Enrollment Requirements
All students must be sure to enroll in a full course of study for all Academic Semesters.
Academic Semesters are defined as:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer (only if it is the student's first or last semester of study)
- A minimum of 12 credits for undergraduate students, of which at least 9 credits must be in-person (face-to-face or hybrid).
- A minimum of 9 credits for graduate students in Fall and Spring semesters, of which at least 6 credits must be in-person (face-to-face or hybrid) and a minimum of 6 credits in Summer semesters, of which at least 3 credits must be in-person (face-to-face or hybrid).
Online and Hybrid Courses
- Hybrid courses are considered in-person for immigration purposes and do not count toward the online limits.
- Online courses include synchronous and asynchronous. SEVP regulations limit the number of online course credits (3 credits maximum) that may count toward the minimum number of credits required for full-time study.
- Students who enroll in additional credits beyond the minimum full-time requirements may enroll in additional online courses.
Exceptions to Full Time Requirements
You must receive written approval on your I-20 from ISSS before you drop below full-time status. Exceptions to the full-time requirement are rare, but may include:
- Academic reasons:
- English Language difficulties
- Unfamiliarity with US teaching methods
- Improper course placement level
- Illness or medical condition
- Final semester to complete course of study
Retroactive Withdrawals
If a student withdraws from a course or courses which results in the student being under-enrolled before the date that grades are due in a semester and the student does not have an appropriate authorization for a Reduced Course Load, then the student's SEVIS record and I-20 will be terminated for unauthorized drop below full-time.
If a student retroactively withdraws from a course or courses which makes the student under-enrolled, no action will be taken on the student's SEVIS record provided the following applies:
If a student retroactively withdraws from a course or courses which makes the student under-enrolled, no action will be taken on the student's SEVIS record provided the following applies:
- ​The withdrawal occurs after the date that grades are due for that semester.
- The student maintains documentation of when and why the withdrawal occurred.