Overview and Definition
F-1 students are required to be enrolled "full-time" in their first semester of their program and during the academic year (Fall and Spring semesters). Students must make satisfactory progress towards their degree completion requirements to remain in compliance with federal regulations and university policies that pertain to their visa.
If it is a student's "Final Semester" of their program or they will need to be under-enrolled for "Medical" or "Academic" difficulties, students must request a Reduced Course Load (RCL) and are strongly encouraged to read our Reduced Course Load guideline.
Student’s in their final semester or those who will need to be under-enrolled for
medical or academic difficulties, should visit our Reduced Course Load page.
policies
Students are REQUIRED to reside in Utah during the academic year (excluding official university breaks such as Fall, Spring, or Summer vacation break) while classes are in-session. Students must be physically present on-campus in order to maintain lawful F-1 status.
Students are not allowed to be enrolled in only 1st or 2nd half courses. Students can have a mixed course-load. Students must have a FULL-SEMESTER course schedule.
Students can have a mixed course-load.
Enrollment is optional in the Summer for continuing students who are not starting/completing their program in the Summer. They may enroll in no classes or take fewer classes as there is no enrollment requirement for continuing students in the summer. Students completing the first semester during the Summer semester, please see below.
If the student begins their new program in Summer, they are REQUIRED to be enrolled full-time to remain in compliance with federal regulations and university policies that pertain to their visa.
It is the student's responsibility to be mindful of the courses available during the summer semester before considering to start their program in the Summer. Failing to enroll full-time will be considered as failing to maintain status and will result in the student falling out-of-status with their F-1 visa status.
If a student begins their new program in Summer, they are REQUIRED to be enrolled full-time.
It is the student's responsibility to be aware of the courses available during the summer semester before considering starting their program in the Summer. Failing to enroll full-time will be considered as failing to maintain status and will result in the student falling out of status with their F-1 status.
Students may not enroll in all online or IVC classes. If students are enrolled in online credits, only 3 credits of an online course per semester will count towards the minimum number of credits needed for full-time enrollment as an F-1 or J- student. All other credits must be in-person or hybrid credits to fulfill the in-person requirement.
Only credit-bearing courses will count towards full-time enrollment. For students who are enrolled in an online course with a lab attached and the lab itself is conducted in-person, ISSS will only count the lecture (credit-bearing) course and not the lab since it is a non-credit bearing section.
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate students must have the following number of credits to be considered full-time.
| Semester | Minimum Credits Required |
Minimum In-Person Credits + Full Semester Credits (In Person/Hybrid/IVC+Hybrid) |
| Fall |
credit hours |
credit hours (In-Person/Hybrid/IVC+Hybrid) ( credits out of credit hours must be Full Semester ) |
| Spring | credit hours |
credit hours (In-Person/Hybrid/IVC+Hybrid) ( credits out of credit hours must be Full Semester ) |
| Summer (Vacation) | 0 credit hours | 0 credit hours |
| Summer (First Semester) | credit hours |
credit hours (In-Person/Hybrid/IVC+Hybrid) ( credits out of credit hours must be Full Semester ) |
Graduate students
Graduate students must have the following number of credits to be considered full-time.
Doctoral students who have completed all coursework must be enrolled in a 3-credit thesis/dissertation course to be considered enrolled full-time. The course must be either In-Person/Hybrid/or IVC+Hybrid to meet in-person credit requirements.
| Semester | Minimum Credits Required |
Minimum In-Person Credits (In-Person/Hybrid/IVC+Hybrid) + Full Semester Credits |
| Fall |
credit hours |
credit hours (In-Person/Hybrid/IVC+Hybrid) ( credits out of credit hours must be Full Semester) |
| Spring | credit hours |
credit hours (In-Person/Hybrid/IVC+Hybrid) ( credits out of credit hours must be Full Semester) |
| Summer (Vacation) | 0 credit hours | 0 credit hours |
| Summer (First Semester) | credit hours |
credit hours (In-Person/Hybrid/IVC+Hybrid) ( credits out of credit hours must be Full Semester) |