Reduced Course Load | International Programs & Services

International students must be enrolled full-time during Fall and Spring semesters. This means 9 credits for Graduate students and 12 for Undergraduate students.

Students who do not intend to take a full course load need approval beforehand from IPS as well as their academic advisor.

IPS is authorized to approve less than full course loads for degree-seeking students on F-1 visas only under exceptions allowed under federal regulations.
If a first-year student has academic difficulties we may approve one exception, but no more than one.
Graduate students supported on assistantship (not those paid hourly) must register for 9 credits. They are not eligible for reduced course load authorization.
J-1 students are not eligible for Reduced Course Load under any circumstances.
If you applied for a Reduced Course Load because it is your last semster, and you had failed courses, it is rare to get another reduced course load. By having a program extension and a second reduced course load, this could lead to the government putting a red flag on your account.

Types of Reduced Course Load (RCL)

RCL due to academic difficulties

This is generally applicable for students in their first semester, and may be allowed due to the following reasons:

Lack of familiarity with US teaching methods
Difficulty with English language (including reading requirements)
Improper course level placement

Required documents:

Academic Advisor Approval Form (must be signed by the student's academic advisor)
A letter from the academic advisor, confirming that the student is eligible for a Reduced Course Load based on the evaluation of their academic performance.

The student must fill the RCL Request Google form and upload both of the above documents.

NOTE: The last day to apply for an RCL due to academic difficulties is the last day that students can drop a course with a W grade, i.e. the Friday of the 10th week of classes. Check here for more information.

RCL due to medical reasons

This is granted to students with serious medical conditions that restrict their ability to attend classes and pursue full-time studies. It is available for a maximum period of one year.

Required documents:

Academic Advisor Approval Form (must be signed by the student's academic advisor)
A documentation highlighting the student's health condition and/or diagnosis, containing the signature and stamp of a US-licensed physician or health practitioner (a new document is required every semester as the RCL is approved on a per-semester basis)

The student must fill the RCL Request Google form and upload both of the above documents.

RCL to complete required course of study

If you are in your final semester and you have less than 9 (Graduate students) or 12 (UG students) credits left to complete your credit requirement, you may apply for an RCL.

Required documents: Academic Advisor Approval Form (must be signed by the student's academic advisor)

The student must fill the RCL Request Google form and upload the above document.

RCL for concurrent enrollment (transient students)

A transient student refers to a student who is enrolled in one college or university (home institution) and takes one or more courses temporarily in another college or university (host institution), with the intention of transferring the course credits back to the home institution at the end of the semester.

In this case, the student may enroll for less than full-time credits, provided their total number of credits (at home and host institutions combined) for a particular semester meets full-time criteria.

Required documents:

A copy of current Michigan Tech enrollment record (may be procured from the Registrar's Office)
A copy of registration at the transient school including the student's name, semester, course(s), course number(s), and credits
Proof of payment for the transient school's courses
A letter from the student's academic advisor at Michigan Tech, approving the course(s) for transfer for the semester
Academic Advisor Approval Form (must be signed by the student's academic advisor)

The student must fill the RCL Request Google form and upload all of the above documents

Semester off

Traditionally, the Summer semester (May to mid-August) is considered as a break, and the student does not need to be enrolled.

If a student wishes to take the entirety of a Fall or Spring semester off, they would:

Need to stay enrolled full-time for the 2 previous consecutive semesters
Require an approval from their academic advisor (have this form completed and signed)
Fill the semester off request Google form (and upload the signed Advisor Approval Form mentioned in the previous bullet point)