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Reduced Course Load


  • Overview


    Reduced Course Load

    Immigration regulations require that F-1 students maintain a full course of study. If a student cannot enroll full-time, they must be approved by Visa and Immigration Services for a Reduced Course Load before dropping below full-time.

    Academic Reduced Course Load
    An Academic Reduced Course Load permits F-1 students to reduce their course load below full-time if they are experiencing academic difficulty.

    Final Semester Reduced Course Load
    A Final Semester Reduced Course Load permits F-1 to reduce their course load below full-time (at least one credit) if it is their last semester of study and less than a full course load is needed to graduate.

    Medical Reduced Course Load
    A Medical Reduced Course Load permits F-1 students to reduce their course load below full-time (or, if necessary, not enroll in any courses) due to a student's temporary illness or medical condition.


    Learn more about the types of Reduced Course Loads available by choosing from the tabs above.

  • Initial Academic Difficulty


    Initial Academic Difficulty

    If a student cannot enroll full-time, they must be approved by Visa and Immigration Services for a Reduced Course Load before dropping below full-time.

    A Reduced Course Load due to Initial Academic Difficulty, or an "Academic Reduced Course Load" permits F-1 students to reduce their course load below full-time (to a minimum of 6 credits or half the clock hours required for a full course of study) if they are experiencing academic difficulty. A Reduced Course Load for this reason can be used only one time per degree program.

    Eligibility Requirements
    Application Deadlines
    Application Process
  • Final Semester of Study


    Final Semester of Study

    A Reduced Course Load for Final Semester of Study permits F-1 students to reduce their course load below full-time if it is the final semester of study and less than a full course load is needed to graduate.*

    If students only need one course to complete their program of study, the course cannot be completed through online or distance education.  If a student needs more than one class in the final term to complete the course of study, the student must still comply with the standard limit on distance/online education of 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(G), which allows no more than one class/three credits to be counted towards the full course of study count.

    * For undergraduate students, full-time is defined as 12 credits/semester, while for graduate level students, full-time is defined as 9 credit hours.


    Wintersession & Summer Sessions
    Effective Fall 2023, if a student will complete all degree requirements graduate at the end of a wintersession or summer session those terms are then considered a regular semester/term for DHS reporting and registration requirements (they are no longer considered to be an annual vacation/break term because it is the final term).

    To maintain F1 status and stay in the US (including eligibility to apply for post-completion OPT) a student must follow the same registration requirements they normally would during the fall and spring semesters. This includes full-time enrollment and a limitation on the number of fully online classes.

    If a student needs less than a full course load to complete their degree program, then an approved Reduced Course Load for Final Semester of Study is required to maintain status. If approved for a RCL for the summer/winter semester, the student must enroll for at least 1 credit.

     

    Eligibility Requirements
    Application Process

     

  • Medical Reduced Course Load


    Medical Reduced Course Load

    A Medical Reduced Course Load permits F-1 students to reduce their course load below full-time (or, if necessary, not enroll in any courses) due to a student's temporary illness or medical condition. A Medical Reduced Course Load (when approved by a Designated School Official) allows the student to remain in the U.S. and maintain their F-1 status while seeking medical treatment inside the U.S.

    A maximum of 12 months of Medical Reduced Course Load is possible per degree level. Medical Reduced Course Loads are issued on a semester basis. If more than one semester of a Reduced Course Load due to medical condition is needed, the student must submit a new doctor’s letter for the additional semester(s).

    If a student cannot register for any classes (zero credits) due to a medical condition, they should also apply for a Medical Leave of Absence from the university. 

    Students authorized for a medical underload for zero (0) credits, are not be eligible to work on campus, as enrollment is required to be "cleared for hire".  Nor would they be eligible for off-campus employment authorization as full-time enrollment is one of the eligibility requirements.


    Eligibility Requirements
    Application Process