Campus Benefits

Active duty, reservists, National Guard, and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces are guaranteed an offer of on-campus housing for four years or the normal time to degree completion, whichever is greater. The Housing Guarantee Program applies to military-connected students who are single and those with families, even in the event a degree program is interrupted by a deployment.

If you are an undergraduate or transfer student, housing guarantee options include Undergraduate Housing, Graduate Housing, or Family Housing. Keep in mind that if you are a population that has access to another housing guarantee such as a freshman, transfer or graduate program specific guarantees, then you should follow the avenues of those guarantees first. This guarantee is intended for full-time military-connected student that do not have access to another guarantee or are looking for housing outside of the typical deadline cycle.

To apply for the Housing Guarantee Program, please follow the steps below. The Student Housing Office will contact the VSC to request confirmation of your military-connected status once you complete Steps 1-3.

• Step 1: Visit this website to apply and contact UCI Student Housing should you have any housing-related questions.

• Step 2: Once you submit your application, email UCI Student Housing at housing@uci.edu and indicate that you applied for the Housing Guarantee Program as a military veteran, reservist, National Guard member, or active duty.

• Step 3: Please follow the Submit Your Forms webpage to upload verification of your military-connected status, such as a Certificate of Eligibility, Statement of Benefits, Statement of Service, or Service Benefit Verification.

All continuing student veterans, reservists, National Guard, and active duty are eligible for Priority Enrollment. This benefit applies after attending your first quarter or semester at UCI. 

Continuing student veterans, reservists, National Guard, and active duty using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits are automatically enrolled in this campus benefit. If you are not using VA education benefits and would like to be enrolled into this campus benefit, please submit a Service Benefit Verification letter or Statement of Service letter by following this link and reviewing the Submit Your Forms section. 

I. Scope and Purpose

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) acknowledges that students may be temporarily unable to attend classes or be required to suspend their studies in order to perform uniformed service. UCI encourages such students to resume their university education once a military service obligation has ended and adopts this policy to ensure the timely readmission of such students. 

In accordance with federal regulations, 34 C.F.R. § 668.18 and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), UCI will promptly readmit service members who seek readmission to a program that was interrupted due to a uniformed service obligation.

II. Eligibility

This policy shall apply to:

1. Service members who are unable to attend classes for more than 30 consecutive days; and
2. Service members who are unable to attend classes for less than 30 days when such an absence would result in a withdrawal from UCI.

A student is eligible for readmission under this policy if, during an absence, the student performs uniformed service, voluntary or involuntary, in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserve, active duty, active duty for training or full-time National Guard (under federal authority). 

The cumulative length of all absences for uniformed service (service time only) must not exceed five (5) years.

III. Notification of Intent to Return

The student must give written notice of their intent to return to UCI within three (3) years after the completion of the period of military service. Immediately upon the student’s return to UCI, the student must provide written notice that they may be entitled to the tuition and enrollment benefits outlined in this policy. 

The returning student is required to provide official military orders or supporting documentation of a uniformed service obligation to the UCI Veteran Services Center (VSC) as far in advance as possible, unless precluded by military necessity. Notification under this section must be provided, by the student, to the VSC by emailing veteran@uci.edu.

IV. Tuition and Fees

A returning student must be charged the same tuition and fees in effect during the last academic year the student attended, unless U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits or other service member education benefits will pay the amount in excess. For subsequent academic years, the returning student may not be charged tuition and fees in excess of what other students in the program are charged.

V. Readmission Requirements

A returning student will be permitted to reenroll in the next class(es) scheduled in the same academic program, unless the student requests a later date of reenrollment or agrees to a different program. A returning student will be readmitted into the same academic program the student was enrolled in prior to the military service obligation. If the exact program no longer exists, the student must be admitted to the program that is most similar, unless the student requests or agrees to admission to a different program. Returning students will be reenrolled with the same enrollment status, number of completed credit hours, and academic standing as the last academic year of attendance.

If UCI determines that a returning student is not prepared to resume the program or is unable to complete the program, the university must make reasonable efforts to enable the student to resume or complete the program at no additional cost to the student. If such efforts are unsuccessful or place an undue hardship on UCI, the university is not required to readmit the student.

In accordance with federal regulations, returning students who receive a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces (including the National Guard and Reserves) are not eligible for readmission under this policy. However, service members who receive dishonorable or bad conduct discharge may remain eligible for readmission even though they will not be entitled to the benefits outlined in this policy.