Immigration regulations require international students to complete a full course of study each term during the academic year. Students must submit a reduced course load request for each semester they are enrolled less than full-time.
F-1 Reduced Course Load
A request for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) for F-1 students must be submitted for each semester that a student is enrolled less than full-time. This request is made online by the student via our website.
In the online Reduced Course Load request form, students are prompted to enter their academic advisor’s name and email. Once a student completes the online Reduced Course Load request, their academic advisor will receive an email with a link to review the request.
When reviewing a Reduced Course Load request for your advisee, you are asked to approve or deny the request and verify the information provided by the student. There are specific reasons that are acceptable based on immigration regulations for requesting a reduced course load. Your advisee will choose from the list of acceptable reasons the one they believe reflects their situation. You will be able to see which reason they have chosen.
If a student's academic advisor will be out of the office for an extended period of time a DGS, department chair, or a walk-in academic advisor may process the student's request.
After you have added the required comments (see below), and approved or denied the request, ISSS will be notified to review the request to see if it meets immigration requirements. An ISSS advisor will then approve or deny it. If the ISSS advisor determines that your comments are insufficient or information is missing, the student may be asked to contact you for additional information. Please remember that we only ask you to write what you believe is accurate and appropriate for the student’s particular situation, and if you feel the student's request is unreasonable, you can and should deny the request. Once the final decision is made by ISSS, the student and the advisor are notified via email of the decision. If you are not certain a student’s situation fits with the student’s requested RCL reason, please consult with an ISSS advisor.
Sample Comments for a Reduced Course Load Request
Depending on the RCL reason the student selected, different types of “comments” will need to be provided by you.
Academic Difficulty
Due to:
- Initial difficulties with the English language
- Initial difficulties with the reading requirements
- Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods
- Canceling a class due to improper course level placement
Students may only use academic difficulty as the reason for a reduced course load request one time per degree level.
Your comments need to confirm the reason and provide support for the student’s withdrawal or cancellation. For example, if the student chooses “canceling a class due to improper course level placement,” you must explain the student’s situation. You might state that the course had prerequisites that the student had not yet taken, or the course was an advanced course and it would have been better for the student to have taken other courses before taking this particular one. If your student fears the possibility of failing a course but their situation is not reflected in one of the reasons listed, they are not eligible for a reduced course load based on academic difficulty, and you should deny the request. If you are not sure the student’s situation is reflected in the available academic difficulty reasons, please consult with an ISSS advisor.
Final Semester and Less Than a Full Course Load Is Needed to Complete Student's Program of Study
To be used for undergraduate and master's level students in coursework only or Plan C programs who will complete their degree at the end of the semester for which the reduced course load is requested. For master's Plan A or PhD students, choose "Work on Thesis or Dissertation" option. Students are not eligible to register concurrently at another university or community college unless they are pre-approved by an ISSS advisor for extenuating circumstances.
Your comments must confirm that the student is expected to complete all program requirements and graduate this term.
Students must be registered for at least one in-person course at the University of Minnesota during their final semester.
Extended term and incomplete courses will only count towards a student’s registration for the semester that a student registers for them, even if they are not yet completed.
Students must be registered for all their remaining required coursework at the University of Minnesota during the specified semester. They are not eligible to complete course requirements at another institution (concurrent registration) without approval from ISSS. Students must meet with an ISSS advisor and obtain approval prior to submitting an RCL request.
Specify in your comments the number of credits the student has remaining to complete their program.
Conducting Full-Time Research Overseas for More Than 5 Months or Study Abroad
In your comment, indicate that the student will be conducting full-time research overseas. Also state the expected duration of the student's stay and/or that they will be studying full-time in an approved study abroad program.
Work on Thesis or Dissertation or Preparing for Preliminary Exams
If the student has completed all required coursework and is working on thesis/dissertation or preparing for prelims, your comment can be "approved."
This RCL reason cannot be used by students in coursework-only programs.
Participating in a Full-Time Required Internship
Add a comment verifying that this student’s program has a full-time internship requirement.
Please note:
- The internship must be required for all students in the program and be a requirement for the degree.
- Students in an academic program requiring a full-time internship need to provide ISSS with documented evidence indicating employment is required for degree completion before the RCL can be approved by ISSS.
Reasons Not Acceptable for a Reduced Course Load
- Financial difficulties
- Working on incompletes from a previous semester
- Auditing courses
- Medical illness of a family member
- Child care issues
- Preparing for GMAT, GRE, CPA, or similar exams
- Suspension from an academic program
Additional Notes
- Summer Session Enrollment
- Continuing students are not required to enroll during summer session.
- Students admitted to begin a program in the summer MUST enroll full-time during the summer of admission.
- 12 Credits Required for Undergraduate Degree-Seeking Students
- F-1 student visa regulations require all undergraduate students to be enrolled for 12 credits in order to maintain full-time student status. However, ISSS encourages undergraduate students to take more than 12 credits in order to graduate on time.
J-1 Reduced Course Load
Immigration regulations require that all J-1 students register for and complete a full course of study every term.
See J-1 Full Course of Study and Reduced Course Load for more information.
The Reduced Course Load for J-1 Students Form must be completed for each semester that a student plans to not enroll full time. It is imperative that the Reduced Course Load form be submitted to ISSS and approved prior to enrollment for less than a full course of study or prior to a cancel/withdrawal that results in less than a full course of study. Failure to obtain approval for less than a full course load will result in the loss of legal status under current immigration regulations. This form can be downloaded from our website or picked up in the lobby of ISSS.
You are asked to sign off on the form verifying the information given by the student. As you will also notice from looking at the form, there are several reasons that are acceptable for requesting a reduced course load. One of those reasons, “Bona fide academic reason,” requires a letter from the student’s academic advisor.
The letter needs to confirm the reason selected on the form and show support for the withdrawal or cancellation. The letter may address the student’s difficulty with the English language (spoken, written, basic comprehension), difficulties with U.S. teaching methods (difficulty with participating in group or class discussions, etc.) or improper course level placement. If improper course placement is the reason, the letter could discuss how the course had prerequisites that the student has not yet taken or how the course could have been an advanced course and it would have been better for the student to have taken some other courses first.
When the student meets with an ISSS advisor, we will look at the form and the letter to see if it meets immigration requirements. We will make a decision at that time as to whether the student is eligible to drop the course or not. In some cases, the ISSS advisor might want to wait on a decision in order to consult with colleagues. If we feel the letter is not appropriate or it is missing some information, we might ask the student to go back to their advisor and get a new letter. Please keep in mind, we only want you to write what you feel is accurate and appropriate for that student’s particular situation.
Summer Session Enrollment
- Continuing students are not required to enroll during summer session.
- Students admitted to begin a program in the summer MUST enroll full-time during the summer of admission.
