Located in the heart of Orange County, the city of Irvine is one of the most beautiful, vibrant, and dynamic areas in Southern California.
Make this fast-growing business and tech-savvy community close to the Pacific Ocean your home with student housing in Irvine, CA from Student.com.
We offer fully furnished off-campus housing with great locations in the University Town Center, close to the University of California, Irvine campus. Our Irvine student housing features comfortable and restful student apartments within easy reach of downtown Irvine close to the trails of the William R Mason Regional Park, the Irvine Spectrum Center, and a just short drive from Newport Beach.
To learn more about our apartments in and near UTC and other areas of the city, contact us with a phone call or a message through our website’s live chat.
Irvine, California at a glance
One of Orange County’s largest and newest cities, Irvine’s central location, strong concentration of universities, and a great home base for shopping, dining, and exploring makes it a great student destination.
From a calendar full of festivals to outdoor activities, full-service shopping centers, and glorious parks, there’s a lot to love in this little big city of 300,000.
Its location is one of them.
Convenient location
Those looking for a weekend getaway will be happy to know that Irvine is located just 45 miles (72km) from Los Angeles, and 85 miles (137km) from San Diego.
You will have loads of opportunities to take advantage of Irvine’s close proximity to world-class attractions. Laguna Beach, Disneyland Resort, and Newport Beach are all located between 15 and 30 minutes away.
With the center of the city being only seven miles from the Pacific Ocean, plus sitting right smack in the middle of all that makes Orange County postcard-worthy, Irvine is a popular hub for Southern California travellers.
Business and pleasure
The city was designed to be an economic powerhouse and offer an extraordinary quality of life.
One of the United States’ largest and most successful master-planned urban communities, Irvine is where community, business, and nature work in harmony.
It is a leading business center with more than 100 global corporations, a family-oriented multicultural community with residents speaking more than 70 languages, as well as a leader in education.
Business or pleasure, Irvine has something in store for people looking for either. Located minutes from a multitude of diverse businesses and corporate centers and served by the area’s highways and one of the country’s most passenger-friendly airports (John Wayne Airport), it is a perfect meeting destination for the business-minded.
Irvine office buildings are surrounded by more than 16,500 acres of parks, sports fields, and plenty of dedicated open space. You can enjoy more than just preserved natural habitats and wildlands though, with miles of hiking and biking trails in Irvine.
Irvine is great for art-lovers
There are also things of interest for the artsy types. The University of California, Irvine, is home to the Beall Center for Art and Technology, which promotes creative expressions of digital science. At the city’s largest academy, you can find The Institute and Museum of California Art, which preserves art by California Impressionists, and The Barclay Theatre, which hosts ballets, symphonies, and musicals.
Student living in Irvine
Irvine may be home to many businesses, recreational attractions, and schools, but that does not mean it is lacking in the buzz department. The city’s nightlife, entertainment, and food scene reflect its vibrant, sophisticated, and global nature.
Nightlife
Whether you want a simple relaxing night out with a date at a nice restaurant, or a wild evening of partying with friends, Irvine has much to offer when the sun goes down.
Enjoy cocktails and endless 360-degree urban and mountain views at the open-air rooftop bar Hive & Honey.
Pique your curiosity and inspire your inner cocktail enthusiast at the discreet but popular Butchershop. Another top speakeasy bar located within the Irvine Marriott to check out is Y.N.K. (You Never Know). The 16-seat speakeasy serves over 100 master-crafted cocktails in a cozy and dark Mad Men-esque space.
If you have the guts to belt out your favourite songs in front of friends and strangers, you can channel your inner rock star at Plush Karaoke Lounge. The city’s main karaoke spot has 16 splendid private rooms that offer the latest song selection in English, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and many others.
Dining
When it’s time to eat, enjoy global cuisine at the Diamond Jamboree Shopping Center. Orange County’s international dining destination brings together a variety of cuisines and international flavours. It’s a great late-night spot with most of its 20 venues open until 11 p.m. during weekdays and midnight on weekends.
Events and activities
Irvine marks the passage of seasons with a variety of annual events. Several festivals and concerts bring the community closer and make visitors feel at home.
For something slower and serene you can enjoy the sunset 400 feet up in the giant Great Park Balloon. The virtually silent tethered helium (not hot air) balloon, which is one of the largest and the first of its kind in the US, is environmentally safe, and non-polluting.
A shopping haven
An Orange County hallmark, Irvine’s selection of shopping malls does not disappoint. From the casual shopper on the hunt for a great bargain to those seeking the finest luxury goods, Irvine’s shopping spots have something for everyone.
The first stop on any shopping spree in Irvine should be the grand Irvine Spectrum Center. Browse over 130 nationally recognised retailers and restaurants. During shopping breaks skate on its seasonal ice rink, check out a flick at the IMAX theatre, or ride the iconic and magical 108-foot-tall giant Ferris wheel.
For the more serious shopper, Fashion Island is like a shrine. This shopping center in the nearby Newport Beach features an expansive open-air layout with over 150 high-end shops, an amazing variety of eateries, live musical performances, and plenty of comfortable spots to just relax. It’s the perfect symbol of the California lifestyle.
South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, known for its high-end boutiques, is the largest mall on the West Coast. Unparalleled in its collection of luxury stores, the plaza is home to 250 boutiques from Balenciaga and Cartier to Hermès and Gucci.
Where to study in Irvine?
The university has continued to gain prestige for its superior academic programs and contributions to cutting-edge research since its founding in 1965.
As a center for quality education, UC Irvine is rated amongst the best universities in the world. It placed 98th and 232nd in the 2022 Times Higher Education and QS World University rankings, respectively. It’s also ranked as the best comprehensive university under 50 years old in the world, and the 14th best public university in the US.
One of the 10 institutions that make up the University of California (UC) System, UC Irvine is the only research university in Orange County that’s in the Association of American Universities (AAU).
It’s responsible for bringing more than $300 million in annual research funding to the region. Its endowment is also valued at over $500 million.
The university offers 192-degree programmes to over 30,000 students and possesses faculty members from the top of their fields, including Nobel laureates and recipients of the National Medal of Science.
UCI is equipped with a library system that covers 350,000 square feet over four separate locations. It collectively houses over 3.5 million books, 154,000 journals and serials, and 114,000 government documents, among other collections.
The UCI campus is among the most environmentally friendly and energy-efficient in the country, ranking as the No.1 greenest college in successive years by Sierra magazine.
A fully accredited, public, two-year community college, Irvine Valley College (IVC) offers over 70 associate degree majors and 60 certificate programs in a variety of subjects in the arts and sciences.
Established in 1985, the comprehensive community college is home to about 15,000 students, of which over 800 are international students from 50 different countries.
IVC ranks #1 for university transfer in the state of California. IVC students transfer to several universities in the University of California system, including Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Irvine. They also transition to California State Universities such as Fullerton, Long Beach, and San Diego, as well as USC, Columbia University, and Pepperdine University among others.
Frequently asked questions about student apartments in Irvine
How do I apply for off-campus housing in Irvine, CA on Student.com?
You can apply for off-campus housing in Irvine easily on Studen.com. On this page, choose your preferred property. To help you choose, you can use the filters to only see properties that fit your needs. Make sure to also check out the map feature on the top-right hand corner of this page to see where the different properties we list are located.
Once you’ve chosen a property you like, click on ‘View rooms’ to go to the property page. On the property page, you’ll need to choose the apartment you like. After making your choice, click ‘Enquire’ or ‘Book Now’. One of our booking consultants will then contact you to answer any of your questions and to take you through the next steps of the booking process.
What types of rooms do you offer?
We offer three different types of room in Irvine. Do note however, that not all properties we list offer all three room types.
Shared Rooms are apartments where two people share a single bedroom. Bathroom and kitchen are also shared.
Private Rooms are a housing option that will get you a private bedroom just for yourself. The bathroom can be either private or shared, depending on the property. Other facilities are shared with other students.
Entire Place is a completely private, fully self-contained apartment. You’ll have your own bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette without having to share anything. The perfect choice for people who love some privacy!
Do you list fully furnished apartments?
Yes, typically the apartments we list in Irvine are rented fully furnished. Make sure you check on the property page to see that this is the case with the apartment you’re interested in though, as sometimes different landlords may have different policies.
Are bills included in the rent?
In some properties all bills are included, but in some you’ll have to pay bills on top of the rent. You can use the filter feature on this page to only see apartments with bills included. You can also check the property page of a property you like to see which bills, if any, are included in your rent in that particular property.