Full-Time Enrollment Requirements for F-1 Students
Credit Hours
Intensive English for Internationals: No online classes may count towards minimum enrollment requirements.
Note that these are not University rules but are instead U.S. Federal Regulations. Please see below the relevant federal regulation under 8 CFR 21
- (G) For F-1 students enrolled in classes for credit or classroom hours, no more than the equivalent of one class or three credits per session, term, semester, trimester, or quarter may be counted toward the full course of study requirement if the class is taken on-line or through distance education and does not require the student's physical attendance for classes, examination or other purposes integral to completion of the class. An on-line or distance education course is a course that is offered principally through the use of television, audio, or computer transmission, including open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, or satellite, audio conferencing, or computer conferencing. If the F-1 student's course of study is in a language study program, no on-line or distance education classes may be considered to count toward a student's full course of study requirement. (Revised effective 1/1/03; 67 FR 76256 )
Dropping Below Full-Time Hours
Students that are in the United States on F-1 and J-1 visas are required to attend classes full-time each semester. If it is necessary for the student to drop below full-time hours, they must complete a Request Authorization for Reduced Course Load form. Any student that drops below full-time without prior approval will be considered out of status. Please see the full-time hour requirements below.
Immigration Regulations allow certain reasons for students to take a reduced course load:
- Temporary illness or medical condition
You should contact the IEI Office if:
- You have a medical issue and have obtained a doctor's note that suggests withdrawal from classes.
Reminder: You should not remain in classes beyond the completion of your program.