popular on-campus spot for food and drinks in the Student Center.
Towers
The high-rise residential buildings within Mesa Court (Mariposa, Caballo, etc.).

U

UTC
University Town Center, the shopping and dining area located directly across the bridge from campus.
UTC
University Town Center, the off-campus shopping center across the bridge known for popular student eateries.

V

VDC
Vista del Campo, an upperclassman apartment complex managed by ACC.
VDCN
Vista del Campo Norte, an upperclassman apartment complex managed by ACC.

W

Week 0
The first week of the fall quarter featuring orientation and 'Welcome Week' events before instruction begins.

Z

Zot
The campus battle cry and the sound an anteater supposedly makes.
Zot N Go
Small convenience stores located across campus for quick snacks and drinks.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

21 details
ALP
Anteater Learning Pavilion, a major hub for active learning and lectures.
Anteater Express
The campus shuttle bus system that connects housing and nearby areas to the main campus.
BCSC
Baykh Center for Student Care, often used for health and wellness services.
brandywine
Brandywine
BS3
Biological Sciences III, a major research and lecture facility in the BioSci quad.
Canvas
The Learning Management System (LMS) where professors post course materials and assignments.
DBH
Donald Bren Hall, the main building for the School of Information and Computer Sciences.
DegreeWorks
The official web-based tool for tracking progress toward degree completion.
ELH
Engineering Lecture Hall, a primary site for engineering and STEM-related courses.
MSTB
Multipurpose Science and Technology Building, often used for labs and testing.
RH
Rowland Hall, a central building for physical sciences named after F. Sherwood Rowland.
SSH
Social Science Hall, part of the Social Science complex near the center of campus.
SSL
Social Science Lecture hall, a large circular lecture building.
SSLH
Social Science Lecture Hall, a frequent location for large introductory GE classes.
the_anteatery
The Anteatery
Wayzgoose
The annual medieval-themed festival held in Aldrich Park during the Celebrate UCI open house.
WebReg
The online system used by students to enroll in and drop classes.
ZotBill
The online system for viewing and paying tuition and campus fees.
ZotCard
The official UCI student identification card used for meals, building access, and library services.
ZotPass
A digital pass or ID used for entry into campus events and facilities.
ZotPortal
The central web dashboard for accessing grades, financial aid, and campus apps.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall Quarter 2026 runs Sep 21, 2026 – Dec 11, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
35 approved campus terms and 21 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?
Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?
Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Get to know your university

Assisted

Find a few communities to try at University of California, Irvine

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed
Interest filters
  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

DormWay is still mapping student communities at this campus.

We only show recommendations once we have enough public sources for University of California, Irvine.

These are things we discovered. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

Recommendations are based on public campus sources. We do not endorse student organizations.

Using DormWay at University of California, Irvine

What the product handles for students.

Syllabus to schedule

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Free student access

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University of California, Irvine on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

29

Active Students

25

Syllabi Analyzed

21

Courses on DormWay

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Popular Courses

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Basic StatisticsBIO SCI 93Cell BiologyCHEM 1ACHEM 1XCHEM 51C Organic ChemistryChemistry - Structure and PropertiesDNA to Organisms

DormWay integrates with University of California, Irvine's LMS

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Life in Irvine for University of California, Irvine Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Irvine.

Timezone

Pacific Time (PT)

Median Rent

$3,200

Cost of Living Index

185

Student Population

60,000

City Transportation

Walkability

45

Bikeability

70

Public Transit

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) bus system, Metrolink commuter rail (Irvine Station)

Nearest Airports

John Wayne Airport (SNA), Long Beach Airport (LGB, regional access)

Climate Averages

Climate

Mediterranean (warm-summer, semi-arid influences)

Avg Annual Temp

64°F

Avg Snowfall

0 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Mesa Parking Structure

garage • Limited during peak hours (9 AM - 11 AM)

Primary structure for Mesa Court and arts area.

Student Center Parking Structure

garage • High demand

Near Student Center and Langson Library.

Social Science Parking Structure

garage • Moderate

Nearest to Social Sciences and Law School.

Lot ARC

surface_lot • High

Discounted hourly rate for ARC users.

Campus News

Latest updates from University of California, Irvine

Thousands take the Anti-Cancer Challenge, raising over $1.3 million

Participants in the 10th annual UC Irvine Anti-Cancer Challenge successfully raised significant funds for critical research and pilot projects.

Oct 13, 2026

Read More

Beckman Laser Institute celebrates 40th anniversary

The institute celebrated four decades of influential laser medicine research with a keynote by Bruce Tromberg.

Oct 12, 2026

Read More

Department of Energy selects UCI-led, AI-driven geothermal energy project

UCI will lead a multi-campus initiative involving four national laboratories to advance geothermal energy using artificial intelligence.

Oct 8, 2026

Read More

UCI Health ranked among nation's best for diabetes and endocrinology

U.S. News & World Report ranked UCI Health No. 39 in the nation for diabetes treatment and endocrinology expertise.

Oct 8, 2026

Read More

Authorities investigate death of student found on campus

Officials confirmed the death of an 18-year-old sophomore math major found at Mesa Court; foul play is not suspected.

Oct 5, 2026

Read More

Upcoming Events

What's happening at University of California, Irvine

Melodies of the Morning Calm

October 25, 2026

Winifred Smith Hall

An evening full of traditional and modern Korean works celebrating the sounds of the morning calm.

Building On Device AI at Qualcomm

October 27, 2026

Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB) 1200

A seminar exploring the development and implementation of artificial intelligence on mobile and edge devices.

CBE Seminar Series: Mark Edmundson

October 30, 2026

Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB) 1200

A research seminar hosted by the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department.

UCI Symphony Orchestra Express

October 30, 2026

Winifred Smith Hall

A one-hour personal setting performance featuring the UCI Symphony Orchestra.

Men's Soccer versus UC Riverside

October 31, 2026

Anteater Stadium

Big West conference soccer match between the UCI Anteaters and UC Riverside Highlanders.

Continuity (Drama Production)

November 6, 2026

Experimental Media Performance Lab (xMPL)

A play by Bess Wohl, winner of the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, exploring the chaotic environment of a film crew.

CBE Seminar: Engineering Stem Cell Fate

November 9, 2026

Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB) 1200

A specialized seminar discussing the engineering aspects of stem cell research and development.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at University of California, Irvine

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

18 known dorm and housing options. Every known option is shown below.

ACC Apartments

Room types: apartments

American Campus Communities (ACC) Apartments

Room types: furnished apartments

Arroyo Vista

Capacity: 1,800

Room types: apartment-style, house-style

Arroyo Vista Sponsored Theme Houses

Room types: double

Camino del Sol

Capacity: 1,200

Room types: apartment, townhome

Campus Village

Capacity: 800

Room types: unfurnished apartments

Las Lomas

Room types: apartment

Mesa Court

Capacity: 2,940

Room types: Single, Double, Triple

Mesa Court Mid-Rise Towers (4 towers)

Capacity: 1,440

Room types: double

Middle Earth

Capacity: 2,943

Room types: single, double

Middle Earth Mid-Rise Tower

Capacity: 640

Room types: double

Oso Tower

Capacity: 424

Room types: single, double

Palo Verde

Capacity: 400

Room types: unfurnished apartments

Plaza Verde

Room types: apartment

Puerta del Sol

Room types: apartment

Residence Hall Towers (Mesa Court & Middle Earth)

Room types: quad (all rooms assigned as quads for 2025-26)

Verano Place

Capacity: 480

Room types: unfurnished apartments

Vista del Campo Norte

Room types: apartment, townhome

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Public

Email Domain

@uci.edu

Official Website

Visit Website →

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