Concurrent Enrollment

Concurrent enrollment allows you to take courses at two or more SEVP-certified schools during the same semester while maintaining full-time F-1 enrollment.

For example, if you are a graduate student required to enroll in 9 credits, you may take 6 credits at Stony Brook University (SBU) and 3 credits at another college or university during the same semester.

The total number of credits from all schools combined must meet the full-time enrollment requirement.

If you choose to study full-time at SBU and take additional courses at another institution, concurrent enrollment is not required. It is only if you need to maintain full-time enrollment between two or more schools.

Eligibility Requirements

To maintain F-1 status through concurrent enrollment, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• The additional courses must be taken at a U.S. college or university certified by SEVP to enroll F-1 students.

• The credits must be transferable to Stony Brook University and count toward your degree program.

• You must enroll in at least one course at Stony Brook University during the semester.

• You must follow F-1 rules for online courses, which allow only one online course or up to 3 credits to count toward full-time enrollment.

• Your combined credits from all schools must meet full-time enrollment requirements:

  • 12 credits for undergraduate students

  • 9 credits for graduate students (Masters/PhD)

How to Apply

Concurrent enrollment must be approved for each semester.

Follow these steps to request Concurrent Enrollment:

1. Choose Courses at Another School
   Identify the course you want to take at another college or university. Speak with your Academic Advisor or Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) to confirm the course will transfer and count toward your degree. Do not assume credits will transfer without advisor approval.
2. Register at the Other School
   After your advisor approves the course, register at the other institution. You are responsible for following that school’s registration, billing, and academic policies.
3. Submit the Request in accessVIS
   Log in to accessVIS using your NetID and password and submit the Academic Reduced Course Load request, selecting Concurrent Enrollment as the reason. Submit your request after your course schedule for the semester is finalized to avoid delays.

When You Need Concurrent Enrollment Authorization

Fall & Spring Semesters:
If you enroll full-time at Stony Brook University, you do not need concurrent enrollment approval to take additional courses at another school.

You must request concurrent enrollment authorization only when you combine credits from two or more schools to meet the full-time enrollment requirement.

Summer & Winter Terms:
You do not need concurrent enrollment approval for courses taken at another school during the summer or winter term, as long as you plan to return to Stony Brook University the following semester.

If summer or winter is your final semester, you must follow the fall and spring enrollment rules because the term becomes a required semester for F-1 immigration reporting.