Enrollment Requirements
Summer-Only Students
If you are an international student coming to the U.S. for summer only, and you received an I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) from UC Berkeley, it is important to remember that you are required to maintain full-time course enrollment for the entire summer session period noted on your I-20 or DS-2019. Dropping below full-time or withdrawal without approval from Berkeley International Office may result in a violation of your immigration status.
Approval from Berkeley International Office is required before dropping below full-time.
Take careful note of the dates indicated on your I-20 or DS-2019. If for some reason you decide not to attend classes on those dates, contact Summer Session immediately (such schedule changes are best done before your arrival in the U.S. so we can send you the proper documentation). Changing sessions after your I-20 or DS-2019 has been issued is not allowed.
Other policies and procedures for making schedule changes can be found on the Summer Sessions web site.
F-1 or J-1 "Visiting" Students
If you are an F-1 or J-1 student at another U.S. institution attending Berkeley Summer Sessions during your semester break and you are planning to return to your previous school in the Fall, you are not required to carry a full-time course load to maintain legal status in the U.S. However, make sure that your I-20 or DS-2019 is valid and will not expire before or during your classes at UC Berkeley. Talk to the International Student Adviser at the school or agency that issued your I-20 or DS-2019 to make sure you follow correct procedures to attend a different school during your semester breaks.
Fall Admits to UC Berkeley Starting in Summer
If you have been admitted to begin a degree program at UC Berkeley in the Fall term, but you will begin your program early by enrolling in summer, you will most likely receive an I-20 or DS-2019 with a starting date for the summer session you have selected. In this case, you will be required to maintain your full-time enrollment through the summer period.
However, if you are a transfer student beginning early, full-time enrollment is not required if your I-20 or DS-2019 start date is for the Fall.
UC Berkeley Degree-Seeking Students
Students continuing a degree program at UC Berkekey who were registered in the Spring term and plan to register again in the Fall are not required to take full-time classes during their summer vacation period.
