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OISSS >
For International Students > F-1
> Full Course of Study
F-1
Full Course of Study
International
students must be enrolled full-time during the fall and spring semesters
of each academic year at UNC-Chapel Hill . This is a United States Immigration requirement
for anyone on an F-1 student visa. Twelve (12) credit hours for undergraduate
students and nine (9) credit hours for graduate students constitute full-time
enrollment at UNC-Chapel Hill .
- Undergraduate
students who are in their final semester of study may take less than
12 credit hours, if the lesser course credits are all they need in order
to graduate at the end of that semester.
- International
graduate students must be enrolled during fall and spring semesters
even when doing thesis or dissertation research. Graduate students who
have completed their coursework are considered full-time if they register
for 392 (master's paper), 393 (master's thesis) or 394 (doctoral dissertation)
for a minimum of 3 credit hours until they graduate. Registration in
392, 393, or 394 alone or in combination with other courses constitutes
full-time enrollment. Graduate students are required to enroll for 392,
393, or 394 after completion of coursework, including semesters when
they are on Optional Practical Training prior to completion of studies,
in order to maintain their visa status.
- International
students are not required by United States immigration law to be registered
during the summer.
- Students
who plan to take a leave of absence from the University or to be outside
the United States for more than 5 months should consult with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services as to how these plans will affect their current and future immigration
status.
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