International Students Support
Here, you’ll find information specific to international student success at Penn GSE, including guidance on immigration, Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization, cultural and academic transition, and professional development opportunities to support your journey in the U.S.
Work Authorization
As an international student, if you have maintained a full-time status and meet the requirements, you may be eligible for work authorization to gain professional experience in the U.S.
F-1 students
In general, as an F-1 student, you may be eligible for the following three categories of work authorization: On Campus Employment, Curriculum Practical Training, and Optional Practical Training.
On Campus Employment
You must be an active student and maintain full-time study status at Penn to be eligible for on-campus employment. Additionally, the position must be considered an on-campus job. Please refer to the ISSS website for the definition of “on-campus employment”.
Curriculum Practical Training
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of work authorization for F-1 students in the U.S. It is intended to provide work experience in a student’s field of study through internships, cooperative education, or other work-study programs in which the employment is an integral part of the student’s academic program and established curriculum, prior to completing the degree.
GSE Internal CPT Guidance
International graduate students in GSE who meet the immigration eligibility may apply for academic credit for the purposes of F-1 curricular practical training (CPT). In order to be eligible for CPT, students must have already completed one academic year of course work, full-time at Penn, but have not completed all of your degree requirements. (There is an exception of the 1 academic year rule for graduate programs that require immediate participation. Please consult with Huan Yang - Associate Director & Case Manage, International Students - about this, if you would like to know more.)
Procedures
- Obtain an offer letter: Students must obtain an offer letter from an employer on company letterhead signed by the employer (digital signature is acceptable) that will verify the work. The letter must include: the number of hours the student will be working, the employment start and end dates, and the internship location (on-site or remote). The start date must be on or after the beginning of the term, and the end date must be before the start of the next term. For example, summer internships must begin after the last day of the Spring term and end before the first day of the Fall term.
- Register for GSE CPT course:
- Program-designated CPT course: If your program has a program designated CPT course, you must enroll in that course for CPT approval.
- Independent Study Course (EDUC9999): If your program does not offer a designated CPT course, you may use the independent study course for CPT instead.
- Students need to identify a faculty member in their program to be their CPT course instructor. The faculty member will work with students to form an academic plan.
- Students must provide a written proposal that describes the tasks they will undertake, provides the details of the position or internship and explains how it relates to their degree program and constitutes an integral part of their studies; and states that the student will work with the faculty member to complete all academic assignments for the course.
- The faculty member will evaluate students' progress reports and grade this independent study course as a regular course unit.
- Then students need to register for the EDUC 9999 course through SRO.
- Additional information for doctoral students: If a doctoral student is on dissertation status and plans to use the dissertation course as the CPT course, the faculty advisor must provide a signed letter explaining how the internship supports the student’s dissertation work, in addition to the internship offer letter.
- Doctoral students who receive a stipend may need to contact Jennifer Reese for guidance regarding how pursuing an internship may affect their stipend.
- Apply for the CPT I-20 at ISSS: Once GSE CPT course registration is completed, students will receive a confirmation email. They may then submit the CPT I-20 application to ISSS.
- View ISSS CPT guidance here
- Processing may take up to 7 business days. Students may not begin any work until they have received CPT authorization from ISSS.
Additional Information
Timeline: Your CPT is reviewed by multiple offices and staff members at different stages. If all documents are in order it can sometimes take as little as five buisness days for processing.
ISSS processing time is typically 3-5 business days, but may take up to 7 business days. Please allow yourself at least a three-week window before your start date to ensure all documents are submitted, reviewed, and approved on time.
For GSE CPT academic calendar and course registration deadlines, please refer to the Academic Calendars under the Student Records Office section.
Tuition and Fees: Independent study course counts 1 CU towards the degree required CUs for graduation/degree completion and will be charged regular tuition.
Academic term CPT: Independent study course is a regular 1 CU course. Students need to maintain full-time status, namely register at least 3 CUs and only engage in part time CPT.
Final semester CPT: If a student has only 1 CU remaining in their final semester, they are not eligible for CPT in this last term. CPT is only permitted and approved as part-time when students have a minimum of 2 CUs remaining. Exceptions apply for degree required CPT programs such as TESOL. If you have questions about this, please consult Huan Yang, Associate Director & Case Manager, International Students (hyang7@upenn.edu).
SSN application: If you do not have SSN and plan to apply for one using CPT, please note you may only apply within 30 days of your CPT I-20 start date.
Grading: Your independent study CPT course faculty member will grade this course as a regular course unit.
Requirements to complete: All academic requirements for CPT must be satisfactorily completed within the term in which the student has registered for CPT. Failure to complete the CPT academic requirements will render the employment "unauthorized" and constitute a violation of immigration status.
Types of CPT: When school is in session, namely it is a regular academic term (if summer term is your final academic term, it will be considered as a regular term), students may only apply for part-time CPT. Students who accumulate 12 months of full-time CPT lose eligibility for OPT.
- Full time CPT: Can be over 20 hours/week. Usually permitted only during school breaks. Full-time CPT is not allowed when school is in session.
- Part time CPT: No more than 20 hours/week is allowed. Typically used when school is in session, or when summer is the final term of study.
Optional Practical Training
Optional practical training (OPT) is a type of work authorization for F-1 students. It is defined as "temporary employment for practical training directly related to the student's major area of study".
The process to apply for OPT is as follows:
- Obtain OPT recommendation I-20 from ISSS
- Submit an OPT application to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services).
For detailed information regarding eligibility, application procedures and reporting requirements, please refer to the ISSS website's F1 Optional Training (OPT) Guide.
Pre-Completion OPT
PhD and Master's students: Pre-Completion OPT may be available for certain part-time jobs that align with a student's degree program. Please consult your ISSS advisor if you are interested in learning more about this option.
OPT (Stem Extension)
Certain F-1 students who receive degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields and have employment eligibility may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).
To find out if your major qualifies as STEM-designated, view eligibility on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website.
For detailed information on the STEM OPT application timeline, procedures, and employment eligibility, please view the ISSS F-1 STEM OPT Extension Guide.
J-1 Students
As a J-1 student, you are eligible for the following work authorizations:
On campus employment
All active J-1 students who maintain full-time status are eligible for on-campus employment. However, additional authorization may be required. For guidance, please refer to ISSS' On-Campus Employment page.
Note: Not all jobs posted on Workday qualify as on-campus jobs. Always confirm your eligibility with your ISSS advisor.
Academic Training
J-1 Academic Training (AT) provides students the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in practical work experiences. Detailed information can be found on ISSS' J-1 Academic Training page.
Reduced Course Load
F-1/J-1 students are required to maintain full-time enrollment during the academic year. If you cannot meet this requirement, you may request a Reduced Course Load (RCL).
There are three types of Reduced Course Load:
- Academic Difficulties
- Medical Conditions
- Completion of Study or Coursework
For more detailed information of eligibility and conditions of RCL, see the ISSS Reduced Course Load page.
For guidance on navigating RCL options, contact Huan Yang, Associate Director & Case Manager, International Students (hyang7@upenn.edu).
Travel
Remember to update travel signatures before travelling. Always check with ISSS for the most recent travel policies.
International Student Professional Development Opportunities
At Penn GSE, we are committed to supporting our international students’ career growth and professional success. Our career services team offers tailored guidance to help students navigate the U.S. job market, explore global opportunities, and build competitive professional profiles.
We provide individualized career coaching, resume and cover letter workshops, mock interviews, and personalized job search strategies for CPT, OPT, and H-1B processes. Additionally, our programs include employer networking events, industry panels, international alumni mentorship, and internship preparation designed specifically for international students.
Social Events
In addition to Penn GSE social events, if you are interested to connect with school-wide social events with other international students, you may check the check the ISSS Integration page for some program and initiative information.
Questions?
We can help! Contact Huan Yang, Associate Director & Case Manager, International Students at hyang7@upenn.edu.
