Part-Time Status

Under Davis Division Regulation C561 and Davis Division Regulation A552(D), Part-Time status is available under the following circumstances:

  • Employment.
  • Health conditions.
  • Accommodation for disability.
  • Primary care responsibilities.
  • Graduating senior (undergraduate level and one-quarter only).

Part-Time status means that a student:

  • Can enroll in no more than 10 units for undergraduates and 6 units for graduate students.
  • Is not exempt from meeting Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.  

Also, see Tuition & Fees.

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students in part-time status can enroll in no more than 10 units (including workload units) and must apply for part-time status by the 10th day of instruction. After the 10th day of instruction, students enrolled over the 10-unit limit, will be considered a full-time student and be charged accordingly.

Undergraduate students must submit the petition and supporting documentation (documentation is not required for senior standing) for each term they wish to be in part-time status. Supporting documentation includes:

  • Employment. A letter from your employer(s) stating that you work 30+ hours per week. Multiple jobs may be combined to reach the 30+ hours, but each needs an employment verification letter. The letter(s) must be on company letterhead and signed by your supervisor and include contact information for the supervisor. Employment may include student assistants and unpaid internships; however, a support letter is still required for these situations. If you are self-employed, you must provide either a copy of your business license or the first two pages of your business tax return.
  • Health Conditions. A letter signed by your medical professional stating that they recommend your part-time status as it relates to your medical condition. It does not need to give specifics of your medical condition.  
  • Accommodation for Disability. A letter from Student Disability Services must be provided. It is the student’s responsibility to request accommodations as soon as possible, within a period of time that allows the university a reasonable opportunity to evaluate the request and offer necessary adjustments. The accommodation is subject to extension and modification, and it is the student’s responsibility to submit a subsequent request as the need arises. Students may petition for approval of part-time status for a minimum of one and a maximum of three consecutive regular terms (fall, winter, spring). Successive petitions are permitted. You will need to submit a petition each term with a new part-time petition.
  • Primary Care Responsibility. A letter from Transfer & Reentry Center-Student Parent Program must be provided. This is limited to care of dependent children or spouse or a medical caregiver for another family member (additional medical verification of your medical responsibilities must be included).
  • Graduating Senior. If you are a graduating senior having completed 135 units and have senior standing, you can apply for part-time standing for one-quarter only.

Graduate Students

Graduate students in part-time status can enroll in no more than 6 units and must apply for part-time status by the 10th day of instruction. After the 10th day of instruction, students enrolled over the 6-unit limit, will be considered a full-time student and be charged accordingly.

Graduate students must submit the petition and supporting documentation once and part-time status will continue until there is a break in attendance or until the student enrolls full-time. Supporting documentation includes:

  • Employment. A letter from your employer(s) stating that you work 30+ hours per week. Multiple jobs may be combined to reach the 30+ hours, but each needs an employer verification letter. The letter(s) must be on company letterhead and signed by your supervisor and include contact information for the supervisor. Employment may include student assistants and unpaid internships; however, a support letter is still required for these situations. If you are self-employed, you must provide either a copy of your business license or the first two pages of your business tax return.
  • Health Conditions. A letter signed by your medical professional stating that they recommend your part-time status as it relates to your medical condition. It does not need to give specifics of your medical condition.  
  • Accommodation for Disability. A letter from Student Disability Services must be provided. It is the student’s responsibility to request accommodations as soon as possible, within a period of time that allows the university a reasonable opportunity to evaluate the request and offer necessary adjustments. The accommodation is subject to extension and modification, and it is the student’s responsibility to submit subsequent request as the need arises. Students may petition for approval of part-time status for a minimum of one and a maximum of three consecutive regular terms (fall, winter, spring). Successive petitions are permitted. You will need to submit a petition each term with a new part-time petition.
  • Primary Care Responsibility. A letter from Transfer & Reentry Center-Student Parent Program must be provided. This is limited to care of dependent children or spouse or a medical caregiver for another family member (additional medical verification of your medical responsibilities must be included).

Doctoral students who have either passed the Qualifying Examination or Advance to Candidacy are not eligible for part-time status. Petitions for graduate students seeking to enroll in part-time status must be approved by their graduate program Academic Advisor. To find the name and email address of your Advisor, go to the Graduate Programs website, select the name of your graduate program, then select the “People” tab. Your Academic Advisor will be listed there. If you have any additional questions, you may also contact your Graduate Program Coordinator for additional information.

International Students

International students in F-1 or J-1 status should not drop below full-time status (12 units) without having received authorization from SISS that is noted on the I-20 or DS-2019.  Failure to register for and maintain full-time enrollment may jeopardize your legal non-immigrant status in the United States.  For assistance, email siss@ucdavis.edu.

Fee Information

Fees during academic terms are assessed as a flat rate, regardless of the number of units enrolled. There are no per unit charges. Part-time students pay the same campus-based and Student Services fees as the full-time students but pay only one-half of the Tuition. Nonresident part-time students pay one-half the Nonresident Supplemental Tuition. For more information, see Tuition & Fees.