Full-time Enrollment for Summer

Do international students have to be full-time in summer?

Full-time enrollment is required for international students with an I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) with a summer start date. It must be maintained during the entire period noted on the I-20 or DS-2019.

More details: Summer Enrollment Requirements.

Contact a Berkeley International Office adviser (biosummer@berkeley.edu) if you if you wish to enroll in Summer Sessions as a J-1 student or if you face unexpected, extreme circumstances and are considering dropping below full-time only after you arrive. I-20's will not be issued to students enrolled less than full-time. Waitlisted classes do not count toward full-time enrollment.

Can international students take online courses?

F-1/J-1 students are limited in the number of online courses they may take.

  • 3 online units maximum toward full-time enrollment for Session A, B, C, or D only.
  • 3 online units maximum toward full-time enrollment for any combination of Sessions A, B, C, D, and E.
  • No (0) online units toward full-time enrollment for Session E only.

How many units is full-time enrollment in summer?

You must enroll full-time based on your first session/I-20 start date.
Students may enroll in more than one session.

My start date of instruction at 
UC Berkeley is Summer Session:
 Full-time 
Units Minimum		 I-20 Start Date
 I-20 End Date
A Only 5 5/28/2019 7/5/2019
A, plus B, C, or D 10 5/28/2019 8/16/2019
A, plus E 8 5/28/2019 8/16/2019
B 8 6/10/2019 8/16/2019
C 6 6/24/2019 8/16/2019
D 5 7/8/2019 8/16/2019
E Only 3 7/29/2019 8/16/2019

Examples:

I am enrolled in Session A only. 
My I-20 dates are 5/28/2019 - 7/5/2019.		 My full-time enrollment is 5 units.
I am enrolled in Session A and Session D. 
My I-20 dates are 5/28/2019 - 8/16/2019.		 My full-time enrollment is 10 units.
I am enrolled in Session C only. 
My I-20 dates are 6/24/2019 - 8/16/2019.		 My full-time enrollment is 6 units.
I am enrolled in Sessions C, D, and E. 
My I-20 dates are 6/24/2019 - 8/16/2019.		 My full-time enrollment is 6 units.

Students with I-20/DS-2019 from Other U.S. School
(Not Transfers)

Are you an F-1/J-1 student from another US school who is attending Berkeley Summer Sessions during your break?

Are you enrolled and will return to your previous (or another US) school in the fall? 
If yes, you may NOT need an I-20/DS-2019 from UC Berkeley, nor do you need full-time enrollment. Make sure that your current I-20/DS-2019 is valid and will not expire before/during classes at UC Berkeley. Talk to your school's International Advisor for details.