Employment

12 Month Post Completion OPT

Optional Practical Training is designed to provide you with an opportunity to gain actual employment experience in your current major field of study. Students are eligible for a maximum of 12 months of OPT after each education level (i.e. bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate) in your F-1 status. The purpose is to "round off" or complement your academic work.

24 Month STEM OPT

A 24 Month STEM OPT extension is available for students with a degree in an approved STEM field following the completion of their 12 month OPT. 

CPT (Curricular Practical Training)

The Immigration Service defines "curricular practical training" as employment which is an integral or important part of your curriculum, including: "...alternate work/study, internship, or any other type of required internship or practicum. At Sacred Heart University, the terms “internship”, and “field experience” are used to describe opportunities for Curricular Practical Training.

F-1 Economic Hardship Employment

According to immigration regulations if other employment opportunities are not available or otherwise insufficient, F-1 students are eligible for off-campus work authorization if economic hardship has been caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the student (parent or sponsor) that arose only after arriving in the U.S. These circumstances may include loss of financial aid or on-campus employment without fault on the part of the student, substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate, inordinate increases in tuition and/or living costs, unexpected changes in the financial condition of the student’s source of support, medical bills or other substantial and unexpected expenses.

F-1 On-Campus Employment

F-1 international students are permitted to work on-campus jobs that are not work-study jobs. Students can work up to 20 hours per week when school is in session, and up to 40 hours per week during breaks.