Full-time enrollment requirements

Students in F-1 and J-1 status are required to maintain full-time enrollment each fall and spring semester to maintain nonimmigrant visa status.

A full course of study is defined as:

• Undergraduate students: At least 12 credit hours
• Graduate students: At least 5 graduate credit hours or a combination of 8 credit hours of graduate and undergraduate-level courses
  • This may change depending on your graduate student registration status and level of course enrollment. Graduate School rules for full-time status apply.
  • Ask your academic department for assistance in determining your graduate student registration status and how to define full-time enrollment based on that status.

Failure to meet the full-time enrollment requirement or receive an authorized reduced course load (see below for the Exceptions to the Full-Time Enrollment Requirement) can result in your SEVIS record being terminated.

Online/ Distance Education Restriction

For both undergraduate and graduate students, only 3 credits of online or distance education course work can count towards the full-time requirement. For example, if you are an undergraduate student, you can take a 3-credit class online, but you must have at least 9 additional on-campus credits that take place in a classroom.

Classes must be taken for a grade, satisfactory/unsatisfactory or pass/fail in order to count toward the full-time requirement. Classes taken for no-credit will not count toward the full-time enrollment requirement.

On-Campus Physical Presence Requirement

On-campus presence is required every fall and spring semester. It is also required in the summer if the summer term is your first or last semester. If you plan to graduate in the summer, you must maintain some level of on-campus presence by enrolling in on-campus credits. There is no exception to this rule.

Incomplete Grades (“I”)

Getting an incomplete grade of "I” counts toward the full-time minimum requirement for enrollment purposes. Students are responsible for working with their professor to ensure they complete the coursework within the established deadline to receive a letter grade for the incomplete.

Exceptions to the Full-Time Enrollment Requirement

• Less than a Full-Time Course Load Remaining: If it is your final semester and less than a full-time course load is required to complete your degree, you must submit the Confirmation of Final Semester e-Form (available in MyISSS Portal).
  • Students can count up to 3 credits of online/remote/distance education courses towards the credits needed to complete their academic program requirements in their final semester
    • A student must demonstrate on-campus presence through enrollment in in-person credits in their final semester.
    • Examples:
      • If you are a graduate or an undergraduate student and need 4 credits to complete your program in your final semester, then you must have at least 1 credit of in-person enrollment and the remaining 3 credits required to complete your degree can be online courses.
      • If you are an undergraduate student and need 8 credits to complete your program in your final semester, then you must have at least 5 credits of in-person enrollment and the remaining 3 credits required to complete your degree can be online courses.
• Authorized Reduced Course Load: If you have a qualifying Academic or Medical reason, you may be eligible for an authorized reduced course load.

Consult ISSS if you have questions regarding eligibility requirements and do not drop courses without ISSS authorization.