Living in Urbana - Champaign
The University of Illinois is located in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign. Known collectively as Urbana-Champaign, this community of approximately 120,000 people has a dynamism and wealth of resources that exceed those of many cities with much larger populations.
Only 125 miles south of Chicago, the Urbana-Champaign campus and the surrounding area both contribute to the overall quality of life enjoyed by permanent residents and students who move here to study at the University.
A well-established and significant population of international students, and other residents who have moved here from around the world, has made Urbana-Champaign particularly amenable to the cultural diversity, interests and needs of students who come here from abroad. The University of Illinois and the Urbana-Champaign community feature a wide range of resources that contribute to the overall quality of life of international students, including a variety of socio-cultural organizations, ethnic restaurants, international grocery stores, and houses of worship for many faiths.
Campus-Level Student Resources
- Campus Life at Illinois
- Information for International Students
- International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)
- Campus Maps
- Campus Visitors' Guide
- Campus Parking Map
General Community Information
Fine Arts Resources
- Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
- Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion
- Spurlock Museum
- Japan House
Houses of Worship
International Grocery Stores
- Am-Ko Oriental Foods and Gifts: (217) 398-2922
- Annapoorna Stores
- Chang's Oriental Mart: (217) 356-9288
- Euro-Mart: (217) 355-1488
- Green Onion: (217) 766-6588
- World Harvest International and Gourmet Foods
Libraries
Newspapers
Parks and Recreation
- University of Illinois Campus Recreation
- University of Illinois Arboretum
- Champaign Park District
- Urbana Park District
- Allerton Park and Recreation Area
Socio-cultural Resources
- Cosmopolitan Club
- International Student Organizations
- Registered Organizations Directory (The drop-down menu allows you to search by categories, such as "International" and "Cultural/Ethnic")
- Interlink

