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L&S International Student Credit Load Requirements

The following information is meant for L&S undergraduate students who are on an international student visa and wish to be enrolled in fewer than 12 credits during the Fall or Spring term.

Federal regulations require all undergraduate students on an F-1 or J-1 visa to be enrolled full-time during the Fall or Spring term AND to be enrolled in on-campus courses during the first or last term of their degree program. Any visa-sponsored undergraduate student who wishes to be enrolled in fewer than 12 credits during the Fall or Spring term must obtain special permission from International Student Services (ISS).  This process can be time-consuming, and students are advised to contact ISS as soon as they believe they may need to seek a Reduced Course Load 

Students who wish to take fewer than 12 credits in a Fall or Spring Term must secure the necessary permissions as noted below:  

      • Phone: (608) 262-0617 

Permission to take fewer than 12 credits in a given term is only valid for the semester/term indicated on the application. 

These regulations do not typically apply to Summer Term, unless it is the first or last term of enrollment in a visa-holding student’s degree program.  

Contact the L&S Undergraduate Academic Deans' Services with further questions:
Phone:  (608) 262-0617
Email: lsdeans@saa.ls.wisc.edu


Keywordsinternational students, credit load, F-1 status, J-1 status, F-1 holder, J-1 holder, full-time status, part-time status, ISS, reduced course load, RCL   Doc ID31710
OwnerTori R.GroupL&S KB
Created2013-07-19 14:00:15Updated2024-10-11 16:07:58
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