Repeating Classes

Contact your advisor and carefully consider your options before choosing to retake a course. Read the policies below to see how retaking a class could affect you.

Students may repeat courses in which they received a grade of “W,” “DR”, U,” “D,” “NC,” or “F”.

• Both the original and repeat grades will be used in the computation of GPA, unless the student applies for grade forgiveness, but credit for only one attempt will apply towards graduation.
• All attempts and grades will remain on the student academic record/transcript.
• Students may not re-enroll in courses for which they have received a grade of “C” or higher without permission from their academic advisor.
• Students may repeat courses which are specifically designated as repeatable for credit.
• Repeatable courses may be taken up to the maximum number of times or hours as stated in the course description and/or university catalog.
• Course enrollment beyond these limits may not count toward the student's earned hours.
• Repeated courses may be subject to the Repeat Course Surcharge.

These policies are maintained separate from the Grade Forgiveness policy. Students should consider the forgiveness policy as well when retaking classes.

Repeat Course Surcharge

• What is the repeat course surcharge?

  The repeat course surcharge is a fee assessment given to undergraduate courses numbered 1000-4999 taken three or more times at Florida International University. Courses taken in the Fall 1997 term and subsequently thereafter are subject to the repeat course surcharge.

• How did this rule come about?

  In the Fall of 1998, the State Legislature mandated these fees under Florida Statute 240.124 and Florida Administrative Code Rule 6C-7.001.

• Why did they implement this surcharge?

  The purpose of this surcharge is to prevent students from repeating courses unnecessarily. Please note that a course may be taken twice only without being subject to this surcharge. All students taking undergraduate courses, regardless of classification or residency status, will be assessed the fee.

• What if I drop/withdraw from the course?

  If the course is dropped/withdrawn after the official “add/drop” period for the term (notated as a “DR” or “WI” on the academic transcript), it is considered a repeated course.

• Are there any exceptions to this rule?

  Certain exceptions are permitted, such as:

  • Any coursework taken prior to Fall 1997
    • Credits earned through: cooperative education, military (course with prefixes AFR and MSL), waivers, audits, and individual study (courses with numbers X900-X999)
  • Courses that are repeated as a requirement of a major (except courses repeated more times to increase GPA or meet minimum course grade requirements)
  • Courses identified as repeatable (to the limited allowed)
  • Courses designed to take multiple semesters to complete
  • Courses taken at previous institutions prior to enrolling at FIU
  • Any non-fee liable withdrawal or dropped course
  • Graduate level courses (courses numbered 5000 level or above)
• Can this fee be appealed?

  The repeat surcharge fee may be appealed for reasons related to extenuating circumstances or financial hardship.

  Appeals based on extenuating circumstances must be documented and have occurred during a term in which you previously attempted the course. The documentation provided must sufficiently support a claim that the extenuating circumstances prevented you from successfully completing the course at that time.

  Appeals based on financial hardship must be supported by documentation which demonstrates that the student (or parent if the student is a dependent) is undergoing substantial financial hardship that would warrant an approval of the appeal; appeals cannot be approved simply because a student does not have the funds to pay the repeat surcharge fee.

  To Appeal the Repeat Surcharge Fee, please submit your request by the published deadline on the Academic Calendar. A decision on your appeal will be communicated to your FIU student email address. Failure to provide any supporting documentation will result in an automatic denial of your appeal. Also, please note that repeat surcharge appeals may only be approved once per course.

Effects on Financial Aid

Federal Financial Aid Repeat Course Policy

Students may only receive federal financial aid for 1 repetition of a previously passed course.

In order for a repeated course to count toward your financial aid enrollment status, students may only repeat a previously passed course once (a total of 2 attempts).

Federal financial aid requires minimum enrollment (usually full-time) in classes per semester or academic year. 

*Credit to Boise State University

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Consider how retaking classes may affect your GPA and pace as it relates to Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

Changes in federal regulations (34 CFR Section 668.2) now require that the  Financial Aid Office monitor and adjust a student’s enrollment level for Title IV aid if, or when, they repeat course work for credit that they have already earned. Students can retake courses and receive federal aid if they had previously failed a course, but can only receive financial aid one more time for a course that has been previously passed. A passing grade is defined as D- or better.

Please note that the repeat course policy for financial aid is separate from institutional academic polices regarding repeat courses. Regardless of the grade received, courses are not eligible to be covered by financial aid after a 2^nd attempt has been made for a course that has at any time previously earned a passing grade.

Appeal the Repeat Surcharge Fee

1. Login to MyFIU. See Access MyFIU for help.
2. Select the 'Academic Records' tile.
3. Select the 'Repeat Surcharge Appeal' option from the menu on the left.
4. Under the 'Repeat Course Appeal Information' section, click on 'Select Course ID.'
5. Under the 'Eligible Courses for Repeat Charge' section, select the course from the list by checking the box for which you would like to appeal the surcharge (repeat this step to appeal for multiple courses).
6. Once the course has been selected, click on 'Process and Return to Appeals Page.'
7. A box will appear titled 'Basis for Appeal is Required,' click 'OK.'
8. Under the 'Repeat Course Appeal Information' section, you must provide a reason for appealing the surcharge. The field has a limited character count, so make your description short. You can add a full written or typed statement as an attachment in step 10.
9. Click 'SAVE' button at the bottom of the page.
10. Under 'Supporting Documents' section, click 'Add' to upload your supporting documentation.