Graduate Student Exception

Thesis or Dissertation (700/800 courses)

This exception is for graduate students who have completed all formal coursework and are enrolled in a thesis or dissertation course. The academic expectations of completing thesis work can be the same as a student enrolled in 10 regular course credits. In other words, the student might still be considered to be enrolled full-time by the school despite being enrolled in fewer than 10 thesis credits.

How to use:

Students must submit the graduate student exception request on the international student portal every quarter they’re using it. The request asks for an academic advisor’s name and email address as an “approver” to verify enrollment in a thesis or dissertation.

Who is eligible for the Graduate Student Exception:

• F-1 graduate students, physically present in the US, who have completed all formal coursework and are enrolled in a 700/800 level thesis or dissertation.
• F-1 graduate students, physically present in the US, who have completed all formal coursework and are grandfathered into the exception for CSS-595 (Master’s Project).

Is this different from a Reduced Course Load (RCL):

Yes, this is different. An RCL is telling the US government that the student is no longer enrolled full-time due to illness or their final quarter. This exception is saying that the student is maintaining full-time enrollment.