Registration Requirements

Full-time enrollment is expected of all students throughout the academic year:

• Graduate students = 10 or more credits each quarter
• Undergraduate students = 12 or more credits each quarter

Only one online class may count towards the minimum credit amount.

Immigration allows students to be authorized for a reduced course load under specifically defined circumstances:

• Initial difficulty with the English language
• Initial difficulty with reading requirements
• Unfamiliarity with American teaching methods
• Improper course level placement
• Illness or medical condition

Students are not permitted to drop below full-time without first meeting with an adviser in the Office of International Students and Scholars.

Students are required to submit documentation which supports their need to drop below full-time. In most instances, a letter from a department adviser or course professor will satisfy this requirement. Students are allowed to drop below full-time for an academic reason only once per degree level.

Students wishing to drop for a medical reason are required to submit a letter from a "licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist." A reduced course load due to a medical reason may be authorized multiple times so long as the aggregate period does not exceed 12 months.

Other exceptions:

Graduate students: Students who have completed all course work and are only required to register for thesis/dissertation credits may register for 2 credits at the 700/800 level and be considered full-time.  However, students receiving assistantships may be required to register for 10 credits.

Final quarter: Students must register for at least one class at UW in their final quarter in order to remain in the U.S. and to be eligible for post-graduation employment benefits. They are required to register only for the courses needed to graduate. During the final quarter, students are considered full-time even if registered for fewer than 10 (graduate students) or 12 (undergraduate students) credits. If students decide to take just one class, it cannot be an online class. Students should email their assigned ISS adviser to request part-time status their final quarter.

Annual vacation quarter: Students may take a vacation quarter and remain in the U.S. if they have completed three consecutive full-time quarters, and are eligible and intend to register for the quarter following the vacation. A student who arrives in the U.S. for the first time and begins study winter or spring quarter may take the summer as a vacation quarter. Students should email their assigned ISS adviser if they will take a quarter other than summer as vacation.

Graduate students taking a vacation quarter must comply with the Graduate School's On-Leave Policies.

During the annual vacation quarter, students are permitted to remain in the U.S. In addition, they may work full or part-time on-campus.

Students are free to leave the U.S. at any time. Students planning to leave the U.S. for a quarter or longer should consult with an ISS adviser prior to departure.

Full-time enrollment is expected of all students throughout the academic year:

• Graduate students = 10 or more credits each quarter
• Undergraduate students = 12 or more credits each quarter

Students may be authorized to take fewer credits under the following conditions:

• Valid academic reason
• Documented medical condition

Students must receive authorization from an ISS adviser before dropping below full-time.

Other exceptions:

Graduate students: Students who have completed all course work and are only required to register for thesis/dissertation credits may register for 2 credits at the 700/800 level and be considered full-time. However, students receiving assistantships may be required to register for 10 credits.

Final quarter: Students are required to register for only the courses needed to graduate. During the final quarter, students are considered full-time even if registered for less than 10/12 credits. Students should email their assigned ISS adviser to request part-time status their final quarter.

Annual vacation quarter: Students may take a vacation quarter and remain in the U.S. if they have completed three consecutive full-time quarters, and are eligible and intend to register for the quarter following the vacation. A student who arrives in the U.S. for the first time and begins study winter or spring quarter may take the summer as a vacation quarter. Students should email their assigned ISS adviser if they will take a quarter other than summer as vacation.

Graduate students taking a vacation quarter must comply with the Graduate School's On-Leave Policies.

During the annual vacation quarter, students are permitted to remain in the U.S. In addition, they may work full or part-time on-campus.

Students are free to leave the U.S. at any time. Students planning to leave the U.S. for a quarter or longer should consult with an ISS adviser prior to departure.