What is a Reduced Course Load?
Reduced Course Load (RCL) authorization allows F-1 students to drop below full-time enrollment without losing their student status. Your RCL must be approved before you can drop below a full-time credits.
Possible Conditions for RCL
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Illness or Medical Condition
- Up to 12 months with medical documentation. Only the following U.S. medical professionals can recommend you for a medical reduced course load:
- licensed U.S. medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist.
- A licensed clinical psychologist is a mental health clinician with a doctoral level degree in psychology who holds a license to practice psychology in the state of Wisconsin (or the state in which they are authorized to practice).
Your medical professional must provide you with a letter, on letterhead, to substantiate illness or medical condition and recommendation to reduce your course load. For medical professional: Template for Medical Reduced Course Load Letter of recommendation
Academic Difficulties
- For initial academic struggles in the first semester of your degree program:
- Initial difficulty with the English language
- Initial difficulty with reading requirements
- Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods
- For initial academic struggles in the first year of your degree program:
- Improper course level placement
Final Term
If the student can complete their program with fewer courses. If summer term is your final semester, you must be enrolled full-time or have an RCL approved.
Coursework Completed
- This option is only available for PhD and Master’s students.
- You must have completed all coursework and have only your thesis/comprehensive examination (Master’s) or preliminary examination (PhD).
- At a minimum, you must enroll in 2 graduate level (300+) credits. Check with your academic department and the Graduate School Academic Policy on enrollment requirements.
- PhD students whose dissertator status is still pending at the start of the semester should apply for this authorization.
Special Student Relief (SSR)
For students with approved SSR employment.
Having an approved Reduced Course Load does not change the required in-person course requirement.
| RCL Reason | Limit | Minimum Enrollment | Maximum Duration | Request Deadline |
Academic Difficulty:
|
1 time during first semester
|
6 credits (undergraduate)
4 credits (graduate)
|
1 term | Before the end of exams in the semester you are requesting an RCL |
| Medical Condition | 3 times in a degree level | Part-time or 0 | 12 months per program level | Before the end of exams in the semester you are requesting an RCL |
| Final Term | 1 time | 1 required course | 1 term | Before the start of classes in the semester you are requesting an RCL |
| Coursework completed | Unlimited | 2 credits | 1 term | Before the start of classes in the semester you are requesting an RCL |
| SSR | SSR-specific | SSR-specified load | SSR-defined | Before the end of exams in the semester you are requesting an RCL |
Note: If students have McBurney credit load exception, they still must submit RCL with ISS to keep their F-1 status active.
How to Apply
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Step 1: Prepare for ISS application
Discuss your reasons for wishing to reduce your course load. If you are eligible and your academic/faculty advisor or medical professional supports your request, you can move to step two.
Note: If you choose Medical Reason, verification from your academic adviser is not required. Instead, complete the RCL form and attach a supporting letter from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist. If the letter is acceptable, ISS will approve your request.
Step 2: Submit RCL request in Terra Dotta
- F-1 Reduced Course Load requests:
- J-1 Reduced Course Load Requests:
Step 3: Decision by ISS
- Most students will receive 2 emails for confirmation. The first will notify you that your new I-20/DS-2019 is available. After you receive the 2nd email you can drop your course at a reduced level.
- You are responsible for dropping your course within a timely manner and for following the Registrar’s dates and deadlines.
- Exceptions:
- Medical course load to 0 credits.
- If your medical professional recommends you to enroll in 0 credit hours, you must complete the Registrar’s Office Withdrawal Form.
- Summer RCL
- You will only receive one email for your new I-20/DS-2019 and when you can drop your courses.
- Medical course load to 0 credits.
Graduate students with on-campus appointments
Your full-time enrollment requirement may already be adjusted depending on your appointment. Policies vary by academic department. Please see your appointment offer letter and verify Graduate School Enrollment Requirements. You are responsible for fulfilling any other enrollment obligations you may have. Also, see the Add/Drop policy from the Graduate School.
Academic Policy
Familiarize yourself with your academic program policies, which may require that you submit other documentation to reduce your course load. Check the guide for your program details. Be advised that the institutional policy may permit certain exceptions, but approval from ISS and your school/college is required.
Deadlines
You are responsible for following ISS and Registrar dates and deadlines, as well as any deadlines within your school, college, and academic department.
Failure to submit your RCL by the deadline could result in jeopardy of your status.
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Final Semester and Coursework Completed
You must submit your Final Semester RCL request by the start date of your final semester. You are responsible for following the Registrar’s dates and deadlines, as well as any deadlines within your school, college, and academic department.
Dissertator Students
If your dissertator status has been approved by the Graduate School, but the Office of the Registrar has not processed it by the start of the semester, please submit the RCL form for Coursework Completed and follow enrollment requirements for your dissertator status.
Academic Difficulty
ISS must receive your documentation before the last day of exams for the semester in which you are applying.
During the add/drop period, work with your academic advisor to determine a course that is a better fit for you.
You are responsible for following ISS and Registrar dates and deadlines, as well as any deadlines within your school, college, and academic department. After the official drop date, you must get approval from your academic dean (not your academic advisor). Reduced course load authorization by ISS does not guarantee academic dean approval.
Medical
Submit the completed application as soon as possible. ISS must receive your documentation before the last day of exams for the semester in which you are applying.