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Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for International Students

Update from September 2026: The instructions listed below for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) are subject to change given new government regulations.  We encourage international students and scholars to check their University email and the ISSS website for updates.

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As an international student, you can work in the U.S. if your work experience is part of curricular practical training (CPT).  Once you have a confirmed offer for an internship, you will need to complete an internship request form. Directly following the internship request form, you would need to make a request for CPT in the ISSS portal. Enrollment in the internship course is necessary for but not the same as approval for CPT. 

Undergraduates in the School of Engineering follow the directions below. Undergraduates participating in the VU Engineering Management program in NYC will follow the same process except as noted in the “CPT for VU-NYC ENGM Program” section below.

Graduate students in the School of Engineering, discuss with your dissertation adviser whether it is okay for you to take time away from your research to do an internship.  If your dissertation adviser approves, then contact the Director of Graduate Studies in your program for the steps to follow for CPT.

Undergraduate Internship Instructions

  • Step 1

    Obtain a confirmed offer for an internship. The dates of employment must be within the permissible window and must be included in the offer letter:

    • Summer 2026 CPT dates are May 4 through August 21 (first day of Maymester through the last Friday before the Wednesday start of the fall term).
    • Fall 2026 CPT dates are August 26 through December 19 (first day of fall classes through the last day of exams).
    • Spring 2027 CPT dates are January 11 through May 6 (first day of spring classes through the last day of exams).

    You may not accept internship offers outside these dates.

  • Step 2

    Please review the following information:

    • In consideration of this opportunity to earn academic credit in conjunction with this internship, you as the student are committing to represent yourself and Vanderbilt in a professional manner and to doing the following:
    1. Share letter or email from internship provider confirming internship position, work location, and dates.
    2. Submit internship report according to the requirements given by your ES 3884 instructor. A student who fails to submit a suitable report by the deadline given by their instructor will not be allowed to participate in future CPT or internship for credit opportunities.
    3. Pay your normal tuition and any other required fees in the fall and spring semester or, if summer, pay the required $200 subsidized tuition and any other required fees.
  • Step 3
    • Please review the appropriate person as your internship course adviser according to your declared major that most closely aligns with your internship:

    Major

    CPT Adviser

    Biomedical Engineering

    Prof. Amanda Lowery 

    (amanda.r.lowery@vanderbilt.edu)

    Chemical Engineering

    Prof. Allison Pereira

    (allison.g.pereira@vanderbilt.edu)

    Civil Engineering

    Prof. Lori Troxel

    (lori.a.troxel@vanderbilt.edu)

    Computer Science

    Your CS academic adviser

    Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Prof. Tim Holman

    (tim.holman@vanderbilt.edu)

    Engineering Science

    Prof. Yiorgos Kostoulas

    (yiorgos.kostoulas@vanderbilt.edu)

    Environmental Engineering

    Eugene LeBoeuf

    (eugene.j.leboeuf@Vanderbilt.Edu)

    Mechanical Engineering

    Prof. Ken Frampton

    (ken.frampton@vanderbilt.edu)

    For CPT as part of the VU-NYC ENGM Program, Prof. Anton Thomas (anton.f.thomas@vanderbilt.edu) will be the CPT adviser for all majors

     

  • Step 4

    Submit an Internship Course Request (user guide can be found here)

    • You will be required to upload your offer letter containing employer name, location, and work start/stop dates.
    • The form will prompt you to complete supplemental answers. Your technical answers to the following two questions should be WRITTEN IN THE THIRD PERSON:
    1. Explain how the practical training is an integral part of the student's program of study. Here is an example answer for this question: “The student will be learning field practices involved in the life-cycle of construction project planning and implementation.  The internship will involve application of concepts learned in structural analysis, structural design, and construction project management classes that the student has taken.”
    2. Describe the specific goals and objectives that will be achieved through the practical training and how they are related to the student’s major program of study. Here is an example answer for this question:  “The student will (a) collaborate with other developers to make genomic data available via mCODE in Microsoft’s Azure platform; (b) process genomics data in the format of mCODE; and (c) explore how to store such data in the cloud using the Azure platform.  This training will require application of knowledge learned in computer science coursework. and will exercise those abilities.”

     

    If approved for the internship course, you will be enrolled in a section of ES 3884 for the relevant term. Then, you must complete the CPT request through ISSS.

  • Step 5

    Use the ISSS portal to request CPT. In the ISSS form, be sure to list as your CPT adviser the person listed on this web page under Step 3, whose name you listed on the Internship Request Form in Step 4.

  • Approved for CPT: Next Steps

    If you are registered for ES 3884 for the relevant term and approved through ISSS for CPT, then you may begin your internship on the accepted start date.

    You will be responsible for completing course requirements to earn a passing grade. Successful completion of ES 3884 is a requisite to repeat CPT in future terms.

  • CPT for VU-NYC ENGM Program

    International students participating in the VU Engineering Management program in NYC will be enrolled in ES 3885 Structured Internship instead of ES 3884. Students must complete all requirements of ES 3885 as specified by the instructor. Successful completion of ES 3885 for those enrolled is a requisite for CPT in future terms.