# Full-Time Graduate Student Status

**Source**: https://gradschool.utexas.edu/navigating/policies/academic/full-time
**Parent**: https://gradschool.utexas.edu/navigating/policies/academic

The Graduate School at The University of Texas at Austin recognizes these as minimum full-time course loads. Individual graduate programs may require more.

### Fall & Spring Terms

### 9 term hours for full-time status

### Summer Term

### 3 term hours for full-time status

### [Affiliated Studies](https://gradschool.utexas.edu/navigating/policies/registration/international-affiliated)

The three credit-hour minimum course load for the summer term may be satisfied in one six-week term, or in the nine-week or 12-week terms. Students enrolled in Affiliated Studies—study abroad programs offered by organizations and institutions with which the university has an affiliation agreement—are considered full-time students.

### Graduate students who must register and remain registered for a full-time course load:

### Holders of Graduate School-administered fellowships and scholarships

### Assistant instructors, teaching assistants, academic assistants, assistants, graduate research assistants and tutors

### Students living in university housing; students receiving certain student loans

### International students

Agencies that grant loans or provide for educational funding may establish different definitions of full-time status. Students should be familiar with the regulations of any agency to which they have an obligation.

### [Office of the Registrar](https://registrar.utexas.edu)

Certification of full-time status, when needed, is provided by the Office of the Registrar.

### Maximum Course Load

### Spring and Fall Term: 15 hours

### 12 Week Summer Term: 12 hours

Students who wish to exceed the maximum course load must submit a petition letter from their graduate adviser to the graduate dean for approval.