Course Drop and Withdrawal Policies for International Students

In general, international students must maintain a full-time credit load (12 credits for undergraduates; 10 credits for graduate students) for three consecutive quarters in each academic year. The University's annual drop, withdrawal and hardship withdrawal policies may conflict with this requirement. Automated warning messages and blocks occur in the UW Student Data Base and on MyUW to prevent inadvertent drops or withdrawals that may affect an international student's immigration status.

International students are not automatically eligible to use the UW's annual drop policy if it results in being less than full-time. They are held to a more rigorous immigration standard of one drop only during each program level, i.e., Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral Degree. Students who wish to use this drop must demonstrate academic difficulties for the following reasons:

• initial difficulty with the English language or reading requirements;
• unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods; or
• improper course level placement.

Advisers may be asked to provide support for the student's request. Such requests must be made before the student drops the course. Students must resume a full course of study in the next available term following the drop.

Students may use the annual drop if they continue to maintain a full-time credit load, during an eligible vacation quarter or in their final quarter. International students whose credits remain above the full-time level would be eligible to use the annual drop but may need written permission from an adviser in the Office of International Students and Scholars during the late course drop period. Such drops must be done in person through the Registration Office, 225 Schmitz.

Students may also drop for an illness or other medical condition for up to 12 months at each program level. Students must provide specific medical documentation and receive authorization from an ISS adviser before they drop a course.

Students who withdraw from the University may jeopardize their immigration status. They may need to leave the U.S. and reenter to regain their student status. Students requesting to withdraw should be directed to an ISS adviser to discuss the consequences of such action before withdrawing.

The University's Hardship Withdrawal policy may conflict with an international student's requirement to maintain full-time status, even when such withdrawals are posted retroactively. As in the case of a withdrawal, students should be directed to an ISS adviser to discuss the consequences of such action.