Part-Time Student Policies
Full-Time Resident Students
A full-time student is enrolled in at least 12 credits per term.
A full-time program may include a combination of teaching and research assistance; other work leading to the fulfillment of degree requirements, such as preparation for qualifying, comprehensive and final examinations; supervised reading and research and PhD dissertations, as well as regular course work. On-campus employment (any combination of instructional, research or administrative duties) is limited to twenty hours per week.
A full-time resident student may take up to 20 credits per term, but no student may receive credit for, or be charged for, more than a full-time program in any term, except by petition to their program. Thus, the minimum in-person residence requirement for any degree may not be satisfied by an accelerated program of study or payment of more than the full-time tuition rate in any single academic year.
Part-Time Resident Students
Some programs allow students to apply as part-time students at the time of admission. A part-time student is enrolled in fewer than 12 credits. Students enrolled in a part-time master’s program (fewer than 12 credits per semester) have an in-person residency requirement that is equivalent to the full-time version of the program, fulfilled once they have paid the equivalent of the tuition cost of the full-time version of the program.
Students who wish to change their status from full-time to part-time residency must file a request to change to part-time with the Graduate School office. Students are assumed to be full-time until such a request is made. However, moving from full-time to part-time status can have significant loan or immigration status implications, so students should consult with the appropriate financial aid staff and the ISSO before requesting this change.
| Number of Credits | Status | Policy for International Students |
|---|---|---|
| 12+ credits per semester | Full-Time. Eligible for student health insurance. Able to borrow federal loans and have federal education loans deferred. | All international students (F-1) must maintain at least 12 credits and be full-time. |
| 9-11 credits per semester | Part-Time. Eligible for student health insurance. Able to borrow federal loans and have federal education loans deferred. |
If there is a personal health crisis, the student can apply for a Reduced Course Load, which could be 0-11 credits. During the last semester, an international student can take fewer than 12 credits if all degree requirements have been met (this is permitted once per academic program). |
| 6-8 credits per semester | Part-Time. Not eligible for student health insurance. Able to borrow federal loans or have federal education loans deferred. |
If there is a personal health crisis, the student can apply for a Reduced Course Load, which could be 0-11 credits. During the last semester, an international student can take fewer than 12 credits if all degree requirements have been met (this is permitted once per academic program). |
| 5 or fewer credits per semester | Part-Time. Not eligible for student health insurance. Not able to borrow federal loans or have federal education loans deferred. |
If there is a personal health crisis, the student can apply for a Reduced Course Load, which could be 0-11 credits. During the last semester, an international student can take fewer than 12 credits if all degree requirements have been met (this is permitted once per academic program). |