Part-Time Enrollment

F-1 students are required to be registered full time each fall and spring semester to maintain their students. The only exception to this rule is if the student is eligible for a “reduced course load” as outlined by DHS regulations. 

F-1 students must obtain approval for a reduced course load before actually dropping below the minimum credit hour requirement outlined by the Department of Homeland Security. 

Requesting Part-time Enrollment

In order to drop below the required number of credits for your degree, students must submit a “Request for Less Than Full Time Enrollment” through the International Student Portal. They must also meet one of the criteria below and be approved, through the request, by their faculty major advisor. 

Before any student drops a course that would take them to part-time student status, they should reach out to International Student Affairs to consult on the reasons for the request and the potential consequences. 

Completion of the Course of Study in the Current Term

Students in their final semester of study who need fewer than the required 3 credits to complete the degree are eligible to submit a “Request for Less Than Full Time Enrollment” through the International Student Portal. 

• You may use this exception only once per degree level

• You must be registered for at least one on-campus at DePauw, e.g. no independent study (unless confirmed in person) or remote courses

Academic Difficulty

Only available for students in their first semester of study, students can request a reduced course load for one of the following reasons: 

• Academic difficulty due to improper course-level placement

• Initial difficulty with reading requirements 

• Academic difficulty due to lack of familiarity with U.S.Teaching methods

Students who pursue this option must still be registered half of those credits required for a full course of study, or 2 credits. In the following semester, they must register for a full course of study. 

Medical Challenges

Students who are experiencing illness or challenges related to a medical condition (including mental health) affecting their ability to study full-time should reach out to International Student Affairs, their faculty advisor, and the Care Team, as well as DePauw Health and Counseling Center staff, as appropriate. 

 You will need to submit a copy of a doctor’s letter recommending a reduction in your course load for medical reasons. The doctor may be a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist. 

Reduced course load for medical reasons cannot exceed 12 months aggregate per program level.