ENROLLING BELOW 12 UNITS: REDUCED COURSE LOAD (RCL)

FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS:

• ACADEMIC TERMS: F-1 and J-1 students are required to enroll full-time in at least 12 units in each academic term - Fall, Winter and Spring quarters.
• SUMMER TERM: Full-time enrollment is not required for continuing students with an active SEVIS record in the Summer term, since Summer is considered a vacation term. However, you must enroll full-time in the Summer, if it's your first term at UC San Diego (your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 has a program start date corresponding to a Summer term). Full-time enrollment requirements for the Summer term is defined as: 
  
  
  • Summer 1 Program Start Date

    • Summer Session 1 (6 units minimum) and Summer Session 2 (6 units minimum) OR

    • Summer Session 3 (6 units minimum)

  • Summer 2 Program Start Date

    • Summer Session 2 (6 units minimum) OR

    • Summer Session 3 (6 units minimum) 

EXCEPTIONS TO FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS:

Listed below are the exceptions to the full-time enrollment requirement:

• All  F-1 or J-1 students that have an active record are required to submit the Reduced Course Load request prior to dropping below 12 units. Students who have only enrolled from abroad without an Active SEVIS Record are not required to seek approval. 
• You may enroll below 12 units due to academic, or medical or final quarter reasons, if you request and receive approval for Reduced Course Load (RCL) authorization from ISPO. Click on the RCL options below to learn more.