J-1 students are required to maintain full-time enrollment and make normal academic progress toward completion of their degree or exchange program.
- Undergraduate Students: minimum of 12 units per academic quarter.
- Graduate Students : minimum of 8-12 units per academic quarter (please check with your department for full-time course load unit requirements).
Failure to maintain full-time enrollment during your program will result in severe consequences for your J-1 status.
Online Courses: J-1 students can only count one course of online coursework toward the full-time enrollment requirement.
Summer Quarter: Summer quarter enrollment is only required for students claiming summer as their final quarter. Continuing students are not required to be enrolled in courses during the summer quarter.
Filing Fee
Filing Fee alone is not sufficient to maintain J-1 student status during academic terms or summers. Students completing their degree in fall, winter, spring, or during the summer must be enrolled to satisfy the final quarter registration requirement.
Reduced Course Load (RCL)
J-1 students may be authorized by the Dashew Center to drop below full-time enrollment for the following circumstances:
- Academic Difficulty: student has difficulty with a course due to improper course placement, initial difficulty with reading requirements, or unfamiliarity with UCLA teaching methods (this reason can only be used once during the program and students must maintain at least 50% of full-time enrollment).
- Illness/Medical Condition: student has a medical condition (medical doctor's recommendation letter required).
- Final Quarter at UCLA (option not available for exchange students): student has less units remaining to complete their program than is required to maintain full-time enrollment. Students must be enrolled in at least one degree required course during their final quarter.
To request authorization for a Reduced Course Load (RCL):
- Step 1: Complete theRCL Request Form
Complete the top portion of the RCL Request form and have your Academic Counselor complete the bottom portion of the form, confirming the reason for your RCL request. EAP Exchange students must obtain a signature from their UCEAP advisor at the International Education Office (IEO). Signature from advisor is not required for a Medical RCL. - Step 2: Obtain a Recommendation Letter from a Medical Doctor, Ashe Student Health Center, or UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)(for Medical RCL Requests only)
Obtain a support letter from a U.S. medical doctor recommending you to drop below full-time enrollment or drop all enrollment for a specific academic term due to a medical condition. - Step 3: Submit the RCL Request through theMyBruin International Portal
A J-1 Counselor will review your request and confirm your RCL authorization by email if your request has been approved.
J-1 students are not allowed to drop below full-time enrollment without receiving prior authorization for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) from the Dashew Center.