Requesting a Reduced Course Load

To maintain F-1/J-1 status, international students must be enrolled in a full course of study at the start of the fall and spring semesters. Students who are in their final semester of their program must still have on-campus presence and for those who will finish in a summer semester, it will not be treated as their annual vacation period.

F-1/J-1 students may request a Reduced Course Load (RCL) through the RCL eForm in the following circumstances:

Students in their final semester of study.

• Undergraduate students with less than 12 credits remaining to complete their degrees may submit the Reduced Course Load (RCL).
• Graduate students with less than 9 credits remaining to complete their degrees may submit the Reduced Course Load (RCL). See information on determining your completion date.

Graduate students whose final academic requirement is a thesis or dissertation and who are required to take one continuing registration credit.

• Thesis/dissertation graduate students who have completed all coursework credits, including all research, dissertation, and thesis credit hours may request a reduced course load. Thesis/dissertation students who have finished their coursework are still expected to maintain physical presence on campus. Speak with your academic advisor if you are unsure what your final academic requirement is.
  • **Thesis/dissertation F-1 students who are approved for a reduced course load and then change their final academic requirement may be violating their immigration status and not be eligible for post-OPT.

To be eligible for a reduced course load all F-1/J-1 students must:

• Meet one of the above circumstances.
• Maintain in-person presence throughout the entire semester which means that students may NOT take only online classes in their final semester.
  • If you only have 1 class left to complete, it must be hybrid or fully in-person.
  • You may only enroll in either 1 class or 3 credits that are virtual.
• Have a valid I-20/DS-2019 for the entire semester (see information on extending your I-20 or extending your DS-2019);
• Be inside the United States. Please inform the ISSC if you are planning to enroll in classes while outside of the United States.

Please keep in mind that: 

• You need authorization to take courses outside of ASU. See our Additional coursework outside of ASU webpage for more information.
• An RCL is not required if your remaining credits are online as these will need to be completed outside of the U.S.
• An RCL is not required during the summer semester for continuing students.
• Please make sure to apply for the reduced course load before the start of your final semester.
• Please note that students must maintain on-campus presence throughout the full duration of their last semester.
• If only one course is needed to complete a degree, it must be an in-person course.

Students with a medical issue in the current semester. 
If you would like to request a reduced course load based on medical reasons, please consult with an advisor as soon as possible. Medical documentation is required to apply and must be signed by a medical doctor, psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, doctor of osteopathy, or a clinical psychologist.