how many course hours is considered a full course load?

by Prof. Kyra Stark II 4 min read

Full-time course load: A 12-credit hour load is the minimum required to be classified as a full-time student and may be necessary for students to receive financial aid benefits. Taking only 12 hours per semester would require additional classes (summer, for example) for students wishing to graduate in 4 years.

Full Answer

How many units are in a course load?

If there is a discrepancy with the course load calculator, go by the Academic Calendar. In most cases, one course = 3 units. Reminder: this tool only applies to undergraduate programs. Graduate programs don’t have course load percentages, you are either enrolled in a full-time grad program or a part-time grad program.

Is the average course load the same across two terms?

Although the averaged course load across the two terms is the same in all three examples, the full-time OSAP aid eligibility is different for each example. Consider this carefully when making course adds and drops. How do I calculate my course load?

What is 40% of a course load?

Example: enrolled in 3 units, 100% for one term is 15 units (15/2 = 7.5): 3/7.5 = .4 or 40% course load Am I part time or full time? If your course load is below 60% for your program, you are part-time. If your course load is above 60%, you are full time.

How do I know if my course load is full time?

If your course load is above 60%, you are full time. If you have a documented permanent disability, you are considered full time if your course load is above 40%. Permanent disability documentation needs to be provided to OSAP.

How many hours is a full course load?

12 hours is considered a full-time course load during a 16-week session of the fall or spring term. The maximum load—with permission of the Vice President for Academic Affairs—is 18 semester hours. 8 hours is considered the most you should attempt during each 8-week session of the fall or spring term.

What is a full load of classes?

If you're interested in finishing college in four years, one of the best ways to ensure a timely graduation is to take a full course load—meaning a minimum of 15 units per semester.

How many classes is a full load?

So, how many classes is full-time? Since a class typically requires at least three credits, for most students four classes per semester is what is considered a full-time student. Enrollment requirements to be considered a half-time student are typically at least six credits a semester.

What is an average course load?

So on average, you would expect to take five classes a semester. That's above the usual minimum, which is 12 hours, and below the maximum, which is normally 18. If you are wondering “how long are college classes?”, the answer is that each course varies, but typically one credit equals one hour per week.

What is a course load?

: the total of high school or college courses someone is taking I have a light/full course load this semester.

How do you calculate course load?

To find your course load percentage for each term:Divide the number of units you're enrolled in by the 100% course load for one term.Example: enrolled in 9 units, 100% is 15 units: 9/15 = . 6 or 60% course load.

What is considered full-time student?

Typically, undergraduates are considered full-time college students if they take at least 12 credits — about four classes — each semester. According to NCES, a majority of these students do not work. In 2018, about 43% of full-time undergraduates were employed.

How many credit hours do I need for fafsa?

Generally, students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 6-credit hours to be eligible for financial aid. But, to be eligible for the full financial aid amount, students usually need to be enrolled in 12-credit hours, or be considered full-time students.

Is 9 credit hours too much?

A typical college course is 3 credit hours, and a full-time college course load is generally 12 credit hours, though some students take up to 18 credit hours. Part-time study is generally 1 to 11 credit hours. Students are advised to study independently three hours a week for each credit hour.

How many hours is 1 credit hour?

Each credit hour corresponds to a minimum of 3 hours of student engagement per week for a traditional 14-week course or 6 hours per week for a 7-week course. This time may be spent on discussions, readings and lectures, study and research, and assignments. Most courses at AIC are three credit hours.

What is a full course load OSAP?

Your course load is the number of courses or credits you're taking. For OSAP , your course load is expressed as a percentage of a full course load. For example, if a full course load for your program is 5 courses and you're taking 3 courses, that's 60% of a full course load.

How many hours is full-time student in Canada?

A part-time student is registered for fewer than 9 credit hours per term. A full-time student is registered for 9 to 15 credit hours per term. You must take a certain number of courses to maintain your eligibility for student loans and some bursaries and scholarships.

How many credit hours can you take in a semester?

Course Overload Limitations. Taking more than 15 undergraduate credit hours or 12 graduate-level credit hours at the same time in a 16-week semester is considered a course overload. To do this, you must obtain permission from the Registrar's office and meet these requirements:

How many credit hours are required for a 16 week semester?

6 credit hours per 16-week semester is considered full time. During an average week, expect to spend 10 to 15 hours completing coursework for each 16-week course, or 18 to 22 hours per week for each 8-week course. It is recommended that new graduate students begin with just one course at a time.

How many hours of college is full time?

Note that full time is still defined as 9 hours, even if registration for more than 9 hour is required, or less than 9 hours is allowed. Students who can devote full attention to their studies usually enroll for 12 to 16 credit hours each term. In exceptional cases, the advisor and director of graduate studies may permit a student to enroll ...

How many hours of registration for a graduate student?

For graduate students, 9 hours (5 hours in Summer) registration is considered full time for student loans. Half-Time is 5 hours (3 hours in Summer). Consult with the Office of Financial Aid is you have any questions.

How many hours of summer registration for assistants?

Must register for at least 8 hours of credit each semester, excluding summer. While summer enrollment is optional, assistants who wish to use their summer tuition and service fee waivers must register for at least 3 hours during that term. Some graduate programs may require registration for more than 8 hours per term and/or summer registration. There are no tuition and service-fee waiver benefits for students employed with less than 25% or more than 67% appointment. Assistants who qualify for a Spring tuition and service fee waiver automatically receive a summer waiver if registered in at least 3 hours in summer and do not have an assistantship appointment in the summer. If an assistant has a summer appointment a waiver is granted for registration in at least 3 hours with apointments of 25% - 67%. See Assistantships for more information.

How many hours are required to register for graduate school?

Course Loads and Full, Three-Quarter, and Half-Time. Full time for graduate students is defined as registration in 9 hours in Fall and Spring Semesters (5 hours in Summer, although registration for Summer is optional in most situations). Students are required to register for more than 9 hours (5 in Summer) for a number of reasons, such as, ...

How many hours do you need to register for CTA U-Pass?

Graduate students registered for 9 hours (5 hours in Summer) are assessed for and are eligible to receive the CTA U-Pass . Note: Holding an assistantship with registration for 8 hours (3 hours in summer) is not considered full-time and will not qualify to obtain a U-Pass.

Is tuition based on full time or part time?

Tuition range scales are not based on full time or part time, but the total number of hours for which the student is registered for. See the Office of Records and Registration website for complete information.

Full-Time Load Definition

The Graduate Division considers students in all of the following cases to be full-time:

Overload Policy

Students may exceed maximum course limits only with approval from the Graduate Division. Graduate assistants who wish to enroll in more than nine credits in any semester must file a Graduate Assistant Petition to Enroll in More than Nine Credits with the Office of Graduate Student Services.

Why is it important to enter correct course load on OSAP application?

It is important to enter your correct course load on your OSAP application as your tuition, compulsory and book costs in the OSAP assessment are calculated based on the course load. Incorrect course load information will delay your funds.

How many credits are in a Y term?

Registered credits for full-year (Y term) courses are split evenly in the fall and winter terms. For example, if you are registered in one Y term course worth six credits, then assign three credits to your fall term course load and three credits to your winter term course load. Your tuition, compulsory fees, and book costs in ...

Breakdown

Based on your search selections, your course load is broken down above. This represents the number of units that make up a 100% course load (for both the full year and for one term ), and a 60% and 40% course load for one term.

Students with a disability

If you have a documented permanent disability, you are considered full time if your course load is above 40%. Permanent disability documentation needs to be provided to OSAP.

image

Full, three-quarter, and Half-Time

  • These designations are often used for requirements for United Stated federal student loans, work-study, veteran's scholarships, and official University reporting statistics. Read the information presented above carefully, since there are various reasons that more than the minimum full-time registration level may be required. This became effective Fall 2006 Semester for all graduate stu…
See more on grad.uic.edu

U-Pass

  • Graduate students registered for 9 hours (5 hours in Summer) are assessed for and are eligible to receive the CTA U-Pass. Note: Holding an assistantship with registration for 8 hours (3 hours in summer) is not considered full-time and will not qualify to obtain a U-Pass.
See more on grad.uic.edu

Student Loans

  • For graduate students, 9 hours (5 hours in Summer) registration is considered full time for student loans. Half-Time is 5 hours (3 hours in Summer). Consult with the Office of Financial Aidis you have any questions. Note: Students who have been approved, via a petition approved by the degree program and the Graduate College, for 0 hours registratio...
See more on grad.uic.edu

Tuition Ranges

  • Tuition range scales are not based on full time or part time, but the total number of hours for which the student is registered for. See the Office of Records and Registration websitefor complete information.
See more on grad.uic.edu

Fellowship Holders

  • Must register for at least 12 hours of credit per semester of award (6 in summer). Holders of 12 month fellowships must register in Summer.
See more on grad.uic.edu

Assistantship Holders

  • Must register for at least 8 hours of credit each semester, excluding summer. While summer enrollment is optional, assistants who wish to use their summer tuition and service fee waivers must register for at least 3 hours during that term. Some graduate programs may require registration for more than 8 hours per term and/or summer registration. There are no tuition an…
See more on grad.uic.edu

International Students

  • For purposes of enrollment certification for immigration purposes, the Graduate College considers international students to be pursuing a minimum full-time program of study if they: (1) enroll for 9 or more hours of credit or (2) hold an assistantship appointment (teaching (TA), research (RA), or graduate (GA) for one-half time (50%) and enroll for at least 8 hours of credit e…
See more on grad.uic.edu