A student is considered a full-time undergraduate student if they are enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester hours of undergraduate credit for the semester.

Note that full-time status may be defined differently for federal loan purposes. International students have other considerations/requirements to maintain their visa eligibility.

Course Load

Federal financial aid recipients must be enrolled in and successfully complete a minimum number of credits each semester to maintain eligibility. For more information, contact your financial aid counselor.

Students who are not studying in F-1 or J-1 status and who are eligible to study in the United States may be enrolled part-time or full-time. Applicants in B-1/B-2 status cannot enroll part-time or full-time; however, they may choose to apply for a change to a status in the United States and may enroll only upon approval by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Course Overload

A maximum course load (not full-time status) for an undergraduate student is 18 semester hours taken across a 15-week semester, with no more than 9 semester hours per half-semester session.

To be eligible for a course overload (more than 18 semester hours per 15-week semester or more than 9 semester hours per half-semester session), an undergraduate student must:

  • Have a record of successful study at Northeastern University—transfer students must wait at least one term to request an overload
  • Have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.000
  • Provide a rationale to support the request

A student needs to complete the appropriate form and return it to their academic advisor. If approved, the student is required to pay the normal tuition charges for all attempted courses. They are  responsible for informing their financial aid counselor, if applicable, and for making the necessary arrangements to manage the increased workload. Should an approved course overload impact an international student’s degree completion date and their visa end date, the student is responsible for communicating with the Office of Global Services and obtaining the necessary approvals within the required timelines.