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Types of Non-degree Students

Non-degree applicants typically fall under one of the following categories:

  1. Students who need to complete pre-requisites for another program and are currently not enrolled in a degree seeking program at FIU.
  2. Students who want to take a few courses at FIU but not obtain a degree or certificate.
  3. Students who are visiting from private colleges or out-of-state schools (not on official student exchange) referred to as transient or guest students.
  4. Person 60 years of age or older who meet Florida residency requirements and who attended classes in a state university.

 


Application Steps

Transient students coming to FIU from a private school or a school outside Florida apply must apply as non-degree seeking. Florida State University System transient applicants should follow instructions on Undergraduate Admissions for how to apply.

  1. Fill out the Non-Degree Seeking Application in its entirety.
  2. Upload the appropriate residency documents while completing your online application.
  3. Pay a $30 non-refundable application fee. Students paying in person via check need to visit Student Financials to make the payment.
  4. Submit immunization records to the Student Health Services. Not doing so will delay registration.  For more details about the immunization requirements, please visit Student Health Services.
  5. International students must get authorization from the Office of International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) in order to register as a non-degree seeking student. Visit their website or email isss@fiu.edu for more details.

For deadlines to apply, see the Academic CalendarLate registration fees apply after the deadline to initiate registration.

 


Registration

Students planning on enrolling for a course that requires pre-requisites that were completed outside of FIU must contact the department for approval. To find departmental contact information visit FIU.edu

Undergraduate students are limited to 15 attempted credits hours and graduate students are limited to 12 attempted credits hours as a Non-Degree Seeking Student. Students may choose to take Non-Degree courses during one semester or may complete the credits over multiple semesters.

If you exceed your credit limit but want to continue, see Change Non-degree Status.

 


Tuition & Aid

See Undergraduate Tuition & Fees and Graduate Tuition & Fees for tuition and fees. Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.

 


International Student Policy

Attending FIU as a non-degree seeking F-1 student involves special consideration. Most F-1 students attend FIU as non-degree during the summer semester when they do not have to be enrolled full-time at their parent institution (the school from which the I-20 is issued). To do so, please follow the non-degree application instructions.

F-1 students asking to attend FIU as non-degree in the fall or spring semesters must consult with their parent institution’s international office for advice and permission to do so. Remember that F-1 students must maintain full-time enrollment in the fall and spring. You must seek permission to be concurrently enrolled from your parent institution. Contact your international office for instructions. Immigration regulations mandate that F-1 students be enrolled in at least six (6) credit hours at the parent institution. The remaining credits will be at FIU. In addition to the non-degree application, you must submit a letter from your international office stating that you have permission to attend, the course(s) you will enroll for, and that the classes count toward your degree program.

Last updated: January 12, 2024