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Enrollment Status

The Office of the University Registrar is responsible for compliance with standards for full-time and half-time enrollment. Your financial aid, degree completion, and other university services depend on your enrollment status. 

Audited courses are not included in the calculation of credits for full-time status.

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Undergraduate Students

Fall or Spring Semester

Enrolled Credits Enrollment Status
12+ Full-time
9 - 11 Three-quarter time/More than half-time
6 - 10 Half-time
1 - 5 Less than half-time

Undergraduate Agreements for Enrollment Status

  • UMEI Program: Students enrolled in UMEI 001-004 are considered full-time students. Students enrolled in UMEI 005 (semi-intensive) must register for an additional 6-8 credits, appropriate to their program, to meet the full-time requirement.
  • ENCO/COOP: Students enrolled in Engineering Coop (ENCO099) and Cooperative Education (UNIV099) programs are considered full-time students.
  • ADS Reduced Course Load Accommodations: Eligible students can work with Accessibility & Disability Service (ADS) to request a reduction in course load to meet full-time status.
If a student with a scholarship or grant falls below the required 12 credit hours, the scholarship or grant may be canceled. Students receiving financial aid are strongly encouraged to contact a financial aid counselor prior to dropping below full time status. Additional information may be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Graduate Students

The Graduate School uses a unit system in making calculations to determine full-time or part-time student status. Please note that graduate units are different from credit hours. The number of graduate units per credit hour is calculated in the following manner:

Courses Units per Credit Hour
000-399 2
400-499 4
500-599 5
600-897 6
799 (Masters Research) 12
898 (Pre-candidacy Doctoral Research) 18
HESP829 18
899 (Doctoral Dissertation Research) 18

Fall or Spring Semester

Enrolled Units Enrollment Status
48+ Full-time
25 - 47 Three-quarter time/More than half-time
24 Half-time
1 - 23 Less than half-time

Graduate assistants holding regular appointments have full-time status if they are registered for at least 24 units in addition to the assistantship; holders of half-time assistantships are considered full-time if registered for 36 units. Courses taken with the grading method of Audit do not generate graduate units and will not be used in calculating full-time or part-time status.

Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer 12-week Term

Enrolled Units Enrollment Status
36+ Full-time
19 - 35 Three-quarter time/More than half-time
18 Half-time
1 - 17 Less than half-time

Graduate assistants holding regular appointments have full-time status if they are registered for at least 18 units in addition to the assistantship; holders of half-time assistantships are considered full-time if registered for 27 units. Courses taken with the grading method of Audit do not generate graduate units and will not be used in calculating full-time or part-time status.


International Students

International students on F-1 and J-1 student visas must maintain full-time status throughout each semester according to federal regulations governing F-1 and J-1 students. Please contact an advisor in International Student and Scholar Services at 301-314-7740 if you have any questions concerning full-time status.

  • Undergraduate international students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester to be considered a full-time student.
  • Graduate international students must be enrolled in at least 48 units each fall and spring semester to be considered a full-time student (Note: 20-hour assistantships are equivalent to 24 units; 10-hour assistantships are equivalent to 12 units)
  • Courses taken for "audit" or "incomplete" do not generate credits/units and cannot be used in calculating full-time status.
  • Only one online course/distance education can count towards full-time enrollment.
  • If you will be part-time in a semester due to illness, academic difficulties, or because you are in your final semester, you must receive permission for part-time enrollment from International Student and Scholar Services before the end of the drop/add period for that semester. To request permission, log in to iTerp and go to F-1 Student Services to complete the Part-Time Authorization e-form. Your academic advisor will need to confirm your part-time status.
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