International Student Employment

International students may work and gain valuable skills that will enhance their resumes. Our Career Office assists students with finding summer and academic year work, crafting effective cover letters and resumes, and interview coaching.

Types of Employment Available

At many schools, internships are an afterthought. At Saint Michael’s, they are a priority.Experiential Learning is an important part of the liberal arts curriculum at Saint Michael’s College. We strongly support opportunities for our students to develop their critical thinking and learning outside of the classroom. Students at Saint Michael’s College are encouraged to participate in internships as a way to extend their education in a real-world setting, explore career options, apply knowledge, expand their professional network, and gain transferable skills and experience.Here are some examples of employers where St. Mike’s students have recently completed internships.

F-1 students are permitted to work on campus for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, and for more than 20 hours per week when classes are in recess. There is no waiting period for this benefit.

Students must receive approval from US Customs and Immigration Service before beginning off-campus work.

Also called CPT, is training that is an integral part of the student’s academic curriculum (for example, a required internship). Students must be enrolled in a degree-granting program, and generally are required to have completed a full academic year before starting CPT. Exceptions to the full academic year requirement may be made for students enrolled in a graduate-level program. Students in the Intensive English or Academic English programs are not eligible for CPT. CPT may be completed on a part-time or full-time basis. However, 12 or more months of full-time CPT will affect the student’s eligibility for Optional Practical Training. Students must receive approval from a Designated School Official before beginning CPT.

Optional Practical Training: There are three subtypes of Optional Practical Training or OPT: prior-to-completion OPT, post-completion OPT and STEM OPT. Students are required to obtain positions that are directly related to their major program of study. Students in the Intensive English or Academic English programs are not eligible for OPT.

Students are permitted up to 12 months total of prior-to-completion and post-completion OPT per academic level. Students are limited to 20 hours per week of prior-to-completion OPT while school is in session, but can request full-time training during school breaks. Post-completion OPT is expected to be full time. A student may apply for OPT prior to receiving an offer of employment, but is limited to 90 days total of unemployment.

Students with qualifying Science, Technology, Engineering or Math degrees are eligible for an additional 24 months of training after completing 12 months of standard OPT. Students are required to have an employer prior to applying for STEM OPT, and are subject to more frequent reporting requirements. Students engaged in STEM OPT are allowed up to 150 days total of unemployment.

Taxes and Social Security Numbers

Contact the OISS regarding taxation and social security numbers