Full-time Enrollment for Summer Degree-Seeking Students
If you are already a degree-seeking international student at UC Merced with F-1 or J-1 student status, and you will be continuing your studies in the upcoming Fall semester, summer is considered your "annual vacation" and summer enrollment is therefore not required. If you choose to enroll in the summer, you can take as many or as few summer classes as you would like. Full-time enrollment requirements and online course limitations do not apply during the "annual vacation."
Continuing Degree-Seeking Students
If you are ending your program of study at UC Merced in the summer, then summer is a required term of enrollment, NOT an "annual vacation." You must therefore enroll full-time or if in less than full-time units (at least 1 unit) request a Final Term Reduced Course Load authorization. If Summer is your final semester, you cannot have 100% online enrollment in your final term. International students can count only 1 course or 3 units of on-line coursework towards the full time requirement. If the full time requirement for a session can be satisfied with 3 units or 1 course, the full time requirement cannot be satisfied with online coursework alone.
Be sure to check the program end date on your I-20 or DS-2019. If it needs to be adjusted to reflect your plan to complete in summer. Please refer to the program extension page or contact the International Students and Scholars Office to shorten your I-20 if you are graduating early in summer.
Starting in Summer
If you have decided to start your classes at UC Merced (or are returning to UC Merced) in the summer and have requested an I-20 or DS-2019 that starts in summer, you must enroll full-time and observe online enrollment limitations. Dropping below full-time, enrollment, excess online enrollment, or withdrawing without approval from UC Merced Office of International Students and Scholars' Office may result in a violation of your immigration status.
Transfer Students
If you are a Transfer student beginning early, full-time enrollment in summer may not be required if your I-20 or DS-2019 start date is for the Fall.
On-Campus Employment During Summer
You may work on campus full-time when school is not in session or during the annual vacation. However, if summer is the first or final semster, employment is limited to 20 hours per week.
