Attendance
Full-Time, Half-Time Student Enrollment Status for Loan Deferment, Medical Insurance, etc.
Certification of full, half or less than half-time enrollment status for loan deferment, medical insurance, etc. is based on hours of enrollment in a term (Fall, Spring, Summer). Listed below are the requirements that constitute full-time student status for official enrollment certification purposes by the Office of the Registrar and for financial assistance.
Full time enrollment as defined below, is often required in order for students to be covered for health/medical insurance or to defer repayment of student loans. For example, a dependent student may be covered under their parent's medical insurance plan as long as that student remains enrolled as a full time student. If that student were to drop below full time status, they may not be covered. This should be considered when dropping from full time to half/part time status.
- Full time undergraduate student status is at least 12 credit hours for each fall, spring, and summer semester. Half time undergraduate student status is at least 6 credit hours for each fall, spring, and summer semester.
- Full time graduate and professional student status is at least 8 credit hours for each fall, spring, and summer semester. Half time graduate and professional student status is at least 4 credit hours for each fall, spring, and summer semester.
- Full time graduate student status is at least 6 credit hours for quarter-calendar terms. Half time graduate student status is at least 3 credit hours for quarter-calendar terms.
For certain graduate students, typically those doing dissertation work, the number of credits to be considered full-time may be lower. The Office of the Registrar is responsible for determining standards for full and half time enrollment and if an exception to those standards may be made. Questions regarding exceptions for academic purposes should be directed to the Office of the Registrar. Questions regarding exceptions for financial aid purposes should be directed to the Office of Student Financial Services.
* For Undergraduates, 12 is full-time but 15 is ON TIME!
Note that full time enrollment for official certification and financial aid purposes noted above is different than full time enrollment for purposes of completing an undergraduate degree in four years (eight semesters). A student who is working on an undergraduate degree that requires at least 120 credit hours for completion of requirements should expect to complete 15 or 16 credit (unit) hours during regular semesters in order to complete degree requirements in eight semesters. See your adviser for more specific information regarding academic full-time credit (unit) hour recommendations for your program.
Enrollment Requirements for International Students
To maintain a legal F-1 student visa status in the U.S., a student must be enrolled full-time each fall and spring semester. Summer enrollment is not required unless a student begins their program of study at IU Indianapolis in the summer.
- Undergraduates must enroll in at least 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester
- Graduate students must enroll in at least 8 credit hours each fall and spring semester.
For all questions about enrollment requirements related to a student visa status, contact the Office of International Affairs, 902 W. New York Street, ES 2126, Indianapolis, IN 46202, via e-mail at oia@iu.edu, by phone at 317-274-7000, or online here.
Full-Time Student Status for Veterans Administration Certification Purposes
- Full time undergraduate student status for VA certification purposes is at least 12 credit hours for each fall and spring semester.
- Full time graduate student status for VA certification purposes is at least 8 credit hours for each fall and spring semester.
For full-time status purposes, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs considers twelve-, ten-, eight-, six-, and four-week classes, as well as other non-standard duration courses, differently than the university. For further information about this as well as part-time certification requirements, please contact the Office of Veterans and Military Personnel at 420 University Blvd, CE 268, Indianapolis, IN 46202, via e-mail at gibenefi@iupui.edu, by phone at 317-278-9163, or online here.
