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Change of Education Level

As an F-/J-1 student, you are admitted to the US to complete a specific education program at a specific level. If you are completing a Notre Dame degree or program requirements at one educational level and pursuing another Notre Dame degree or program at a different level, you will need a new I-20 or DS-2019 reflecting the new degree level.

  • The new I-20 or DS-2019 will have the same SEVIS ID and biographical information
  • You will request it via the Initial Document Request form, under Admission in ISSAlink.nd.edu.

Students should request the change of level upon receiving the admission letter, even though the change of level may not go into effect for a few months.

The eligibility, changes, and application are specific to your visa type: 

 
F-1 Student
J-1 Student
Action Change of Level Matriculation to new level
Education Level Changes allowed
  • Bachelors to Masters 
  • Bachelors to Phd
  • Masters to PhD
  • Masters to Masters 
  • Bachelors to Bachelors
  • Bachelors to Masters
  • Masters to Doctorate
Eligibility
  • Currently in valid F-1 status
  • Completing an ND degree or OPT/STEM OPT within five months of the new program start date
  • Admitted to a new program at ND and the new program will start in the next available term (e.g. if graduating in spring, your new program starts in fall)
  • Application is submitted BEFORE end of status/grace period
  • Currently in valid J-1 status
  • Completing an ND degree or Academic Training  
  • Admitted to a new program at ND and the new program will start in the next available term (e.g. if graduating in spring, your new program starts in fall)
  • Application is submitted BEFORE current program end date
Timeline

F-1 students who will change their academic level must complete the change no later than:

  • 60 days after the last day of their final semester in the previous program or
  • 60 days after the last day of employment on EAD or by the 90th day of unemployment
 J-1 students should note that there can be no break between the two education levels, and there is no grace period to advance to a new education level once your program end date has passed.
Notes
  • If you are a PhD student and you will instead graduate with a Masters, submit the Updated I-20 Request form in ISSAlink.
  • Students who are conferred a Master’s degree enroute to the PhD do not need to complete the Change of Level since there is no change to the I-20.
  • Off campus employment authorization ends when Change of Level is requested, and the timing of a change of level may impact your eligibility for OPT.
  • Students can work on-campus between education levels only after they have completed the Immigration Registration for their new program and received the confirmation email. Notre Dame’s HR will need a copy of the new I-20 in order to complete the I-9 process.
  • If you are a PhD student and you will instead graduate with a Masters, complete the New DS-2019 Request form in ISSAlink.
  • Students who are conferred a Master’s degree enroute to the PhD do not need to complete the Change of Level since there is no change to the DS-2019.
  • Students working on campus will need to present the updated DS-2019 to HR

Students doing a change in education level are permitted to remain in the U.S. between their programs.