Part-Time Students

With the approval of your department's director of graduate study and the Graduate School, it is possible to study for any degree on a part-time basis. Enrollment in fewer than four courses per semester does not in itself make a student part-time. Without a formal change to part-time status, the student will be billed for four courses even if he or she is enrolled in fewer.

Three courses per semester is considered full-time enrollment and normally incurs a bill for full tuition. Students whose financial aid covers tuition for only three courses are considered full-time.

Half-time (two courses per semester) is usually enough to maintain eligibility for student loan deferrals, but students should check the fine print of their specific loan agreements before requesting part-time status.