Program Requirements

Enrollment

As an F-1 student, you are required to be enrolled full time each fall and spring term.

Fall/Spring Minimum Enrollment Requirements

  • Undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours
  • Graduate students without a 50% (20 hours per week) graduate assistantship must be enrolled in a minimum of 9 credit hours
  • Graduate students with a 50% (20 hours per week) graduate assistantship must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours

Only online course up to three credit hours can count towards the minimum enrollment requirements.

Summer Minimum Enrollment Requirements

  • Immigration does not require summer term enrollment unless the first academic term begins in summer. Also, graduate assistants may be required to be enrolled during the summer if enrollment is a requirement of the assistantship by the Graduate School.

Reduced Enrollment

There are certain cases where you can be approved to be enrolled less than full time.   A Reduced Enrollment Form found at isslink.uark.edu must be submitted for approval to ISS before the drop/add deadline in order to participate in Reduced Enrollment. The following scenarios may qualify for Reduced Enrollment:

  • Medical condition prohibiting you from participating in a full course of study (requires approval from a Medical Doctor (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), or Licensed Clinical Psychologist (L.C.P.))
  • Students in their final semester and need fewer than the minimum requirements to graduate
  • Graduate students who have completed all coursework requirements and only have thesis, dissertation or equivalent remaining to complete the degree requirements
  • Concurrent enrollment at another university (must provide proof of enrollment)
  • Difficulties with the English language or American teaching methods during the first semester

Academic Suspension

A student on limited enrollment due to university academic suspension must still maintain full-time enrollment by immigration regulations. Students on academic suspension are encouraged to meet with an ISS advisor to discuss their options to maintain status. Options include adding concurrent enrollment credit from another SEVP approved institution or transferring to another SEVP institution. Enrollment in the University of Arkansas Global Campus for additional hours is no longer approved. Failure to maintain full-time enrollment may result in a loss of status.