ETSU | Enrollment Requirements

International Enrollment and Services

Maintaining Status through Full-Time Enrollment

As an F-1/J-1 student, you must be enrolled full-time during the fall and spring terms. To be considered a full-time student, you must enroll in at least:

  • Undergraduate: 12-credit hours
  • Graduate: 9-credit hours

Full-time enrollment in the summer is required if it is your initial semester of enrollment.

Important: Only one online or distant learning course can count towards your full-time enrollment. The DSOs cannot consider any online courses as counting towards the on-ground requirement.

Full-time enrollment applies to the entire semester and the DSOs monitor enrollment accordingly. If you are not registered full-time at any point after the 14th day of the semester, your SEVIS record will be marked as "terminated" as required by the Department of Homeland Security. If this occurs, you have the option of applying for reinstatement.

 

  • Online Courses
    If you receive an email from us telling you that you are registered for too many online credits, you must switch the online course for an on ground course, or add an additional on ground course.
  • Reduced Course Load

    In certain situations you may be eligible a reduced course load. In these situations, a completed Reduced Course Load (RCL) Form must be submitted to your DSO with the appropriate approval signatures. Only after official approval may you enroll part-time. Please keep in mind that on-ground requirements must still be met if a reduced courseload is approved.

    Possible Reasons for a Reduced Course Load:

    • Adjustment Issues during Initial Semester
      • Difficulty with English or American teaching methods
        • Only in Initial Semester
        • Transfer students do not qualify
      • Must be within 21 days from the start of classes
      • Requires Approval from Academic Advisor
    • Improper Course Level Placement
      • Only in initial semester
      • Must be within 21 days from the start of classes
      • Requires Approval from Academic Advisor
      • Transfer students do not qualify
    • Medical/Mental Health reasons
      • Student must provide medical documentation from a licensed: Medical doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, or Licensed Psychologist/Therapist's approval required
      • The medical document must be sent directly to the PDSO, Chasity Drew, drewcl@etsu.edu by the medical professional.
    • Student is in the final semester of an academic program
    • Student is completing Graduate/Doctoral Level Thesis or Dissertation.

    Departmental or medical approval is required for all reduced course load requests. Approval is only valid for (1) semester. 

    Complete the Reduced Course Load (RCL) Form Here

    Important Update: Change in Federal Regulation (Effective September 15, 2026)

    Beginning September 15, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security is eliminating "Duration of Status" (D/S) for F-1 and J-1 students. Under the prior rule, if a Reduced Course Load (RCL) shortened your SEVIS program end date to your expected commencement date, and you were unable to complete your degree requirements by that date, the DSO could grant an additional RCL and update your SEVIS record with a new program end date. 

    This is no longer the case. DSOs can no longer extend your program end date directly. If you will not complete your degree requirements by your current SEVIS program end date, you must apply for an Extension of Stay (EOS) directly with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  Click here for additional EOS information.

    If you will not graduate by your current program end date, you must: 

    1. Submit the Extension of Stay Recommendation Form at least 30 days before your program end date. This gives the DSO time to review your request and recommend a program extension on your Form I-20. 

    2. File an Extension of Stay Application with USCIS (Form I-539, or successor form) before your current SEVIS program end date, along with the required fee and supporting documentation. 

    3. Continue full-time enrollment or maintain your approved RCL while your EOS Application is pending with USCIS. 

    If you do not submit the Extension of Stay Recommendation Form and file your EOS Application on time, you may fall out of status. Please contact your DSO as soon as you anticipate needing more time to complete your program — do not wait until your program end date is near. 

  • RCL Form Instructions

    When accessing the RCL form students will enter the name and ETSU email address of their academic advisor/graduate coordinator.

    The email address should be in the following format, @etsu.edu. For example, drewcl@etsu.edu is correct; however, drewcl@mail.etsu.edu is incorrectly formatted. 

    • If you enter your academic advisor/graduate coordinator email incorrectly the form will not send which will delay the approval process.

    Graduate Students: After the graduate coordinator completes their section, the form is automatically routed to the Graduate School for review and approval; please plan timelines accordingly.