During the Coronavirus pandemic, the US governement is allowing students to count more than one online class toward their full-time enrollment. For more information about Spring 2023 enrollment, please see our page on ICE Covid Enrollment Guidance.
Enrollment Requirements
- F-1 and J-1 degree-seeking students must enroll in and complete a full course load each Fall and Spring semester in order to maintain lawful immigration status.
- To complete a course means to earn a letter grade of A, B, C, D, F, S, U, or X.
- Courses that begin in the middle of the semester will count toward your full-time enrollment only if you are enrolled in the course(s) at the beginning of the semester.
- There are limited reasons for under-enrollment. You must obtain permission from ISS BEFORE you drop a course.
- Fall and Spring terms
- Summer term
- Online and independent courses
- I and N grades, auditing a course, withdrawing from a course
- Concurrent enrollment - I want to enroll in classes at another school in addition to OU courses
- Reduced Course Load request - I want to enroll in less than the required number of hours
- Final semester enrollment requirements
- Graduate English Pathway (GEP) Program enrollment
| Student Status | Requirement |
|---|---|
Undergraduate students | Must complete 12 credit hours each Fall and Spring semester |
| Graduate students | Must complete 9 credit hours each Fall and Spring semester |
| Graduate students with assistantships |
|
Summer Term
If the summer term is your first or last semester of enrollment, you must enroll in the minimum number of required credit hours listed below. Your classes can be taken during any block of the Summer term. You must enroll in all of your required credit hours at the beginning of the Summer term.
| Student Status | Requirement |
|---|---|
Undergraduate students | Must complete 6 credit hours during the Summer term |
| Graduate students | Must complete 6 credit hours during the Summer term |
| Graduate students with 0.50 assistantship | Must complete 3 credit hours during the Summer term
|
Online and Independent Study Courses
US immigration regulations limit international students to only ONE online/distance course per semester (the equivalent of 3 credit hours) that counts toward their minimum full-time enrollment requirement.
You can take more than one online course, but only 3 credit hours of online/distance coursework will count toward your full-time enrollment requirements.
If you are enrolled in your FINAL semester, you cannot be enrolled in online courses only. You must also be enrolled in at least one in-person course on campus.
I and N Grades
A grade of “I” (incomplete) must be resolved with your professor. Please consult your academic department for more information.
Auditing a Course
Auditing a course does NOT count toward the full-time requirement.
Withdrawing from a Course
Withdrawal from a course at ANY point in the semester does NOT count toward the full-time requirement.
You must COMPLETE (earn a grade of A, B, C, D, or F) the required number of credit hours every Fall and Spring semester to maintain your immigration status.
| Minimum OU in-person credit hours needed | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 9 hours |
| Graduate | 6 hours |
| Graduate with 0.50 assistantship | 3 hours |
Reduced Course Load Request
US immigration regulations provide limited reasons for underenrollment; if you have a qualifying reason for being enrolled in less than the required number of hours, you must submit a completed Reduced Course Load form to the OU ISS office.
You can find the Reduced Course Load forms on the Forms page of our website.
If you have a medical reason for needing a Reduced Course Load, please email our office for the Medical RCL form.
Final Semester Enrollment
During your last semester of your degree program, you must meet full-time enrollment requirements unless you have a qualifying reason to apply for a Reduced Course Load.
If your final semester falls in the summer. then you must meet full-time summer enrollment requirements.
Graduate assistants should also review Graduate College requirements for final semester enrollment.
