Full-Time Registration

To be a full-time student, J-1 student must complete a minimum of:

FULL TIME REQUIREMENTS Undergraduate Students Graduate Students
Fall/Spring Semesters* 12 credits each 9 credits each
Summer C** 12 credits (or 6 credits Summer A and B each) 6 credits (or 3 credits Summer A and B each)
Summer B** 6 credits 3 credits

* J-1 International Student must be registered full time each Fall and Spring semester

** If an J-1 international student is admitted in a Summer A, B or C semester, he/she must be registered full time in the summer in which he/she are admitted. Future summers do not require full time registration.

Online Courses 

J-1 students must not register for only online classes during the following semesters:

Semester Requirements
Fall & Spring  J-1 international students may only count one (3 credit maximum) online/distance education/correspondence study/EDGE course  toward their full time enrollment requirement, per semester.
The specific Summer to which the student was admitted, if admitted in Summer

Undergraduate Students:

Students admitted to Summer C, Fall, or Spring: must register for at least 12 credits, and 9 of the 12 credits must be physical presence; the other 3 credits may be online or physical presence.
Students admitted to Summer B only: must register at least 6 credits, and 3 of the 6 credits must be physical presence; the other 3 credits may be online or physical presence.
Graduate Students: Students admitted to Summer C: must register for at least 6 credits, and 3 of the 6 credits must be physical presence; the other 3 credits may be online or physical presence.
Students admitted to Summer B only: must register for at least 3 credits and they must be physical presence.
The specific Summer in which the student will graduate, if graduating in Summer The number of online credits you are allowed to complete in your final semester cannot be online only, cannot outweigh the number of physical presence credits, and cannot exceed 3 credits.

Final Semester Minimum Registration Requirements

If the student is in their FINAL GRADUATING SEMESTER (undergraduate and graduate students) or FINISHED ALL CORE AND ELECTIVE CLASSES AND ONLY NEED RESEARCH CREDITS (Thesis-Master and PhD students), the student is automatically allowed to register less than full time as indicated in the table below. No special authorization is required in this situation.

Final Semester Minimum Registration Requirements Undergraduate Students Graduate Students Business Students
Fall 1 credit 3 credits 2 credits
Spring 1 credit 3 credits 2 credits
Summer 1 credit 2 credits 1 credits

Course Enrollment on a Non-Student Category

There is no regulatory prohibition on a J-1 Professor or Research Scholar enrolling in classes as long as:

  • classes do not become the primary objective.
  • classes are incidental to his or her primary activity;
  • the Professor or Research Scholar continues to pursue the objectives for which he or she came;
  • the program continues to fulfill the objectives of the Professor or Research Scholar category; and,
  • The Faculty Sponsor has provided written approval to EVS

Consultation with an EVS staff member and an international student advisors should be undertaken before pursuing a degree program. Click here for International Student Services contact information.