International students in F1 or J1 status who wish to engage in a summer internship will need to request work authorization from ISSS (Curricular Practical Training (CPT)/Optional Practical Training (OPT)/Academic Training). F-1 and J-1 student visas only authorize students to work on campus, so any off-campus internship must be directly related to their major and may require them to enroll in internship credits. If the student will be applying for CPT, the academic advisor will need to confirm in the CPT application that the internship is worthy of academic credit for the student’s program and that it will be included on the student’s plan of study. Students cannot start their internship until their work authorization has been approved by ISSS. Contact international@uconn.edu with any questions or concerns.

Students should refer to the Graduate Catalog or be in touch with their department to determine if a department internship course is available and how best to enroll. If a departmental internship course is available, that is likely a more appropriate option than GRAD 5991 for the plan of study.

GRAD 5991, which appears on the transcript with the course name, "Graduate Internship", is a variable credit (1-6) internship course, can be taken concurrently with other courses, and is CPT-eligible. The number of credits for which the student will enroll should be determined with their advisor. Students can register for GRAD 5991 by completing a Student Enrollment Request Form to add an internship course. The advisor will be responsible for providing a S/U grade for this course at the end of the term.

Sample syllabus for GRAD 5991

This is a three-credit course that represents a full-time internship, field work experience, or other course of off-campus study required as part of the student's program and appears on the transcript with the course name, "Full-Time Directed Studies". Students cannot be enrolled in any other courses concurrently with this course. Though it is only three credits (and therefore only incurs three credits worth of tuition), this course will report a student as enrolled full-time for the term. Students may enroll in this course through Student Admin, however, enrollment requires a permission number that must be requested by forwarding a copy of the advisor’s approval of the grad’s plan to register in this course to gradschool@uconn.edu. This course is CPT-eligible. The advisor will be responsible for providing a S/U grade for this course at the end of the term.

These are general guidelines to help determine how many credits may be appropriate for an internship. The number of credits the student actually enrolls in will be determined between the student and their advisor.

1 credit = fewer than 10 hours per week
2 credits = 10-15 hours per week
3 credits = 15-20 hours per week

Students who wish to hold both an internship and a GA appointment (or summer on-campus employment including a Graduate Student Technician appointment) simultaneously must request approval to do so through the GA Supplemental Employment Approval form.