International Student Academic Unit Requirements
What are 12 x12 Unit Requirements?
F1 international students must be registered in at least 12 units (by the twelfth day of class) each term and nine of those units require physical attendance in a classroom.
J1 international students must be registered in at least 12 units (by the twelfth day of class) each term and all 12 of those units require physical attendance in the classroom
- Classes that have a “V” designation are considered virtual, or totally online. This does not count toward the units that require physical attendance.
- Classes that fall under the "cross – campus" enrollment are considered totally online and do not meet the physical attendance requirement.
- Classes that have a "Y" designation are considered hybrid, meaning part of the class is online and part of the class requires physical attendance. These classes DO meet the requirement as a class that is physically attended even though some of the coursework may be online.
| Type of Class | Counts Towards Physical Attendance |
|---|---|
| "V" for virtual | No |
| "Cross – Campus" | No |
| "Y " for hybrid | Yes |
If you are an F1 international student, make sure that you are always in at least 12 units each fall, winter, and spring terms, and that at least nine of those units are classes where you are physically attending. If you are a J1 international student, make sure that you are registered in 12 units each fall, winter, and spring terms and that 12 units are classes that you are physically attending.
SISS International Student Advisors are here to help international students learn how to maintain immigration status. If you have any questions, you can always contact your designated SISS International Student Advisor or come to drop-in advising Mondays and Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.