Course Load Requirements
International students in F-1 and J-1 status must register for and complete a full course load each semester (not including summer). Students who drop below a full course-load without international student advisor approval will be reported to SEVIS. If this occurs, your SEVIS record will be terminated and you will lose your F-1 or J-1 status, including employment eligibility and benefits. For immigration purposes, full-time enrollment (during fall and spring semester) is defined as:
- Undergraduate students: 12 credit hours (4 courses)
- Graduate students: 9 credit hours (3 courses)
- Graduate students with a graduate assistantship: 6 credit hours (2 courses)
Summer enrollment is optional unless it is your first or last semester. Full-time summer enrollment is 3 credit hours and it cannot be an online course.
UNIV 500
In order to maintain your immigration status, you cannot be enrolled only in UNIV 500 to meet full course of study, as this enrollment is only used for administrative purposes and is not given for credit. If you have applied for OPT, and choose to enroll in UNIV 500 you will incur a Health Service charge as well as the administrative fee for each semester you are only enrolled in UNIV 500.
There are limited circumstances in which a reduced course load is okay. Visit Reducing Your Course Load for information.
SEVIS Registration Reporting
At the beginning of each term, the international advisor is required by law to verify class registration electronically to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through SEVIS to confirm that all international students are maintaining a full course load.
