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International Students and Scholars

Reduced Course Load

Quick Links

Reduced Course Load (RCL) Overview
Instructions for proceeding with RCL
Students who are on Scholarships
RCL Due to Medical Condition

Reduced Course Load (RCL) Overview

Although full-time enrollment is required every fall and spring semester, the following are exceptions approved by the Department of Homeland Security to deviate from full-time enrollment.

  • It is your last semester before you graduate and you have less than 12 (UG) or 9 (GR) credits left to finish your degree. If a student needs only one course to finish the program of study, it cannot be online. Per F-1 regulations, physical presence is required in order to maintain F-1 status.
  • It is your first semester in the U.S., and you are experiencing difficulties with U.S teaching methods or reading requirements.
  • You have a medical condition preventing you from being a full-time student (medical note is required).
  • You are a graduate student and your program offers special curriculum, which provide full-time equivalency (FTE)
  • You are working on your thesis or dissertation

If you have any other reason, please speak to an ISS International Student Advisor (ISA).

Instructions for proceeding with RCL

  • Discuss your part-time enrollment with your academic advisor
  • Log in to ISS Connect. Go to the Requests tab and select Request Authorization for Reduced Course Load (RCL). Complete all requirements in the request, and click "Submit".
  • An International Student Advisor will review your request for RCL and, if it warrants an approval, will change the status to "In Review". "In Review" means that your RCL has been approved by ISS and no other action is needed on your end in regards to the RCL.
  • RCLs are processed in SEVIS during the SEVIS registration cycle, which occurs during the first 30 days of the semester. Once your RCL is processed though SEVIS, which will allow you to maintain your F-1 status although under-enrolled, your RCL request will show as "Completed" in ISS Connect.

Students who are on Scholarships

  • If you are eligible for Financial Aid and require proof of an approved RCL, Financial Aid receives a report of all RCLs approved by ISS and in "In Review" status.
  • Prorated scholarship is not going to automatically appear on your bill. You need to submit your request to have the scholarship prorated with the Financial Aid Office. Once that is submitted, the scholarship will be prorated and disbursed. As soon as you see your Request Authorization for Reduced Course Load (RCL) request in "In Review" status, you can submit your Financial Aid Change Request Form (Electronic). On the form, select the following:
    • Financial aid prorate request due to graduation
    • I am an international student and need my scholarship prorated to reflect my reduced course load for my final semester at Pace University. Please note, the attachment is not required. Skip the "Attach File" box, as your proof of approved RCL will be evidenced by the report sent to Financial Aid.

RCL Due to Medical Condition

If your request to be a part-time student is because of a medical condition, do not submit an RCL request in ISS Connect. Instead, you must contact Mira Krasnov, ISS Director at mkrasnov@pace.edu or Melba Benitez, ISS Assistant Director at mbenitez@pace.edu. For medical RCL, a note from a licensed medical doctor or licensed clinical psychologist is required. The note must state that reduced course load (or zero course load) is recommended for you for a given semester due to a temporary illness or medical condition. Only twelve months of medical leave is allowed, and we can only authorize this type of RCL for one semester at a time.