{"id":32,"date":"2017-05-10T00:52:11","date_gmt":"2017-05-10T10:52:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/issmanoa\/pages\/iss\/test\/wordpress\/?page_id=32"},"modified":"2025-03-27T11:27:07","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T21:27:07","slug":"enrollment-requirements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/issmanoa\/?page_id=32","title":{"rendered":"Enrollment Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you have questions regarding the requirements or are in a special situation please make an <\/span>appointment<\/span><\/a> to speak with an ISS advisor.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Full-Time Enrollment<\/h2>\n

International students in F-1 or J-1 non-immigrant status must be enrolled full-time each semester (fall and spring) in order to maintain valid student visa status. Students required to take English Language Institute (ELI) courses are allowed to count each ELI course as 3 credit hours toward meeting their full-time course load requirement.<\/p>\n

NOTE: At the end of semester, ELI courses will be listed with 0 credits, per University policy. However, even though ELI courses do not count toward a degree, ELI coursework does fulfill graduation requirements.<\/p>\n

Minimum credit hours for full-time enrollment:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Level of Study<\/th>\nMinimum full-time enrollment requirement each semester<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Undergraduate<\/td>\n12 credit hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Graduate<\/td>\n8 credit hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Graduate w\/ Graduate Assistantship*<\/td>\n6 credit hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Graduate in thesis\/dissertation stage<\/td>\n1 credit hour of 700F<\/b>, 800, or LSJD<\/b> 500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Graduate in PSY major, needing PSY778<\/td>\n1 credit hour of PSY 778<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

*Graduate w\/ Graduate Assistantship is defined as a student who has been awarded a Teaching or Research Assistantship with Tuition Waiver.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reduced Course Load (Part-Time Enrollment)<\/h2>\n

Under certain circumstances, international students may receive authorization from the ISS to enroll for less than full-time while maintaining their international student status. RCL request forms are available on the Forms page<\/a>. Requests must be submitted to and approved by ISS BEFORE a student drops below full-time.<\/p>\n

Please note:\u00a0<\/strong>Students who are sponsored, on exchange, on scholarship or on government study loan may have additional expectations or requirements. It is the student's responsibility to check with their sponsor, home university institution, scholarship or loan provider to identify if they have the minimum credit requirements to maintain their status in these programs. Students should also consider potential issues with reduced course load, such as eligibility to work on campus, living at the dorm or receiving other benefits such as health insurance coverage. Please check with the appropriate offices.<\/p>\n

The allowable reasons include:<\/p>\n