{"id":936,"date":"2024-05-08T09:11:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T13:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/?page_id=936"},"modified":"2026-06-26T16:50:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T20:50:24","slug":"registration-requirements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/current-students\/maintaining-status\/registration-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Full Time Enrollment Registration Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":556,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"class_list":["post-936","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"lead_in":"","display_title":"","subtitle":"","call_to_action":"","hero_image_placement":"no_image","hero_media":"images","hero_pattern_option":"","hero_video":"","hero_image_landing":"","hero_image_landing_two":"","hero_image_landing_three":"","content_modules":[{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion_new","anchor_id":"","classes":"","title":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Important considerations<\/h2>","description":"As an international student, you\u2019re required to maintain full-time enrollment every academic term for the duration of your program. This requirement is reflected on your I-20 or DS-2019 form. Full-time enrollment means taking a specific number of credits each term, depending on your program.\r\n\r\nHowever, in limited circumstances, you may be eligible for a <a href=\"#rcl\"><strong data-start=\"473\" data-end=\"502\">Reduced Course Load (RCL)<\/strong><\/a>, which allows you to temporarily enroll in fewer credits with prior approval from the International Students Office (ISO).\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Undergraduate programs: <\/strong>12 credits per term<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Simon Master\u2019s programs: <\/strong>10.5 credits per semester<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Most other graduate programs: <\/strong>9 credits per term, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/registrar\/\">equivalent registration<\/a> (i.e. Continuation of Enrollment)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","background":"plain","background_color":"#ffffff","style":"row_blank","expand":"no","accordions":[{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Annual vacation term","icon":"","row_content":"Most academic programs consider the summer term as a standard vacation period. For F-1 and J-1 students, full-time enrollment isn\u2019t required during vacation periods, and you may remain in the US or travel abroad.\r\n\r\n<strong>If you\u2019re scheduled to complete your program during the summer term, this can\u2019t be viewed as a vacation, and enrollment reporting is required.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nPart-time study, either at the University or another institution, is allowed if you want to take additional courses during a vacation term; some students may be eligible to apply for off-campus work permission.","accordion_anchor":"vacation"},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Online courses and distance education","icon":"","row_content":"<p class=\"TypographyPresentation TypographyPresentation--medium RichText3-paragraph--withVSpacingNormal RichText3-paragraph\">F-1 and J-1 students can take online courses while enrolled in their program, but they must still meet enrollment requirements each term. Only one online course or a maximum of three credits can count toward full-time status per term. International students can take extra online classes after the full-time enrollment requirement is met, or during a vacation term.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"TypographyPresentation TypographyPresentation--medium RichText3-paragraph--withVSpacingNormal RichText3-paragraph\">For F-1 students, hybrid classes count towards in-person enrollment if physical attendance is required at some point during the term, towards the completion of the class. For J-1 students, only hybrid classes that mostly require in-person attendance will count as in-person courses.<\/p>","accordion_anchor":"online"},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Study or graduate research abroad","icon":"","row_content":"If you\u2019re going to continue your University of Rochester enrollment during an academic term overseas in an authorized program of study or research abroad, ISO may be able to maintain your current F-1 or J-1 record, even while you\u2019re gone.\r\n\r\nFor details and procedures to update your documents, please reference our <a href=\"\/iso\/current-students\/studying\/abroad\/\">Study or Graduate Research Abroad page<\/a>.","accordion_anchor":"abroad"},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Registration reporting in SEVIS","icon":"","row_content":"Each term, ISO must report to SEVIS that every F-1 and J-1 student is:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Actively pursuing their academic program<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Enrolled full-time or authorized for part-time study<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nAt the start of classes, ISO submits a SEVIS registration event for all international students who are registered for that term. After the allowed add\/drop registration period, our office must verify full-time enrollment.\r\n\r\nAny student who isn\u2019t registered for the required credits or its equivalent (and wasn\u2019t previously authorized for a reduced course load) must then be reported to SEVIS as failing to enroll for sufficient credits. This causes your SEVIS record to be terminated and puts your immigration status in jeopardy.\r\n\r\nTo avoid this, be sure to follow procedures for a reduced course load, or research alternative options with your department and ISO in advance.","accordion_anchor":"registration"},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Extend or shorten your program completion date","icon":"","row_content":"When you are first admitted to your program of study, the University of Rochester is required to estimate your completion date for government reporting purposes. This date is listed on your I-20 (under \"Program of Study\") or DS-2019 and is tied to the standard period of time allowed for students to complete their studies toward a particular program.\r\n\r\nMany students require additional time to complete their studies, while others are able to finish early. In either case, you may need to update your F-1 or J-1 record. If you need to extend your I-20 or DS-2019, please submit our <a href=\"https:\/\/urcompass.ur.rochester.edu\/istart\/controllers\/client\/ClientEngine.cfm?serviceid=EFormGroupProvider&amp;eformGroup=52\">Program Extension e-form<\/a>. If you will be finishing earlier than expected and do not plan on applying for Post-Completion OPT or Post-Completion Academic Training, please submit our <a href=\"https:\/\/urcompass.ur.rochester.edu\/istart\/controllers\/client\/ClientEngine.cfm?serviceid=EFormGroupProvider&amp;eformGroup=51\">Program Shorten e-form<\/a>\r\n\r\nStudents who have satisfied all degree requirements cannot continue to be enrolled for administrative purposes without taking further action to maintain status. <span class=\"ui-provider bte btf btg bth bti btj btk btl btm btn bto btp btq btr bts btt btu btv btw btx bty btz bua bub buc bud bue buf bug buh bui buj buk bul bum\" dir=\"ltr\">In order to extend your academic program there must be a compelling academic or documented medical reason. The extension must be based on academic requirements and you must continue to make academic progress for the completion of your degree.<\/span>\r\n\r\nFailure to request a program extension in a timely manner can result in a violation of immigration status, which can cause significant complications and may impact your eligibility for future F-1 or J-1 benefits.\r\n\r\n<b>Reminder:<\/b>\u00a0Your permission for on-campus employments (F-1 or J-1) will be tied to your new completion date.","accordion_anchor":"completion"}]},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion_new","anchor_id":"rcl","classes":"","title":"<h2>Exception: Reduced Course Load (RCL)<\/h2>","description":"<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">In certain situations, an F-1 or J-1 student may apply to take fewer than the required credit hours in a specific academic term. The approved reasons for requesting a reduced course load are limited and determined by regulation, and include:<\/p>\r\nPlease make sure to contact your academic advisor\/department to learn more about what factors to consider before registering for anything less than full-time.\r\n<p data-start=\"73\" data-end=\"223\">After consulting with ISO and your academic advisor\/department, please complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/urcompass.ur.rochester.edu\/istart\/controllers\/client\/ClientEngine.cfm?serviceid=EFormGroupProvider&amp;eformGroup=55\">Reduced Course Load Authorization e-form<\/a>.<\/p>","background":"plain","background_color":"#ffffff","style":"row_blank","expand":"no","accordions":[{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Academic difficulties","icon":"","row_content":"Students may be approved to take fewer courses if they are having trouble with the English language, reading requirements, U.S. teaching methods, or improper course level placement. This is available only during the first term. A student authorized to drop below a full course of study for academic difficulties may still be authorized for a reduced course load, for another reason.","accordion_anchor":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"A documented medical condition","icon":"","row_content":"Students may be authorized for a reduced or no course load for up to 12 months per degree level due to an illness or medical condition. The student must provide medical documentation from a U.S licensed doctor or mental health professional to support the request. A medical reduced course load must be requested by the student and reauthorized by ISO each term (if applicable). A student can only be approved for a period of time not to exceed a total of 12 months while the student is pursuing a course of study at a particular program level. After using 12 months, this option will no longer be available to use at that academic level.","accordion_anchor":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Additional enrollment at another school","icon":"","row_content":"An F-1 student can be enrolled in two different SEVP-certified schools at the same time, as long as their combined courses add up to a full course of study. The school where the student will earn their degree or certification should issue the Form I-20 and manage any relevant updates and reporting to SEVP.","accordion_anchor":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Fewer credits needed in the final term","icon":"","row_content":"Students who are in their final semester of study and only have a few credits remaining to meet academic program requirements are exempt from the full course load requirement in that semester. For example, if you only have one required class remaining in your degree program, you do not have to enroll in additional classes to maintain your immigration status. You will be considered as being in status despite only enrolling in one class. If you only need to be registered in\u00a0one\u00a0course to complete your degree program during your final semester, it must be in-person.","accordion_anchor":""}]},{"acf_fc_layout":"card_grid","anchor":"","css_class":"","title":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Related resources<\/h2>","description":"","background_color":"#FFFFFF","width":"width-large","columns":"3","cards":[{"card_title":"<p class=\"u-card-title\">Visas overview<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"Visas and Travel","url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/visas\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""},{"card_title":"<p class=\"u-card-title\">Study abroad or graduate research abroad<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"","url":"\/iso\/current-students\/studying\/abroad","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""},{"card_title":"<p class=\"u-card-title\">Leave of absence<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"Leave of Absence","url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/current-students\/studying\/leave-of-absence\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""},{"card_title":"<p class=\"u-card-title\"><strong>Shorten program completion date<\/strong><\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"","url":"https:\/\/urcompass.ur.rochester.edu\/istart\/controllers\/client\/ClientEngine.cfm?serviceid=EFormGroupProvider&eformGroup=51","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""},{"card_title":"<p class=\"u-card-title\">Extend program completion date<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"","url":"https:\/\/urcompass.ur.rochester.edu\/istart\/controllers\/client\/ClientEngine.cfm?serviceid=EFormGroupProvider&eformGroup=52","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""},{"card_title":"<p class=\"u-card-title\">Departing the US<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"Departure","url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/visas\/departure\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""}]}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - 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