Full Course of Study (J-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.  Dropping below 12 credits without prior authorization by the ISSO can be considered a violation of your J-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.  Exceptions are made for graduate students receiving a graduate assistantship or fellowship 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
If the program objective in section 4 of your DS-2019 is not an academic degree from Boston University, you must be engaged in a "prescribed course of study" as defined and approved by the ISSO.  You are limited to a maximum of twenty-four months as a non-degree J-1 student.

All Students

Summer Term
You do not have to register for classes during the summer unless:

1. 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 DS-2019 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 (Unless otherwise prescribed by your program of study)
   If your DS-2019 was issued for 6 weeks of study, you must register for at least 8 credits.  If your DS-2019 was issued for 12 weeks of study, you must register for at least 12 credits over the entire Summer Term.

2. You will complete your program 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 the Fall or Spring only if they will complete their program by the end of that semester (see Completion of Studies). 

   Non-Degree students must register for the number of credits as required under their prescribed course of study.

   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, as 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.

• Bona fide academic reason
  
  
• Illness or other medical condition
  (Complete withdrawal from courses is also permitted in this case, if necessary.  See section regarding Leave of Absence.)

 

ISSO
Boston University
February 28, 2005