The IRC is a place where over 300 undergraduates develop their intellectual capabilities, networking skills, and profound global perspectives.  While the majority of the students are from the United States, the IRC boasts of having the largest international-to-domestic student ratio on Grounds. Moreover, exchange students from partner universities around the world as well as the international residents represent 38 countries from around the world.

Residents are offered many opportunities to interact with world-class professors and fellows who are active members. Students also connect with their peers and learn from one other, through enlightening dialogue and study groups. Indeed, IRC students strive to succeed and to share this success with their colleagues.
 
Among the many programs sponsored by the IRC, the diversity of culture is celebrated with much joy and food. With an emphasis on global awareness, inter-cultural interaction, study abroad opportunities, and community outreach are main themes of the IRC, organized by the IRC's Student Council and committees. These bodies are maintained through student governance and participation.
 
The programs offered promote the IRC's distinctly international identity, strengthening UVA's residential experience and its global perspective, presence, and connections.
 
The IRC academical village includes four student residential buildings and one faculty residential building. To see more information on houses, visit our Houses page.

The mission of the International Residential College residents, as members of a global community, is to spread knowledge and understanding of ourselves to all cultures; to better ourselves through exposure and interaction with people of various backgrounds; and to translate social and cultural consciousness into positive global action.  With this in mind, The International Residential College endeavors:

1.  to build a welcoming, diverse and participatory community,

2.  to promote cultural exchange and awareness,

3.  to enrich ourselves and those with whom we interact through the celebration of diversity,

4.  to cultivate academic interests and scholarly pursuits beyond the classroom, and

5.  to support and serve like-minded groups in the University of Virginia and Charlottesville community.

The IRC was opened in Fall of 2001 by the University with a desire  to create an environment focused on exploring global and cross-cultural issues on Grounds. As the first Principal of the IRC, Prof. Brad Brown led and developed the residential college into a strong community of successful students with a unique, global perspective.

In Fall of 2013, the IRC introduced its second Principal, Prof. Eric Loth. Under his and the new Director of Studies, Sandy Seidel, the Faculty Fellows program was expanded. In addition, the IRC has assimilated the best practices from Harvard's residential college system: intra- and inter-college competition, student speeches, increased dining options, and Morea evenings.

Reid Baily was appointed as the third principal of the IRC in August of 2018. A key part of his term was working with students to lead the IRC community through the pandemic.  While the year the IRC was closed to make space for COVID housing was difficult, it was also the defining moment of Reid's tenure as Principal.  What we needed most was community. And the IRC delivered it (along with food!). The weekly socially-distanced picnics were a highlight for so many of us. We even held the Lunar New Year event in a snowy Morea driveway. Beyond the pandemic, Reid hopes his term is remembered for initiatives to increase academic programing, forge stronger connections with Hereford and Brown Residential Colleges, empower students to lead programming about their cultures, and connect students to local cultures through his Appalachian Fall series, which not only included pig roasts in the Morea backyard but also a fall break course where he and students directly engaged with culture, place, and people of Appalachia.

Phoebe Crisman was appointed as the fourth principal of the IRC in August of 2023. Phoebe and her family resided in Little Morea House. David Edmunds was appointed non-residential Director of Studies in August of 2023.

Jill Jones served under all four Principals as the IRC Office Manager from 2001 through May of 2025.

Sandy Seidel returned to the IRC and was appointed as the fifth principal of the IRC in August 2025. 

Abbey Stockstill started her term as principal in July of 2026.