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International Services and Engagement Office ISEO
  1. ISEO
  2. Student Services
  3. Maintaining F/J Status
  4. Full-Time Enrollment

Full-Time Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment during the Academic Year:

F-1 and J-1 students are required to enroll full-time in at least 12 units in each academic term - Fall, Winter and Spring quarters.

Remote classes: No more than one (1) remote class per quarter can be counted toward the 12-unit, full-time enrollment requirement. Students may take additional online classes in excess of the 12-unit, full-time enrollment requirement. Note: Remote courses are denoted as “RCLASS” in WebReg. Hybrid classes do not count against the maximum of one online course towards full-time enrollment requirements. 

Graduate students: Graduate students who are approved for in-absentia and are enrolled in a minimum of 12 units will be able to maintain valid F-1 and J-1 Status. Visit your graduate department to learn more about requirements to maintain residency in a specific location while in-absentia. Graduate students who are enrolled in one 12-unit research or independent study course should ensure there is an in-person component to their coursework. Remote courses are denoted as “RCLASS” in WebReg.

Enrollment during the Summer Term:

Full-time enrollment is not required for continuing students with an active SEVIS record in the Summer term, since Summer is considered a vacation term. F-1 and J-1 students must study full time for three academic quarters before taking a vacation term. If you are planning to take a vacation term outside of the Summer term, discuss your plans with an international student advisor.

You must enroll full-time in the Summer if it's your first term at UC San Diego (if your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 has a program start date corresponding to a Summer term). If Summer is your first term at UC San Diego, see full-time enrollment requirements below: 

  • Full-Time Enrollment Requirements for a Summer Session 1 Program Start Date:
    • Summer Session 1 (6 units minimum) and Summer Session 2 (6 units minimum)
    • OR
    • Summer Session 3 (6 units minimum)
  • Full-Time Enrollment Requirements for a Summer Session 2 Program Start Date:
    • Summer Session 2 (6 units minimum)
    • OR
    • Summer Session 3 (6 units minimum)

Exceptions to the Full-Time Enrollment Requirement:

F-1 and J-1 students may apply for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) for a Fall, Winter, or Spring term if they need to be enrolled in less than 12 units for academic, or medical or final quarter reasons. F-1 or J-1 students are required to submit the Reduced Course Load (RCL) request before dropping below 12 units. Students on an approved final-quarter reduced course load (RCL) with only one class left to graduate must ensure that this class is either hybrid or fully in-person. The class cannot be fully remote.

 

more Information about Reduced course loads (RCLs)