Visiting Summer Session Students
For full-time enrollment requirements for visiting international students only, visit the Summer Sessions Summer Enrollment Requirements web page.
Continuing Students
If you are already a degree-seeking international student at UC Berkeley with F-1 or J-1 student status, and you will be continuing your studies in the upcoming Fall semester, summer is considered your "annual vacation," and summer enrollment is therefore not required. If you choose to enroll in the summer, you can take as many or as few summer classes as you would like. Full-time enrollment requirements and online course limitations do not apply during the "annual vacation."
Transfer Students
If you are a Transfer student beginning early, full-time enrollment in summer may not be required if your I-20 or DS-2019 start date is for the Fall. For more information, please see our Transfer Students page.
Starting Your I-20/DS-2019 in Summer
If you have decided to start your classes at UC Berkeley (or are returning to UC Berkeley) in the summer and have requested an I-20 or DS-2019 that starts in summer, you must:
- Enroll full-time for 12 units OR
- Exceptional Graduate Programs- enroll in units according to the "graduate unit exceptions per department" chart
Online coursework: F/J students can count only 1 course or 3 units of on-line coursework towards the full time requirement. If the full time requirement for a session can be satisfied with 3 units or 1 course, the full time requirement cannot be satisfied with online coursework alone.
Dropping below full-time, enrollment, excess online enrollment, or withdrawing without approval from Berkeley International Office may result in a violation of your immigration status.
Contact a Berkeley International Office adviser if you face unexpected, extreme circumstances and are considering dropping below full-time only after you arrive. I-20s will not be issued to students enrolled less than full-time. Waitlisted courses do not count toward full-time enrollment.
Ending Your I-20/DS-2019 in Summer
If you are ending your program of study at UC Berkeley in the summer, then summer is a required term of enrollment, NOT an "annual vacation." You must therefore either:
- Enroll full-time for 12 units OR
- Exceptional Graduate Programs- enroll in units according to the "graduate unit exceptions per department" chart OR
- Request a BIO Final Term Reduced Course Load authorization.
Online coursework: International students can count only 1 course or 3 units of on-line coursework towards the full time requirement. If the full time requirement for a session can be satisfied with 3 units or 1 course, the full time requirement cannot be satisfied with online coursework alone.
Be sure to check the program end date on your I-20 or DS-2019. If it needs to be adjusted to reflect your plan to complete in summer, please refer to the program extension page or contact BIO to shorten your I-20 if you are graduating early in summer.
How many units is full-time enrollment in summer?
As of Summer 2027 full-time enrollment for Summer is 12 units, with some exceptions for special graduate programs. See BIO's Full-time Enrollment page.
Prior to Summer 2027 full-time enrollment in Summer was determined by the chart below, which is listed for historical purposes.
Summer Sessions Full-Time Enrollment Requirements Prior to Summer 2027
| Session(s) | Dates | Full-time Units Minimum |
|
12w |
May 26 - August 14 | 10 |
| A only | May 26 - July 2 | 5 |
| A + B, C, and/or D | May 26 - August 14 | 10 |
|
A + F + E |
May 26 - August 14 | 10 |
| A + F | May 26 - July 24 | 8 |
| A + E | May 26 - August 1 | 8 |
| B only, or B + any later session | June 8 - August 14 | 8 |
| C only, or C + any later session | June 22 - August 14 | 6 |
| D only, or D + E and/or F | July 6 - August 14 | 5 |
| F + E | July 6 - August 14 | 5 |
| F only | July 6 - July 24 | 3 |
| E only | July 27 - August 14 | 3 |