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Dear International Students,

Remember, all international students must enroll on a full time basis each semester! 

Full time = 

Bachelor's students - 12 credits

Master's/PhD students - 9 credits, or 6 credits with GAship

JD students- 12 credits

Exchange students - 12 credits with 1000-4000 level courses, 9 credits with 5000-6000 level courses. 

Are you graduating in Spring 2020? Do you only need part-time classes to graduate?

Part time = fewer than 12 credits for Bachelors students and fewer than 9 credits for Masters/PhD with no GA.

If you will graduate in Spring 2020, you are allowed to take only those courses needed to graduate. This means it may be possible to study on a part-time basis, even though the F-1 visa normally requires full time study.

To qualify, you must:

- Plan to finish your degree in Spring 2020 semester. Summer graduates do not qualify for part-time study. If you will finish your program in summer, you must study on a full time basis in Spring.

-Submit a Last Semester Reduced Course Load record to ISSS through the ISSS website.  This form is also partially completed by your academic advisor. 

-If you have only one course left to take, it may not be an online course, unless you plan to take the course outside the United States. Students who take only online courses in their final term may not stay in the U.S. on their F-1 visa. 

Please submit the Last Semester Reduced Course Load record as soon as possible, and no later than the 10th day of classes (add/drop deadline). Contact your international advisor with any questions.

Reduced Course Load for Academic Difficulties

If you are struggling to maintain a full time course load due to initial difficulty with English language, reading requirements, or U.S. teaching methods, or because you were improperly placed in a course that is too advanced, you may also qualify to take a reduced course load. You must have permission from your ISSS advisor BEFORE you drop below full time, or you will be in violation of your F/J visa. 

Reduced Course Load for Medical Reasons (Physical/Mental Health)

If you cannot maintain a full time course load due to medical reasons, including both physical or mental health, it may also be possible to reduce your course load. Again, you must have permission from your ISSS advisor BEFORE you drop below full time, or  you will be in violation of your F/J visa. 

Please contact ISSS with any questions.