Full-Time Enrollment Requirements for F-1 and J-1 Students

Enrollment Requirements for Fall and Spring Semesters

Students admitted to the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status must enroll in a full course of study every fall and spring semester. The deadline to enroll full-time is the 12th class day of the semester. Full-time enrollment is a requirement for properly maintaining F-1/J-1 student visa status.

Failure to enroll full-time by the 12th class day or dropping below full-time prior to receiving authorization from ISSS will lead to the negative termination of your SEVIS record and the loss of your valid status in the U.S.

In Absentia registration does not count towards a full course of study.

Restrictions on online enrollment: A maximum of three (3) online/Internet-based credits can count towards your full-time enrollment requirement. Note that immigration regulations and guidance differ on what constitutes an “online” class for F-1 students vs. for J-1 students.

F-1: Any course other than one coded as “in-person” or “hybrid” is considered online.
J-1: Any course other than one coded as “in-person” is considered online.

F-1 Full-time Enrollment Requirements for Long Semesters (Fall and Spring):

	Undergraduate	Law	Graduate	Graduate (All coursework complete, only thesis/dissertation remaining)
Minimum number of credit hours (total)	12	10	9	3*
Minimum number credit hours (in-person or hybrid)	9	7	6	3*

J-1 Full-time Enrollment Requirements for Long Semesters (Fall and Spring):

	Undergraduate	Law	Graduate	Graduate (All coursework complete, only thesis/dissertation remaining)
Minimum number of credit hours (total)	12	10	9	3*
Minimum number credit hours (in-person)	9	7	6	3*

*This number of hours will satisfy immigration requirements, but may not satisfy other UT Austin requirements (for example, it may not satisfy the minimum number of hours you need to enroll in to be able to work as an academic employee). If you have questions, consult your department.

F-1 Examples of Acceptable and Unacceptable Enrollment in Fall / Spring

F-1 Undergraduate

Undergraduate student enrolled in 12 in-person or hybrid credits: Acceptable
Undergraduate student enrolled in 9 in-person or hybrid credits and 3 online credits: Acceptable
Undergraduate student enrolled in 9 in-person or hybrid credits and 6 online credits: Acceptable (sufficient in-person enrollment)
Undergraduate student enrolled in 6 in-person or hybrid credits and 6 online credits: Not acceptable (insufficient in-person enrollment)
Undergraduate student enrolled in 6 in-person or hybrid credits and 3 online credits: Not acceptable (insufficient total enrollment)

F-1 Graduate

Graduate student enrolled in 9 in-person or hybrid credits: Acceptable
Graduate student enrolled in 6 in-person or hybrid credits and 3 online credits: Acceptable
Graduate student enrolled in 3 in-person or hybrid credits and 6 online credits: Not acceptable (insufficient in-person enrollment)
Graduate student enrolled in 3 in-person or hybrid credits and 3 online credits: Not acceptable (insufficient total enrollment)

J-1 Examples of Acceptable and Unacceptable Enrollment in Fall / Spring

J-1 Undergraduate

Undergraduate student enrolled in 12 in-person credits: Acceptable
Undergraduate student enrolled in 9 in-person and 3 online or hybrid credits: Acceptable
Undergraduate student enrolled in 9 in-person credits and 6 online or hybrid credits: Acceptable (sufficient in-person enrollment)
Undergraduate student enrolled in 6 in-person credits and 6 online or hybrid credits: Not acceptable (insufficient in-person enrollment)
Undergraduate student enrolled in 6 in-person credits and 3 online or hybrid credits: Not acceptable (insufficient total enrollment)

J-1 Graduate

Graduate student enrolled in 9 in-person credits: Acceptable
Graduate student enrolled in 6 in-person credits and 3 online or hybrid credits: Acceptable
Graduate student enrolled in 3 in-person credits and 6 online or hybrid credits: Not acceptable (insufficient in-person enrollment)
Graduate student enrolled in 3 in-person credits and 3 online or hybrid credits: Not acceptable (insufficient total enrollment)

Enrollment Requirements for Summer

Summer is usually considered a vacation period. You can enroll in summer if you wish, but you do not have to. However, there are three exceptions where summer enrollment is required.

Enrollment Required if Starting Program in Summer

If your program begins in summer and your I-20/DS-2019 has a summer start date (May, June, or July), you must enroll full-time in summer. Full-time enrollment requirements for summer:

F-1 Full-time Enrollment in Summer

	Undergraduate	Graduate	Law
Minimum number of credit hours (total)	12	3	6
Minimum number credit hours (in-person or hybrid)	9	3	3

J-1 Full-time Enrollment in Summer

	Undergraduate	Graduate	Law
Minimum number of credit hours (total)	12	3	6
Minimum number credit hours (in-person)	9	3	3

Enrollment Required if Graduating in Summer

If you are graduating in summer and your I-20/DS-2019 has a summer program end date, you must enroll in summer. F-1 and J-1 students in their final semester of study can request authorization to enroll in a reduced course load to fulfill their remaining graduation requirements. If you do not plan to enroll full-time in your last semester (see full-time summer enrollment chart above), you must submit a Final Term RCL request through myIO > F-1/J-1 Student Services > Reduced Course Load Request. Submit your request by the first day of summer instruction.

Restriction on online enrollment in final semester: F-1 students may not take more than 3 online credits (or 1 online course) in your final semester. J-1 students may not take more than 3 online or hybrid credits (or 1 online or hybrid course) in your final semester.

Graduating in absentia in summer: Please note that your I-20/DS-2019 program end date must match the end of your final semester of enrollment at UT Austin. In absentia registration does not involve enrollment. If you will graduate in absentia in summer, your I-20/DS-2019 will expire at the end of the immediately preceding spring semester.

Enrollment for Summer Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

If you are an F-1 student authorized for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) on the basis of summer enrollment, you must enroll in and complete the summer CPT course.

Graduate Students Completing Thesis / Dissertation

Graduate students who have completed all coursework may enroll in 3 thesis/dissertation credits. F-1 students must take these credits in an in-person or hybrid mode. J-1 students must take these credits in an in-person mode. Enrolling this way will meet the F-1/J-1 full-time enrollment requirement. This is true for fall, spring, and summer.

F-1 / J-1 Reduced Course Load (RCL) Authorization

F-1 and J-1 students may apply for authorization to take a reduced course load (RCL) in certain circumstances. You must not drop below full-time until your request has been approved by International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). Dropping below full-time prior to receiving authorization from ISSS will lead to the negative termination of your SEVIS record and the loss of your valid status in the U.S.

Reduced Course Load for Final Semester

F-1 and J-1 students in their final semester of study can request authorization to enroll in a reduced course load to fulfill their remaining graduation requirements. If you do not plan to enroll full-time in your last semester, you must submit a Final Term RCL request through myIO > F-1/J-1 Student Services > Reduced Course Load Request. Submit your request by the first day of classes.

Reduced Course Load for Medical Reasons

F-1 and J-1 students with adequate medical documentation may request a medical RCL for physical or mental health reasons. Students are eligible for up to 12 months of medical RCL over the course of their academic program. Medical RCLs are approved on a semester-by-semester basis.

There are two ways you can request an F-1/J-1 medical RCL:

Submit a request through myIO > F-1/J-1 Student Services > Reduced Course Load Request. As part of your request, you will need to upload this letter completed by a Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, Psychiatrist, or Licensed Clinical Psychologist. If your request is approved, you can work with your department to drop below full-time. Note that ISSS can only provide you with authorization to drop below full-time. We cannot assist you in actually dropping your classes. For this option to work, you must complete it in time to allow for ISSS review and approval (10 business days) before the semester Q Drop deadline.
Follow the process listed on the UHS website. This process will require you to work with multiple offices. If your request is approved, ISSS will notify you by email.

Reduced Course Load for Academic Reasons

F-1 and J-1 students may request an academic RCL in the first semester of their academic program if they face one of the following issues:

Initial difficulty with the English language or reading requirements
Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods
Improper course level placement

If you are in your first semester and wish to apply for an academic RCL, you will need to obtain confirmation from your department that one of the issues listed above applies to you. If your department is not comfortable confirming this, we cannot authorize you for an RCL. If you do receive that confirmation, submit your request for a reduced course load through myIO > F-1/J-1 Student Services > Reduced Course Load Request.

Students approved for a reduced course load for academic reasons must still enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours or half of a full course load.

Withdrawals / Leaves of Absence

F-1 and J-1 students must obtain approval from ISSS prior to withdrawing or taking a leave of absence. Students wishing to request a withdrawal or leave of absence should email hotline@austin.utexas.edu to begin the approval process.

Students who withdraw/drop all classes without ISSS approval will have their SEVIS records terminated.