Full Time Enrollment Requirements for F-1 Students
All F-1 International Students are responsible for following federal regulations and requirements to lawfully maintain F-1 Status.
F-1 students are required by federal regulations to maintain full-time, in person enrollment during their program of study.
Students should carefully review the following information about full time enrollment requirements to ensure that they maintain lawful F-1 status. There are very few exceptions to this regulation.
Failure to follow these requirements may result in SEVIS termination.
All F-1 students must enroll in a full-time course load during every required semester of their program at SUNY Poly.
Full time enrollment at SUNY Poly is, at a minimum:
| Undergraduate Students | Graduate Students |
Full Course Load 12 credits per semester | Full Course Load 9 credits per semester |
Online Course Limit 1 online course per 12 credits | Online Course Limit 1 online course per 9 credits |
- If you enroll in more than 9(Graduate)/12(Undergraduate) credits per semester, you may also enroll in more than 1 online course.
- If enrolled in Flex/Hybrid courses, it is your responsibility to complete this course either in person or online, in accordance with the online course restrictions.
- If you are enrolled in 9/12 credits with (1) Flex/Hybrid course and (0) online courses, you may complete the Flex/Hybrid course online.
- If you are enrolled in 9/12 credits with (1) Flex/Hybrid course and (1) online courses, you may NOT complete the Flex/Hybrid course online and MUST complete this course with in-person attendance.
- Summer and Winter sessions are not “required” semesters at SUNY Poly.
- Students may choose whether they wish to enroll in any courses during these terms.
- Students do not need to enroll in any courses during the summer or winter terms, without penalty.
- Students may choose to enroll in all online courses during summer or winter terms, if desired.
- IF YOU WILL COMPLETE YOUR PROGRAM FOLLOWING SUMMER OR WINTER TERM, and the summer/winter will be considered your final semester with SUNY Poly:
- You must be enrolled in a credit bearing, in person course during that term.
- If you will not be enrolled in a credit bearing course but will not complete your program until after the summer/winter term completion, contact the ISS immediately to discuss your options.
- Students may choose whether they wish to enroll in any courses during these terms.
| *IMPORTANT* |
Failure to maintain full-time enrollment during every required semester will result in termination of your F-1 SEVIS record. Any enrollment below full time must be approved by the International Student Services office. |
You may only drop below 9/12 credits per semester if:
- You are in your final semester, and you do not need 9/12 credits in order to graduate.
- You must submit the Final Term Reduced Course Load Request form to avoid SEVIS termination in your final semester if you are enrolled less than full time.
- You must be enrolled in IN-PERSON courses during your final semester, with only (1) online course MAXIMUM.
- If you are only enrolled in (1) course in your final semester, this course MUST be completed IN PERSON.
- You cannot enroll in only 1 online course in your final semester.
- You have medical or academic reason(s) that warrant dropping below full time.
- You must contact the ISS immediately if you feel you have a medical or academic reason to drop below full-time enrollment.
- Poor course performance/possible course failure is not an allowable reason for reducing your course load below full time, per the federal government.
- I am an Undergraduate student enrolled in 12 credits this semester. Can I take 2+ online courses?
- NO. Undergraduate students enrolled in 12 credits a semester can only enroll in one online course.
- I am a Graduate student enrolled in 9 credits this semester. Can I take 2+ online courses?
- NO. Graduate students enrolled in 9 credits a semester can only enroll in one online course.
- I am an Undergraduate student enrolled in 15 credits this semester. Can I take 2+ online courses?
- YES. Undergraduate students enrolled in 15 credits a semester can enroll in TWO online courses.
- I am a Graduate student enrolled in 12 credits this semester. Can I take 2+ online courses?
- YES. Graduate students enrolled in 12 credits a semester can enroll in TWO online courses.
- I have a medical issue which is making enrollment difficult, can I reduce the number of courses I am enrolled in this semester?
- Possibly! Before dropping or stopping attendance in any courses, be sure to contact the ISS as soon as possible to discuss your options to reduce your enrollment.
- My professor told our class that they were going to teach the course online, even though it was supposed to be an in-person course. Can I stay in that course if it is online?
- Maybe. If you have no other online courses that semester, or, if you are taking more than 9/12 credits and are not going to exceed the minimum online enrollment, you can remain in this course if it is changed to online only. However, your professor cannot change the modality of the course without authorization from the department and the Registrar. If your course is supposed to be offered in-person, you should contact the Office of the Registrar to discuss this situation.
