Full Course of Study, Reduced Course Load, and Full-Time Equivalent
International students on F-1 visas are required to maintain full-time enrollment status during the fall and spring semesters. Legitimate exceptions to this requirement may be available through a Reduced Course Load (RCL) or Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) authorization. These two exceptions are used for different reasons.
The RCL authorization is for a student who cannot enroll full-time due to academic difficulty, completion of course of study or for an illness or medical condition. FTE is only for use by a graduate student in pre-candidacy or degree candidacy. Requests for these authorizations are made by students, with the help of their advisors or other school and college-based representatives.
For more information about these authorizations, please click the links below.
Full Course of Study
What does Full Course of Study (FCS) mean?
Regulatory citation 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i) and following
Full Course of Study (FCS) is an F-1 visa term that means full-time enrollment. If you are in F-1 status, you need to be enrolled in a FCS in order to maintain F-1 status. If you do not enroll in a FCS, you could lose your F-1 status. Restoring F-1 status after FCS violation can be difficult and costly.
What are the FCS requirements?
Under the F-1 regulations, FCS is calculated in terms of the number of credits you need to register for. FCS requirements are as follows:
| Undergraduate FCS | Graduate FCS | English Language Program (ELP) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum of 12 credits per semester (fall and spring) | Minimum of 9 credits per semester (fall and spring) | Minimum of 18 ELP credits per semester (fall and spring) |
Are there exceptions to FCS?
Yes. Under the F-1 regulations, there are only 3 exceptions to the FCS requirements:
1. Reduced Course Load (RCL)
2. Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)
3. Winter and Summer breaks
Who may authorize an exception to FCS?
If you need a Reduced Course Load (RCL) or Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) exception to FCS, you must obtain written authorization from an Immigration Services adviser in the Global Education Office (GEO) prior to dropping below FCS. The GEO forms to request RCL or FTE exception to FCS are located in the . Authorization is not required for the Winter and Summer break exceptions to FCS.
What are the Reduced Course Load (RCL) exceptions to FCS?
Regulatory citation: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(iii) and following
Under the F-1 regulations, a GEO Immigration Advisor may authorize RCL only in the following three situations:
1. Academic Difficulty
2. Completion of Course of Study
3. Illness or Medical Condition
The three RCL exceptions to FCS are discussed below.
Academic Difficulty
Regulatory citation: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(iii)(A)
Under the F-1 regulations, a GEO Immigration Adviser may authorize Academic Difficulty RCL for only four reasons:
1. Initial difficulty with the English language. Note: This may only be used 1 time during the first year of the student’s academic program.
2. Initial difficulty with reading requirements. Note: This may only be used 1 time during the first year of the student’s academic program.
3. Unfamiliarity with US teaching methods. Note: This may only be used 1 time during the first year of the student’s academic program.
4. Improper course level placement.
NOTES:
- A student cannot be authorized for Academic Difficulty RCL for more than 1 of the enumerated reasons per semester.
- If a student is authorized by a GEO Immigration Advisor for Academic Difficulty RCL for any reason, the student is not eligible for future Academic Difficulty RCL authorization for any reason in the same degree program.
- If a student is authorized for Academic Difficulty RCL, a student must resume FCS in the next available semester.
- ELP students are not eligible for Academic Difficulty RCL due to difficulty with the English language, reading requirements, or unfamiliarity with US teaching methods.
Completion of Course of Study
Regulatory citation: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(iii)(C)
Completion of Course of Study is sometimes referred to as “final semester.” If a student is in the final semester of your academic program and needs fewer credits than FCS in order to complete the program and graduate at the end of the semester, the student may be eligible for Completion of Course of Study RCL authorization. Under the F-1 regulations, a student is eligible for “final semester” RCL authorization only one time per academic program.
NOTE: As a rule, “final semester” RCL authorization is available only to undergraduate and ELP students. Graduate students interested a “final semester” RCL authorization should request Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) approval for their final semester instead.
Illness or Medical Condition
Regulatory citation: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(iii)(B)
If a student has an illness or medical condition that prevents the student from maintaining FCS, the student may be eligible for Medical RCL authorization by a GEO Immigration Advisor. The student will need to present to GEO a letter from a US-licensed Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), or Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP) to substantiate the illness or medical condition.
All of the following must be included in the provided documentation:
- Letter, on doctor’s letterhead, dated no earlier than 30 days before the start of the semester for which the Medical RCL is requested;
- Include the signature, address, telephone number, and email of the MD, DO, or LCP; andclearly state that, due to illness or medical condition, the student be registered for either fewer credits than FCS or for no credits at all for the semester.
- The letter does not need to identify the student’s illness or medical condition or address any other information about the student’s health status that would usually be covered by patient-health care provider confidentiality.
NOTES:
1. Under the F-1 regulations, a GEO Immigration Advisor can authorize Medical RCL for no longer than 12 months (aggregate) during the program of study but increments of no more than 1 semester at a time.
2. Illness or Medical Condition RCL may affect your eligibility for on-campus and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) employment authorization.
What is the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) exception to FCS?
Regulatory citation: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(A)
If a student meets the following criteria, the student may be eligible for Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) approval by a GEO Immigration Adviser:
| Pre-Candidate | Degree Candidate |
|---|---|
| Graduate student who has completed all required course work for the degree and is either studying for or taking comprehensive (sometimes called qualifying) examinations as a pre-requisite for admission to degree candidacy. | Graduate student who has completed all required course work for the degree, has passed comprehensive (sometimes called qualifying) examinations, has been formally admitted to degree candidacy, and is researching or writing their thesis, dissertation, or completing another final project (such as a work of art). |
Reduced Course Load (RCL)
Regulatory citation: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(iii) and following
Under the F-1 regulations, a DSO may authorize RCL only in the following three situations:
1. Academic Difficulty
2. Completion of Course of Study
3. Illness or Medical Condition
The three situations are discussed below.
1. Academic Difficulty
Regulatory citation: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(iii)(A)
Under the F-1 regulations, a DSO may authorize Academic Difficulty RCL for only 4 reasons:
- Initial difficulty with the English language. Note: This may only be used 1 time during the first year of the student’s academic program.
- Initial difficulty with reading requirements. Note: This may only be used 1 time during the first year of the student’s academic program.
- Unfamiliarity with US teaching methods. Note: This may only be used 1 time during the first year of the student’s academic program.
- Improper course level placement.
NOTES:
- A student cannot be authorized for Academic Difficulty RCL for more than 1 of the enumerated reasons per semester.
- If a student is authorized by a DSO for Academic Difficulty RCL for any reason, the student is not eligible for future Academic Difficulty RCL authorization for any reason in the same degree program.
- If a student is authorized for Academic Difficulty RCL, a student must resume FCS in the next available semester.
2. Completion of Course of Study
Regulatory citation: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(iii)(C)
Completion of Course of Study is sometimes referred to as “final semester”. If a student is in the final semester of your academic program and needs fewer credits than FCS in order to complete the program and graduate at the end of the semester, the student may be eligible for Completion of Course of Study RCL authorization. Under the F-1 regulations, a student is eligible for “final semester” RCL authorization only one time per academic program.
3. Illness or Medical Condition
Regulatory citation: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(iii)(B)
If a student has an illness or medical condition that prevents the student from maintaining FCS, the student may be eligible for Medical RCL authorization by a GEO DSO. The student will need to present to GEO a letter from a US-licensed Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), or Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP) to substantiate the illness or medical condition.
All of the following must be included in the provided documentation:
- Letter, on doctor’s letterhead, dated no earlier than 30 days before the start of the semester for which the Medical RCL is requested;
- include the signature, address, telephone number, and email of the MD, DO, or LCP; and
- clearly state that, due to illness or medical condition, the student be registered for either fewer credits than FCS or for no credits at all for the semester.
- The letter does not need to identify the student’s illness or medical condition or address any other information about the student’s health status that would usually be covered by patient-health care provider confidentiality.
NOTE:
Under the F-1 regulations, a DSO can authorize Medical RCL for no longer than 12 months (aggregate) during the program of study but increments of no more than 1 semester at a time.
Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)
Regulatory citation: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(A)
If a student meets the following criteria, the student may be eligible for Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) approval by a GEO DSO.
|
Pre-Candidate | Degree Candidate |
|---|---|
| Graduate student who has completed all required course work for the degree and is either studying for or taking comprehensive (sometimes called qualifying) examinations as a pre-requisite for admission to degree candidacy. | Graduate student who has completed all required course work for the degree, has passed comprehensive (sometimes called qualifying) examinations, has been formally admitted to degree candidacy, and is researching or writing their thesis, dissertation, or completing another final project (such as a work of art). |
NOTES:
- Pre-Candidate and Degree Candidate requirements vary by degree program. For information about your program’s requirements, please go to graduate.vcu.edu/student/candidacy.html.
- For FTE purposes, a student needs to register for at least 1 academic credit per semester, but if the student’s degree program requires the student to register for more than 1 credit per semester during Pre-Candidate and Degree Candidate status, the student’s program’s credit requirement is the number of FTE credits for which the student must register.
- For more information on enrollment, please see the "Continuous enrollment for degree-seeking graduate students" section in the VCU Graduate Bulletin. Questions about program enrollment and FTE should be directed to the student's school or college.
- On the time limit for completion of graduate degrees, please see the "Time limit for completion" section of the VCU Graduate Bulletin.
Next Steps
Visit the F-1 Students Forms section of the to access the RCL and FTE forms.
What are my program’s Pre-Candidate and Degree Candidate requirements?
Pre-Candidate and Degree Candidate requirements vary by degree program. For information about your program’s requirements, please visit the Graduate school website.
For FTE, how many credits do I need to register for?
FTE credit requirements vary by degree program. Under the F-1 regulations, you need to register for at least 1 credit per semester. But if your degree program requires you to register for more than 1 credit per semester during Pre-Candidate and Degree Candidate status, your program’s credit requirement is the number of FTE credits for which you must register.
For more information on enrollment, please see the "Continuous enrollment for degree-seeking graduate students" section in the VCU Bulletin. Questions about program enrollment and FTE should be directed to your school or college.
Is there a limit on the number of times I may be authorized for FTE?
Yes. You are eligible for FTE only for as long as you are permitted by your degree program to remain in the program. On the time limit for completion of graduate degrees, please see the "Time limit for completion" section of the VCU Bulletin.
Does FTE authorization affect my ability to receive a Graduate Fellowship or to be employed as a Graduate Assistant?
Yes. Please read the following carefully.
Graduate Fellowship and Graduate Assistant are defined in the VCU Bulletin. If your Graduate Fellowship or Graduate Assistantship meets the definition of these term, please be advised that:
Under VCU policy, you need to register for at least nine credits per semester for the duration of your Graduate Fellowship or employment as a Graduate Assistant. Since a minimum of nine credits per semester is FCS for a graduate student, if you are required by VCU to register for at least 9 credits for the duration of your Graduate Fellowship or employment as a Graduate Assistant, you are already registered for FCS, and so you do not need (and are not eligible for) FTE.
Does RCL or FTE authorization affect my F-1 visa “on campus” employment authorization?
No. RCL or FTE authorization does not affect your F-1 “on campus” employment authorization. In fact, these authorizations preserve your F-1 visa employment authorization by keeping you in F-1 status.
Does RCL or FTE authorization affect my F-1 visa Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization?
No. RCL or FTE authorization does not affect your CPT employment authorization. In fact, these authorizations preserve your CPT employment authorization by keeping you in F-1 status.
Does RCL or FTE authorization affect my eligibility to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT)?
No. RCL or FTE authorization does not affect your eligibility to apply for OPT. In fact, these authorizations preserve your eligibility to apply for OPT by keeping you in F-1 status.
What is the Winter and Summer break exception to FCS?
Regulatory citation: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(5)(iii)
FCS applies only to a school’s academic year, which, at VCU, consists of the Fall and Spring semesters. FCS does not apply during Summer and Winter breaks; students are not required to register for any credits during these periods if they do not wish to register—unless their VCU program requires them to register for credits during Summer or Winter breaks. Please check with your VCU program in regard to enrollment requirements for Summer and Winter break. As noted above, GEO Immigration Advisor authorization is not required for the Winter and Summer break exceptions to FCS.
Is a written GEO Immigration Services Advisor Authorization Required for RCL and FTE?
For Reduced Course Load (RCL) and Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) exceptions to FCS, a student must obtain written authorization from an Immigration Services Advisor in the Global Education Office (GEO) prior to dropping below FCS. The forms to request RCL and FTE authorizations are located in the Forms Library. This authorization is not required for the Winter and Summer break exceptions to FCS.