Full
Course of Study (F-1 Students)
You are required by law
to register for and complete a "full course of study" each Fall
and Spring semester at Boston University, in accordance with the
following:
Undergraduate
Degree Students
Although you have the right to register for as many classes as University
policy allows, you must register for and complete at least 12 credit
hours each Fall and Spring semester, and in the summer term that
summer session will be your final term. Dropping below 12 credits
without prior authorization by the ISSO can be considered a violation
of your F-1 status.
Graduate
Degree Students
Although you have the right to register for as many classes as University
policy allows, you must register for at least 12 credit hours (or
the number of credits your school/college determines to be full-time
status) each Fall and Spring semester, and in the summer term that
summer session will be your final term. Exceptions are made for
graduate students who are assigned teaching or research responsibilities
pursuant to the terms of a full Teaching Assistantship, Teaching
Fellowship or Research Assistantship requiring 20 hours of work
per week. In this case, you must register and be officially certified
"full-time" by your academic department.
Graduate
Students Who Have Completed All Required Course Work
If a thesis or dissertation is required of your program
of study and you have completed all required course work, you
need only register for the number of hours of thesis or dissertation
research recommended by your academic advisor. In addition, your
department must certify you "full-time" each academic semester.
Non-Degree
Students
Although you have the right to register for as many classes as University
policy allows, you must register for and complete at least 12 credit
hours each Fall and Spring semester. Withdrawing below 12 credits
can be considered a violation of your F-1 status. In cases of graduate-level
non-degree study, less than 12 credits of study is permissible only
if authorized in advance by the ISSO.
All Students
Summer Term
You do not have to register for classes during the summer unless:
- You will begin a new program of study or return to
study after a Leave of Absence
or Suspension during the Summer
Term.
Degree Students -
If your I-20 was issued to begin in late May, you must register
for at least 12 credits over the entire Summer Term. If your
I-20 was issued to begin in late June or early July, you must
register for at least 8 credits. (Graduate students may register
for fewer credit hours only if they are certified "full-time"
by their academic department.)
Non-Degree Students
- If your I-20 was issued for 6 weeks of study, you must register
for at least 8 credits. If your I-20 was issued for 12 weeks
of study, you must register for at least 12 credits over the
entire Summer Term.
- You will complete your program of study during the Summer
Term (see Completion of Studies).
Final
Semester of Program
Degree students are permitted to register for
less than a full course of study in their final semester of study,
so long as they will complete their program by the end of that
semester (see Completion of Studies)
and have advanced authorization from the ISSO. Non-Degree
students must register for at least 12 credits. In cases
of graduate-level non-degree study, less than 12 credits of study
is permissible only if authorized in advance by the ISSO.
Auditing Courses:
Audited ("AU") courses do not count towards the credit requirements
for a full course of study.
Incomplete Courses:
Incomplete ("I") courses are permissible, so long as you are eligible
to continue in your program and remain enrolled for a full course
of study while you make up incomplete work. Please
be advised: You must complete all work
and receive a final grade for any incomplete courses by the end
of your final semester of study in order to stay in status.
Missing Grade: Recieving a grade of "MG"
in any course usually indicates that you stopped attending the
course and that a grade cannot be given. Courses for which
you receive an "MG" grade will not be counted toward
your full-time enrollment.
Reduced
Course Load
Only the circumstances listed below allow the possibility
to engage in less than a full course of study. However, you must
request authorization in advance
from an ISSO advisor in order to maintain F-1 status. You must
resume a full course of study in the semester that immediately follows
your permitted period of reduced course load (unless it is your
final term).
- Initial difficulties with the English language or reading
requirements - (Normally available only during the first
semester of study.)
- Unfamiliarity with American teaching methods - (Normally
available only during the first semester of study).
- Improper course level placement
- Illness or other medical condition - (Complete withdrawal
from courses is also permitted in this case, if necessary. See
section regarding Leave of Absence.)
- To complete program of study in final term - (If you
need less than a full course load to complete your program)
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