Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of work authorization that allows eligible F-1 international students to participate in off-campus academic internships, practicums, or field work that are required for degree completion.

Under current Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) guidance, CPT may only be authorized when practical training is an integral and mandatory component of an established curriculum. CPT cannot be authorized for optional employment, elective courses, or optional internships. If a student can complete their degree without participating in the practical training experience, the experience is not eligible for CPT.

CPT Eligibility for Engineering Graduate Students

At this time, Samueli School of Engineering graduate programs do not have an internship or practical training requirement for degree completion.

Therefore, an internship or employment opportunity, even if directly related to a student's field of study, does not by itself qualify an Engineering graduate student for CPT.

Enrollment in ENGR 291, ENGR 299 (applicable for Summer CPT only), or a departmental independent study/research course does not establish CPT eligibility.

Thesis/Dissertation Requirement CPT

Engineering graduate students may be eligible for CPT in limited circumstances through the Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation Requirement pathway.

This pathway is limited to:

• Master's students pursuing a thesis track; or
• Doctoral students who have Advanced to Candidacy.

The proposed practical training must be necessary to complete the student's thesis or dissertation. Specifically, the experience must involve data collection or another activity that:

• Is required for completion of the thesis or dissertation;
• Is an integral component of the student's degree requirements; and
• Cannot reasonably be replaced by an alternative method or data collection process.

An internship being related to a student's research, thesis, dissertation, or academic interests is not sufficient on its own to establish CPT eligibility.

CPT Application Process

Engineering graduate students who believe their proposed practical training meets the Thesis/Dissertation Requirement should follow the process below.

Step 1: Review International Center CPT Requirements

Before beginning the application process, carefully review the UCI International Center CPT information and presentation.

Students are responsible for ensuring they meet all International Center eligibility requirements, including maintaining valid F-1 status and obtaining CPT authorization before beginning any employment or practical training.

CPT authorization cannot be backdated.

Step 2: Secure a Qualifying Practical Training Offer

Secure an internship or practical training opportunity that is required for completion of your Master's thesis or Doctoral dissertation.

Your offer letter must include:

• Employer/organization official letterhead;
• Your name;
• Job title;
• Description of job duties;
• Employer/organization address and work location;
• Whether the position is part-time or full-time, including hours per week;
• Exact start and end dates; and
• Employer/organization signature or electronic signature.

Step 3: Obtain a Faculty Advisor Letter

Students applying under the Thesis/Dissertation Requirement must obtain a letter from their Thesis/Dissertation Faculty Advisor on official UCI or department letterhead.

The letter must confirm that the proposed practical training is an integral and required component of the student's thesis or dissertation and include:

• A description of the thesis/dissertation topic or area of research;
• A description of the methodology being used and how it informs the thesis/dissertation;
• Confirmation that the proposed data collection or activity is required for completion of the thesis/dissertation;
• Confirmation that there are no reasonable alternative methods for completing the required data collection or activity;
• The beginning and end dates of the proposed activity;
• The anticipated Master's thesis completion date or Doctoral dissertation defense date; and
• The supervising Faculty Advisor or Principal Investigator's name, title, signature, and date.

Step 4: Determine Your CPT Dates and Enrollment

CPT is authorized on a quarterly basis and must begin on or after the applicable quarter start date and end on or before the quarter end date.

Review the UCI Academic Calendar to determine the appropriate dates for the quarter in which you are requesting CPT.

Students must also provide proof of enrollment for the quarter in which CPT will take place and meet the International Center's enrollment requirements.

If CPT will continue into another quarter, students must submit a new CPT request for the following quarter and continue to meet all CPT eligibility requirements.

During the academic quarter, CPT employment is limited to 20 hours or less per week. Eligible students may work more than 20 hours per week during designated vacation periods.

Step 5: Prepare Your CPT Application Materials

Before submitting your CPT request, prepare all required documentation.

For an Engineering graduate student applying under the Thesis/Dissertation Requirement, this generally includes:

1. Completed CPT Application
2. Faculty Advisor Letter establishing the Thesis/Dissertation Requirement
3. CPT Offer Letter from the employer/organization
4. Proof of Enrollment for the CPT participation quarter
5. Curricular Practical Training Cooperative Agreement
6. In-Person Participation Letter, if applicable

An In-Person Participation Letter is required for students participating in an in-person or hybrid internship more than 50 miles from UCI during the academic year.

CPT Course Enrollment and GSA Review

Before submitting a CPT application to the UCI International Center, Samueli School of Engineering graduate students must first submit their application materials to the Graduate Student Affairs (GSA) office for review and course enrollment coordination.

Students must submit the following documents to gradengr@uci.edu:

• Completed CPT Application
• Faculty Advisor Letter confirming that the proposed practical training is required for completion of the student's Master's thesis or Doctoral dissertation
• Official job offer letter from the employer

Please allow 2–3 business days for GSA review and processing. GSA review and course enrollment do not guarantee CPT eligibility or authorization. Final CPT authorization is determined by the UCI International Center.

CPT Course Enrollment – Fall, Winter, Spring

Once your application materials have been reviewed by GSA, you will receive an authorization code to enroll in ENGR 291 Internship, if course enrollment is applicable to your approved academic requirements.

Students are responsible for enrolling in the course and ensuring they meet the International Center's enrollment requirements.

CPT Course Enrollment – Summer

For summer CPT requests, the GSA office will coordinate course enrollment based on the requested CPT dates.

• CPT within Summer Session dates: Students whose CPT dates fall within the Summer Session calendar will be enrolled in ENGR 291.
• CPT extending beyond Summer Session dates: Students whose CPT dates extend beyond the Summer Session calendar may be enrolled in a departmental 299 course under their department's Graduate Advisor. For example, a Biomedical Engineering student may be enrolled in BME 299.

GSA will initiate Summer Session enrollment for eligible students. Once enrollment has been initiated, Summer Session will contact students directly to confirm enrollment and arrange payment.

Students should review the UCI Summer Session Calendar for the applicable dates.

Final CPT Application Submission

Following GSA review and any required course enrollment, students must submit their completed CPT application and supporting documentation through the UCI International Center CPT Application Portal.

The International Center requires 10 business days for processing, and applications cannot be expedited.

Important: GSA approval or enrollment in ENGR 291 or a departmental 299 course does not constitute CPT work authorization. Students may not begin employment until they have received an updated I-20 reflecting approved CPT authorization from the International Center.

Step 6: Submit Your Application to the International Center

Submit the required materials through the International Center CPT Application.

You will need to log in using your UCInetID and upload the required documentation.

After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email. Keep this confirmation for your records.

Applications are reviewed in the order received and cannot be expedited. If an application is incomplete or incorrect, the student may be required to resubmit updated documentation, which may delay processing.

Students should submit their materials well in advance of their requested CPT start date.

Step 7: Receive CPT Authorization Before Beginning Employment

If your CPT request is approved, the International Center will issue an updated Form I-20 electronically through DocuSign to your UCI email address.

Your approved CPT employment information will appear on page 2 of your I-20.

You may not begin your internship, employment, or practical training until you have received CPT authorization from the International Center.

Starting employment before CPT authorization is issued is a violation of F-1 status.

CPT and Unpaid Internships

An unpaid internship is different from volunteering.

Volunteering generally involves donating time to an organization whose primary purpose is charitable or humanitarian without receiving compensation. An unpaid internship that provides work experience related to your field of study may still constitute employment for immigration purposes.

Students should not assume that an internship does not require authorization simply because it is unpaid. Contact the International Center if you are unsure whether CPT authorization is required.

Important Reminders

• CPT eligibility and authorization are determined by the UCI International Center.
• Samueli School of Engineering graduate programs do not have a general internship requirement for degree completion.
• Enrollment in ENGR 291, ENGR 299, or another course does not make an otherwise optional internship eligible for CPT.
• CPT must be authorized before employment begins and cannot be backdated.
• CPT is employer-specific. Changes to the employer or practical training site may require a new CPT authorization.
• CPT is generally authorized on a quarterly basis. Continuing into another quarter requires a new request.
• Students should retain copies of all CPT I-20s and practical training offer letters for their records.

ENGR 291 Internship Course Requirements

In order to receive a Satisfactory grade in this course, the following two items will need to be submitted at the end of the quarter you are enrolled:

1. A 2-page Summary Report describing the company and its products or services, the technical aspects of the position, courses that you took that helped you prepare for this role, and your professional goals as they relate to your graduate degree at UCI.

The grade for the internship course will be S/U only and will be assigned by the instructors based on the summary report and the feedback from the industry mentor/supervisor. Each quarter, a course website under EEE+CANVAS will be created so that summaries can be uploaded to the course website.

For any questions about CPT application, ENGR 291 Internship enrollment, or grading, please contact gradengr@uci.edu.

Please note that we can authorize students to enroll in courses offered within the Samueli School of Engineering ONLY. Students interested in taking non-Engineering courses must contact the faculty of that course and must abide by that School’s course enrollment policies.

Questions

For questions regarding CPT eligibility, F-1 immigration requirements, CPT authorization, processing, or your CPT I-20, please contact the UCI International Center.

For questions regarding Samueli School of Engineering academic requirements or documentation for a Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation Requirement CPT request, please contact Graduate Student Affairs at gradengr@uci.edu.