The International Residential College (also known as the IRC) was established in 2001, and is the newest residential college at the University of Virginia. It comprises Mary Munford, Roberta Gwathmey, Yen (formerly Lewis), and Hoxton dorms (also sometimes referred to as 'houses'), all of which existed before the IRC was established. The IRC houses 317 students of all years at UVA, with international students making up 30% of the students living at the IRC, representing 29 countries.

Morea House, which currently houses both the International Residential College's Principal and the Director of Studies, was constructed in 1835 by the University of Virginia's first professor of natural history John Patten Emmet, it was later sold to the institution in 1960 after having been privately owned for a long duration. In 1951, during a period of rapid growth for the University of Virginia, Munford Hall was constructed on grounds of the original Morea tract to accommodate for the growing student body. Later in 1970 when the institution began allowing female enrollment, Gwathmey Hall was built adjacent to Munford Hall. In the early 1980s, the Morea property was the site of a dispute between the university and the Albemarle Garden Club over the planned construction of two new additional residential halls on the eastern end of the property, however after much controversy the university was able to finish construction of the Hoxton House and Lewis House.

After the university chartered the Virginia 2020 plan to improve its cultural horizons, it opened up applications to the IRC for the first time in January 2001. The IRC opened its doors in the Fall of 2001 to 323 American and international students at the four dorm residences located along Sprigg Lane. The founder and first principal of the IRC was Professor Brad Brown. The crest was created to represent the four houses and their corresponding words of the Latin motto, the Wheat for food, the Bear for friendship, the Owl for wisdom, and the Laurels for peace.

In 2013, the first principal of the IRC Brad Brown stepped down and was succeeded by Professor Eric Loth.

In 2017, Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Díaz visited the residential college as a result of its residential students having chosen his novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao as their summer read. Later on in the year, the IRC renamed Lewis House (which had its name derived from American eugenics advocate Ivey Foreman Lewis) to Yen House in honor of the Chinese Premier Yan Huiqing who was the first Chinese student to graduate from UVA.

In 2018, the second principal of the IRC, Professor Eric Loth was succeeded by Professor Reid Bailey.

In 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRC was temporarily converted into quarantine housing alongside the Johnson, Malone and Weedon dorms and Shea House, which left many students having to find alternative solutions to their housing issue with only 24 hours.

In spring 2021, the IRC re-opened up applications for residential housing and accepted applicants were able to move-in in fall 2021.