Boston University uses certification codes to indicate a student’s academic load for a given semester. Administrators at the BU schools and colleges may use certification codes 1–5 in accordance with the following guidelines:

1 – Full-Time: The student is registered for 12 or more credits, which constitutes a full-time academic load as determined by the U.S. Department of Education.

2 – Part-Time: The student is registered for less than 12 credits, which constitutes a part-time academic load.

3 – Certified Full Part-Time Load: The student is registered for less than 12 credits but is doing additional non-credit work which makes his/her load full-time in nature.
Examples of appropriate Certified Full Part-Time Load certification include:

  1. The student is receiving a Graduate Teaching Fellowship or Research Assistantship that is part of the academic program, and for which a full academic award (tuition and stipend) has been granted.
  2. The student has completed, or is concurrently completing, final coursework for the degree sought and is conducting thesis or dissertation research, or completing a capstone project, internship/practicum, co-op, field placement, or other non-course requirement for the degree.

4 – Certified Full None: The student is registered for 0 credits but is doing full-time non-credit academic work which makes his/her load full-time in nature.
Example: The student has completed all coursework for the degree sought and is conducting non-credit thesis or dissertation research, or completing a non-credit internship, practicum, co-op, field placement, or other academic activity that is required for degree completion and for which non-credit registration is necessary.

5 – Certified Part None:  The student is registered for 0 credits but is doing part-time non-credit academic work which makes his/her load half-time in nature.
Example: The student has completed all coursework for the degree sought and is conducting other academic activity on a part-time basis, including non-credit thesis or dissertation research, or completing a non-credit internship, practicum, co-op, field placement, or other academic activity that is required for degree completion and for which non-credit registration is necessary.

Note about international student immigration regulations and certification codes: Immigration regulations affecting international students in F-1 and J-1 status require students must maintain a ‘full course of study’. For undergraduate students, the minimum full-time credit load is expressly defined as 12 credits per semester. International graduate students must also maintain a minimum of 12 credits per semester, unless (1) the academic program in which he/she is enrolled has a different minimum credit standard, or (2) the student is completing the equivalent of a full-time load and is eligible to be certified as Certified Full-Time Part-Time (Code 3) or Certified Full-Time None (Code 4).

Under certain circumstances (including initial academic difficulties, medical reasons, or final term), an international student may be eligible to request an authorized Reduced Course Load (RCL) from the ISSO for the semester. Students certified as Part Time (Code 2), or Certified Part None (Code 5) would require an ISSO authorized RCL in order to maintain legal status.

Inappropriate coding of an international student as full-time when he/she is not engaged in a full course of study equivalent may jeopardize the student’s immigration status in the U.S.