# Academics |Part-Time Approval

**Source**: https://graduate.rice.edu/part-time-approvals
**Parent**: https://graduate.rice.edu/

ABBREVIATED INTRODUCTORY

# **Academics |** Part-Time Approval

**Students registered for less than nine credit hours are part-time.  Part-time status requires approval.**

**To receive the per credit hour, part-time tuition rate, students must be verified for part-time approval with the Office of the Registrar by the end of the second week of classes.**

To do so, a graduate student must:

- Initiate their request with their graduate program (start with your graduate program administrator) who will subsequently submit their approval for the record to be updated.
- International students must also obtain permission from OISS in addition to graduate program permission to drop below full-time status. More information on how to complete this can be found here: [https://oiss.rice.edu/RCL](https://oiss.rice.edu/RCL "Reduced Course Load")

Please keep in mind:

- A part-time student must register for a minimum of three credit hours.
- Part-time students are not eligible to receive fellowships, assistantship aid, tuition scholarships, or reduced-rate tuition from Rice. See also [Financial Aid](https://ga.rice.edu/graduate-students/student-services-organizations/financial-aid/).
- Part-time students may drop their last class (when consistent with the [Academic Calendar](https://registrar.rice.edu/calendars/)) without de facto withdrawing, by petitioning for a leave of absence that is approved.  Part-time students who do not successfully complete three credits in two consecutive semesters will not be allowed any additional leaves.
- All time boundaries and degree requirements apply to part-time students.

Additional considerations can be found in the General Announcements: <https://ga.rice.edu/graduate-students/academic-policies-procedures/regulations-procedures-all-degrees/#text>

And on the OISS Website: <https://oiss.rice.edu/maintaining-status>