Credit Load: Part-time or Overload

All undergraduate programs within the School of Engineering are full-time. Students wishing to go below 12 credits or above 21 credits during the semester (9 credits in summer) must submit a request.  

Part-Time Request 

Is this Part-time form for you? 

• Do not submit this form if you do not need to drop any courses. Just register for what you need. 

• If you want to drop a course with a “W” while the semester is in progress, do not submit this form. Instead see the Add/Drop page. 

Engineering students who need to drop a course before the semester begins in order to pursue less than 12 credits need to understand the following stipulations. 

• The Part-time Request form must be submitted at least one month prior to the semester. There will be a delay in processing for any forms submitted less than one month before the start of the semester. 

• Taking less than 12 credits can affect your on-campus housing, financial aid, and/or health insurance. You can purchase inexpensive health insurance from the university. Students who live in on-campus housing must be full-time, except in your final semester. 

• International students must check with Rutgers Global before reducing their credit load to part-time as full-time status (except in their final semester) is required without authorization. RGlobal portal. 

Part-Time Request Form

​After submission, a Dean will review your request and will make necessary registration updates. The Dean will email you if they have any questions. It may take 1-5 business days for you to see the registration updates on your record. This form is NOT for dropping courses. See an advisor if you would like to drop courses. 

Overload Request 

Before the semester begins, students can register for up to 19 credits. Once the semester begins, students can register for up to 21 credits. 

Engineering students who wish to go over 21 credits during the semester (or over 9 credits in the summer, or over 3 credits in winter) must submit an Overload Request form. Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and students will be notified via email of the decision.

Please note the following before submitting a request:

• Students have completed at least one semester of full-time courses at Rutgers with grades. 

• A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required, with no D/F/W grades. 

• Only students with a sustained history (several semesters) of strong grades while taking 18-21 credit loads should consider applying for an overload.

• If you need a special permission number or a prerequisite override you must obtain it from the department teaching the course. The Office of Academic Services does not issue special permission numbers or prerequisite overrides. 

• First-year students must wait to have their fall grades finalized before receiving approval for an overload for the spring semester and should plan to speak to the first-year Dean about their request.

• Students must provide a clear rationale for why they are seeking an overload.

• Final approval for consideration of an overload is up to the Dean's discretion. 

After submission, a Dean will review your request, respond to you via email with the outcome, and make any necessary registration adjustments.

If you do not need an overload, but have a registration request that you cannot handle using webreg.rutgers.edu, see Special Registration.  

​After submission, a Dean will review your request and make necessary registration updates. The Dean will email you if there are any questions. It may take 1-5 business days for you to see the registration updates on your record. 

Overload Request Form