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. International Enrollment and Services cannot consider any online courses as counting towards the on-ground requirement.

Full-time enrollment applies to the entire semester and International Enrollment and Services monitors 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
    Courses that are online, but require a physical presence, are so noted in the registration database and do not show up on our enrollment report as "online." 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 International Enrollment and Services 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
      • Transfer students do not qualify
      • Must be within 21 days from the start of classes
      • Requires Approval from Academic Advisor
    • Medical/Mental Health reasons
      • Doctor or Licensed Psychologist/Therapist's approval required
    • 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