Reduced Course Load

Academic RCL

When experiencing academic difficulties, F-1 Regulations allow the specific reasons below for a Reduced Course Load (RCL):

Allowed reasons for a Reduced Course Load (RCL):

• Initial difficulties with the English language
• Initial difficulties with reading requirements
• Unfamiliarity with the United States teaching methods
• Improper course level placement

Additionally:

• All of these reasons are allowed only during the first semester of the degree program
• The Student must maintain at least six credit hours after the drop occurs
• A student may only be approved for an RCL once per degree level for academic reasons

Medical RCL

Medical Reduced Course Load

A student's temporary illness or medical condition can be a reason for a reduced course load (or, if necessary, no course load). Authorization for a reduced course load due to medical reasons is limited to a total of 12 months (cumulative 365 days) per degree level. A student must provide a letter on letterhead signed by an appropriate medical official in order to request an RCL for medical reasons.

This letter must:

• Be on the medical/clinical practice’s official stationery/letterhead
• Include the student's full name and date of birth
• Recommend the student take a reduced course load due to the student's own medical health reasons
• Be signed by a currently practicing licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist, and include the medical/clinical official’s license number
• Be dated and specify for which semester the reduced course load (or, if necessary, no course load) is being recommended

Submitting an RCL Request

Step 1 – Obtain the necessary information/documentation 

For an academic RCL, first discuss the nature of your academic difficulty with an academic advisor from your college/department. The academic advisor will need to confirm for UFIC which allowed academic reason fits your situation. For a medical RCL, first discuss your case with your medical professional and request the medical support letter. Ensure your letter has all the required information on it.

Step 2 – Obtain the SEVIS Authorization

You must receive a new I-20 with the RCL authorization from an International Student Advisor (ISA) before you can drop the course(s). If a student drops below a full course of study without the prior approval of the ISA, the student will be considered out of status.

To request authorization for Reduced Course Load, click the following button. Please make only one request for the appropriate semester.

Request Authorization for Reduced Courseload

• Once initiated, if you leave the request and wish to return to your request later, please use the ISSS login to access your request from your user home menu.

Step 3 – Student Initiated Drop/Add (SIDA) in One.UF

As part of the request for a Reduced Course Load, whether an academic or medical RCL, the student must also submit their drop request via the Student Initiated Drop/Add (SIDA) in One.UF (instructions for SIDA are available here). If you are submitting your request past the Drop/Add deadline, submit both the RCL request and the drop request in SIDA at the same time.

Step 4 – Check your schedule to ensure you see the dropped course

After UFIC approves the request, you will be provided with an updated I-20 reflecting the RCL approval for that semester. UFIC will also approve the SIDA drop request. The SIDA drop request will then be routed to the academic department for their review and approval. Once the department gives its approval, the course will be dropped from your schedule.

Note: If we determine that your request does not fall within what is allowed for an RCL, we will deny your request and provide you with an explanation for the reason why it cannot be approved.

When an RCL is not needed

• A drop that will not result in less than full-time enrollment. If the student is enrolled above the full-course requirement and requests to drop a course that will not result in less than full-time enrollment, the student may proceed without needing RCL authorization. The student needs to submit the drop request in the Student Initiated Drop/Add system in OneUF. Upon confirming that full-time enrollment will not be impacted, a UFIC advisor will approve the SIDA request. The request will then be routed to the academic department for their approval. Upon receiving the department approval, the course will be dropped from the student’s schedule.
• Enrollment in the Thesis/Dissertation phase. Students who are Master’s Thesis or Doctoral, and have finished all core and elective courses and only need research credits to complete their degree requirements, may register for a minimum of three research credits each Fall/Spring semester and a minimum of two research credits each summer until they graduate. No special authorization is required in this situation. Students with an assistantship/fellowship must maintain the minimum registration requirements set forth by the assistantship/fellowship contract.
• Enrollment in the Final Semester. In the final semester, students are automatically allowed to register less than full-time as indicated in the table below. No special authorization is required in this situation. Students with an assistantship/fellowship must maintain the minimum registration requirements set forth by the assistantship/fellowship contract. If a student needs less than a full course load to satisfy graduation requirements, then the number of credits taken cannot be online only, online credits cannot exceed physical presence credits, and online credits cannot exceed three.