International Students are required to be enrolled full-time to maintain their student status. For undergraduate students, a minimum of 12 units is required each semester. For graduate students a minimum of 8 units is required. Students authorized for full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) are considered to be full-time students. Also consider to be enrolled full-time are graduate students who have completed all of their coursework and are working on final project, thesis, or comprehensive exam while enrolled in adjunct status.
You must be enrolled full-time, even if classes that you want or need are not available. In that case, you will have to select other classes. You can see that it will be necessary for you to plan ahead and find out which courses will be offered which semester. Also, watch your budget carefully so that you will have the funds required for a full course of study each semester.
The only exceptions allowed to the full course load requirement are listed below. Application for taking less than a full course load must be approved by the International Student Advisors prior to falling below the minimum. The exceptions are:
- Illness or Medical Condition
- Initial Difficulty with English Language/Reading Requirements/U.S. Teaching Methods
- Improper Course Level Placement
- Graduate Assistantship
- Concurrent Enrollment
- Last Semester of Degree
Note: You will be permitted to apply for less than a full course of study for academic reasons (number 2 or 3 above) only once during your current degree program.
More information on the full course load requirement is available in the International Student Advising Office, Student Services Center, Room 440.