International students in F-1 or J-1 status are required by law to register for and complete a full course load every semester.
Full-time enrollment generally means 12 credit hours for undergraduate students and 9 credit hours for graduate students.
You must obtain approval from UMSL Global in order to enroll less than full-time. Failure to comply with this regulation may result in the termination of your F-1 or J-1 visa status.
Enrolling less than full-time
If you wish to enroll less than full time in a Fall or Spring semester, you must obtain permission for a Reduced Course Load authorization from UMSL Global. Your eligibility to enroll less than full time is only permissible under the following circumstances:
-You are a first or second semester UMSL student and you are having difficulties with the English language or reading requirements (Note: students are only eligible once for under-enrollment due to academic difficulties during their program of study.
-You are a first or second semester UMSL student and you are having difficulties with adjusting to American teaching methods or the U.S. educational system (Note: students are only eligible once for under-enrollment due to academic difficulties during their program of study.
-You were improperly advised to enroll in the wrong course (Note: students are only eligible once for under-enrollment due to academic difficulties during their program of study.
-You have unavoidable medical problems which requires a temporary reduction in your courseload
-You are in your final semester prior to graduation, and you need less than and full-time course load to satisfy your degree requirements.
You are a graduate student and are working full-time on thesis or research (usually the student can receive graduate equivalency hours in this situation).
Please keep in mind that you must obtain approval for a reduced course load for any of the above circumstances. Applications for a reduced course load is subject to approval by UMSL Global and decisions are final.
For more information
For more information, please contact Lenka Garimella at lenka.garimella@umsl.edu.
