Reduced Course Load

F-1/J-1 students are required to maintain full-time enrollment during the academic year.  If you cannot/will not meet the requirement, complete a Request for Reduced Course Load (RCL) and, if you have any questions, meet with an ISSS advisor to discuss your request.

Requesting an RCL

What is Full-Time and Why Do I Need an RCL?

Consequences of Unauthorized Drop Below Full-Time: Federal Regulations limit your ability to enroll less than full-time. If you cannot meet the full-time requirement you need to request an RCL. Dropping below full-time without an RCL is considered an unauthorized drop, which will endanger your immigration status. 

Definition of Full-Time

  • Undergraduate students, including those in post-baccalaureate programs, must register for and complete at least 3 course units (CUs) per semester. This is for immigration purpose only. To be able to graduate on time in 4 years, students typically need to take 4 CUs. 
  • Graduate students must register for and complete a minimum of 3 CUs per semester or more if your graduate program requires it. 

Immediate Action for Non-Full-Time Enrollment: If you are not enrolled full-time as defined here, please see an ISSS advisor immediately.

Audits and Incomplete: Courses that you audit or incompletes you are completing do not count towards full-time status

Online/Web Courses: Federal Regulations limit the number of online/web courses that count towards full-time status. Please see an ISSS advisor prior to registering for online/web courses.

Unauthorized Drop Below Full Time

SEVIS Reporting for Unauthorized Drops: If you drop below full-time enrollment without authorization in advance from an ISSS advisor, ISSS is federally mandated to report this in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS); and you will lose your F-1 or J-1 status. 

Who Can Approve My RCL and When Should I Apply?

Who Can Approve RCL?

F-1 Students: Only a Designed School Official (DSO) – ISSS Advisors are DSOs, not your Academic Advisors

J-1 Students: A Responsible or Alternate Responsible Officer (RO/ARO) – ISSS Advisors, not your Academic Advisors

Obtain RCL Approval First

Obtaining RCL Approval in Advance: If you wish to drop below full-time you must obtain approval in writing from a DSO/ARO in advance, regardless of the reason. 

Consequences of Unapproved Drops: If you register for, or drop below, full-time without appropriate prior approval from an ISSS advisor you will be considered out of status. 

Invalid Reason for RCL: Lack of financial support does not constitute a valid reason to RCL.

Access to Student Health & Counseling Services

Student Health and Counseling (formerly SHS and CAPS) is the primary care and psychological care division of Wellness at Penn.

Commitment to Student Care: Student Health and Counseling is committed to providing safe, accessible, cost-effective, culturally sensitive, and student-focused care.

Services Provided: They team provide care for acute and chronic health problems, preventative health services, as well as mental health and counseling, crisis management, and consultations.

Learn more:

  • Access to Counseling Services: Access to Student Health and Counseling is based on student status and payment of general and clinical fees. Counseling services are available to all active students at no additional charge. 
  • Additional Counseling Resources: Counseling also provides a number of terrific resources and programs to support students, groups and workshops, drop-in conversations (Let’s Talk), mindfulness and self-care tools, and more. 
  • Clinical Fee for Full-Time Students: All full-time students, including those who are enrolled in the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP), will be charged the Clinical Fee, which allows them access to medical services.  
  • Clinical Fee for Part-Time Students: Other students, including those enrolled in fewer than 3.0 CUs, may not be automatically charged a Clinical Fee. Please check with your school financial office to understand what fees are included as part of your cost of attendance.  
  • Opting-In to Pay the Clinical Fee: Students who have not been charged the Clinical Fee may elect to pay the clinical fee to access medical services. To do so, please contact Student Health and Counseling at 215-746-3535 or Insurance Compliance at 215-746-4200 to request and submit required information to opt-in to paying the fee. The clinical fee will be charged to your student account. 

Fitness Memberships

For students considered part-time by Penn, there is an option to purchase a campus recreation membership, see below: 

Pottruck Membership Information

  • To add a membership: Click on “Memberships” and sign in to the portal using your Pennkey. 
  • You should then see the option to sign up for the membership option of your choice. 

RCL Options

Below are the situations upon which you could be eligible for a Reduced Course Load (RCL).   

Academic Difficulties

Eligibility for Academic Difficulties RCL:

  • Initial difficulties during the 1st year of an academic program at Penn with the English language, reading requirements, or unfamiliarity with American teaching methods  
  • Improper course-level placement during your academic program- missing prerequisite courses 
  • Course sequencing- no courses available to satisfy your degree requirements 

Please note:

  • Limitations: An RCL for academic difficulties can only be used once per degree level. This option only covers a single semester during any one course of study at a particular program level and you must resume full-time enrollment at the next available semester (excluding eligible vacation semester). 
  • Minimum Course Load:: If you qualify for Academic Difficulties RCL you must still maintain at least 2 CUs per semester for undergraduates; and at least 1.5 CUs per semester for graduate students. 
  • Documentation: To apply for a reduced course load based on academic difficulties, you will need to provide a letter from your academic advisor to substantiate the reason for the request. 
  • Course Sequencing Documentation: If your academic reduced course load request is due to the unavailability of courses to satisfy your degree requirements (course sequencing), you must also upload a copy of your academic planning worksheet (or equivalent) to show your remaining degree requirements. 

Medical Conditions

Eligibility for Medical RCL: If, due to a serious illness or medical condition, you are unable to be enrolled full-time, (or, if necessary, no course load), you may apply for this RCL. To apply for this option you must provide: 

  • Medical documentation from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist to the DSO/ARO to substantiate the illness or medical condition. 
  • A letter from your doctor. Please show the following details to your doctor so that the letter includes the required information. If not, we might have to ask you to obtain a new letter from your doctor. The letter must be prepared on the official letterhead and signed by the doctor. The letter must contain: 
    • In your doctor’s medical opinion, it is advised that you take a reduced course load or not take any classes because of your current illness. 
    • Duration of time, including a beginning and end date (or indicate for the semester), that your doctor advises you reduce your course load or suspend your study due to medical reasons affecting you personally. 
    • If a reduction of your course load is advised, the doctor must specify whether he or she advises you to take ¾ load, ½ load, or ¼ load for medical reasons. 

Please note:

  • Limitations: Reduced Course Load for a medical condition can be granted for a period of time not to exceed a total of 12 months while the student is pursuing a course of study at a particular program level. 
  • Authorization for Each Semester: A DSO/ARO must authorize the drop below full time for each new semester. 

Completion of Study or Coursework

You qualify for this option only if one of the following applies to you: 

1. Final Semester of Coursework before Thesis/Dissertation

  • If this is your final semester of coursework before the start of your thesis or dissertation (only) status, an ISSS advisor could approve you to register for a course or courses left for completion. 
  • Thesis/Dissertation Registration: Once you have completed your coursework and begin working full-time on your thesis or dissertation, you are required to continue to register for master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation tuition (or registration) during each semester until you graduate. 

2. Completion of Course of Study

  • Reduced Course Load: A student may apply for Reduced Course Load in his/her final semester if fewer courses (i.e. less than full time) are needed to complete the course of study. 
    • If approved, he/she must complete his/her study at the end of the particular semester. 

Please note: Each option can be used for one semester only. 

How to Apply for RCL

1. The Reduced Course Load request form is available in iPenn. 

  1. Log in with your Pennkey 
  2. Look for “Reduced Course Load Request” under Student Services in the left menu.

NOTE: RCL may be requested for one semester at a time after registering for that particular semester. 

2. As part of your iPenn eform submission, scan and upload the following: 

Documentation for RCL: If requesting RCL based on academic difficulties, a letter from your academic advisor explaining the justification for the RCL due to the specified academic issue.

Additional Documentation for Course Sequencing: If the academic issue is for course sequencing, you will also need to upload a copy of your academic planning worksheet (or equivalent) to demonstrate your remaining degree requirements. 

Documentation for Medical RCL: If requesting RCL based on illness, letter from a licensed medical doctor (or doctor of osteopathy or licensed clinical psychologist) substantiating your illness. Please carefully follow the instructions listed above. 

3. You must consult the appropriate school advisor to apply for RCL. 

Refer to the eform in iPenn to determine which advisor to consult.  

Note: Your advisor may require you to meet in person. 

4. There is no need to come to ISSS in person as it will be handled electronically. 

Electronic Submission of RCL Request: Your RCL request will be electronically sent to your school advisor via email for review and recommendation.  

Forwarding RCL Request to ISSS Advisor: If your school advisor recommends your RCL request, it will be forwarded to an ISSS advisor for final approval. Without your school advisor’s recommendation, ISSS is unable to process this request.   

5. ISSS processing time is 3-5 business days from receipt of your school advisor’s review/recommendation. 

During peak/ high-volume period, processing may take longer.