J-1 Reduced Course Load

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. Fulbright students must get authorization from their academic advisor AND their Fulbright advisor. IPS does not hold the SEVIS records of Fulbright students, so no authorization is needed through our department. 

  • IPS is authorized to approve less than full course loads for degree-seeking students on J-1 visas only under exceptions allowed under federal regulations.
  • If a first-year student has academic difficulties, you may be eligible for one exception.
  • Graduate students supported on assistantship (not those paid hourly) must register for 9 credits. They are not eligible for reduced course load authorization, as per requirements of the Graduate School.
  • If you applied for a Reduced Course Load because it is your last semester, 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 Loads