4. Student status

a) Full-Time: A student who carries 12 credit hours (equivalent to four approved courses) of work approved by the advisor is considered a full-time student by the department. The following students must be full time: department fellows, teaching, research and graduate assistants, university fellows, veterans (supported by the Veteran's Administration), and all foreign students with a student visa.

Students who are within 12 credit hours of fulfilling their Master's or Ph.D. degree requirements (9 credit hours in the case of RA's, TA's and GA's) may petition the Graduate School for full-time status while registering for fewer than 12 (9 for RA's, TA's and GA's) credit hours. Petition forms are available at www.grad.buffalo.edu/grad-docs. All supported students and all foreign students falling into this category must file the petition. Please note that an Application to Candidacy form (www.grad.buffalo.edu/grad-docs) must be submitted and approved before a petition for full-time status will be approved by the Graduate School. Supported students should also be aware that the number of tuition scholarship credits that will be allowed will be limited to only those credit hours required for a particular degree (30 credit hours for the M.S. or 72 credit hours for the Ph.D., less any transfer credits).

b) Part-Time: A student who carries less than the equivalent of four approved courses and has not filed a petition for full-time status is considered a part-time student by the department.