What is part-time enrollment?

• Part-time enrollment is when an undergraduate student is enrolled in less than 12 credits during the fall or spring semester. Refer to “What about summer?” for more information on summer enrollment.

Why might I consider being enrolled part-time?

• You may be in your final semester and only need one or two courses to finish your degree.

• You may need to enroll in fewer courses to allow yourself time to work, care for family, or manage other personal responsibilities that do not allow for a full-time course load.

• You may want to enroll in fewer courses to allow yourself space to focus on only a few classes at a time, either as part of an ongoing personal strategy or to support a transition back to college.

• You may want to drop a class late in the semester when it is too late to enroll in another course.

Am I allowed to be a part-time student?

Some situations require students to be enrolled full-time.You should consult with your academic advisor and may need to consult with other campus offices to discuss if you are required to enroll full-time. Common situations that require full-time enrollment are:

• International students: Students who are on F1 and J1 visas have full-time enrollment requirements as outlined here by International Student Services. A reduced-course load (part-time enrollment) may be possible in certain circumstances, but you should always start by consulting your ISS advisor or attend ISS drop-in hours before taking any actions to become part-time.

• Student-athletes: Many students who are participating in a Wisconsin Athletics program are required to be enrolled full-time to meet eligibility requirements. Consult your athletics academic advisor for guidance before taking any actions to become part-time.

• Financial aid/scholarship requirements: Some financial aid and scholarship programs require students to be enrolled full-time. Students should consult the Office of Student Financial Aid if they have any financial aid or support through UW-Madison. Students receiving scholarships from outside UW-Madison should consult with the organization providing the scholarship for guidance.

• Health Insurance: In some cases, students may have minimum enrollment requirements if they have the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) or other health insurance specifically for students.

Does being a part-time student impact my access to resources on campus?

• No, being part-time does not impact your ability to access campus resources like advising, University Health Services (UHS), your bus pass, or campus libraries and gyms.

Are my tuition and education costs affected by becoming part-time?

• Tuition rates are different for part-time enrollment versus full-time. Consult the tuition workbook on the Office of the Bursar’s website for tuition rates.

• You should talk with the Office of Student Financial Aid about how your financial aid or scholarships may be affected by part-time status.

I think I want to be part-time - what do I do now? 

• Review the “Am I allowed to be a part-time student?” section above to confirm if you need to talk with any campus offices about enrolling part-time. You should  speak with your academic advisor before becoming a part-time student. Talking with your academic advisor will help you understand how being part-time will impact your graduation timeline and if certain courses may need to be prioritized in your part-time schedule.

What about summer?

• Full-time and part-time status are calculated differently in summer term. You are considered full-time in summer if you are enrolled in 6-10 credits in the DHH session.

• Many students can decide whether or not they are enrolled in summer term, and whether they are full-time or part-time. You should review the “Am I allowed to be a part-time student?” section above, as students in those situations may have rules about their status in the summer too.