Internship Guidelines and FAQs

The following information applies to all domestic and international students, undergraduates, graduates and Ph.Ds.

Who is required to register for an internship?

• Domestic students who want to take an internship and want academic credit are required to register for an internship course. If you do not need credit, you do not have to register.
• International students who want to take an internship must obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization which includes registering for an internship course.

What are the eligibility requirements for students to obtain an internship?

• Must have completed one year of full-time study (undergraduate) OR completed 18 credits (graduate).
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 for graduate and 2.5 for undergraduate students.

How many internships can I take for credit?

• For undergraduate: You can do a maximum of 2 internships, with each consisting of 3 credits/1.5 credits during the entire duration of your program.
• For graduate: You can do a maximum of 2 internships, with each consisting of 1.5 credits during the entire duration of your program.
• For Ph.D. students: You can do a maximum of 4 course-based internships, with each consisting of 1.5 credits during the entire duration of your program.

Additional requirements for internships are as follows:

• For Undergraduates: The total duration of the internship must be a minimum total of 120 hours. Fall/Spring internships must last at least 10 weeks, and summer internships must last at least 6 weeks.
• For Graduates: The total duration of the internship must be a minimum total of 240 hours. Fall/Spring internships must last at least 12 weeks, and summer internships must last at least 8 weeks.
• During the fall and spring term, international students on CPT may not work more than 20 hours per week. Students may work full-time during the summer. (Note: If you are a MS Student in your graduating semester and if you are registered for 4.5 credits or less, you can work full-time)
• Start and End dates must fit within the range of the semester. Start and end dates need not coincide with the first and last day of the semester, but must fit within the semester in order to ensure that final reports may be submitted and grades may be submitted in a timely manner. (Refer to the NYU Academic Calendar to confirm semester dates).
• Internships must comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Students must be hired as employees of the participating organization and be paid directly using a W-2 IRS form. Employers cannot pay students as independent contractors using IRS form 1099.
• Employers must be willing to submit written midterm and final evaluations of the student’s work to the CSE adviser. An "Internship Agreement Form" must be completed by the employer and returned to the CSE adviser.

How will I receive a grade for the internship?

The employer (direct supervisor) will have to evaluate you for your midterm and final. The department will use these evaluations to issue a pass or fail grade for you at the end of the semester. 

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Internship Procedures

The procedure for CPT is to be followed only by international students holding a valid F1 Student Visa. Submit documents to OGS online.

What is Curricular Practical Training or CPT?

CPT is a necessary requirement that allows you to accept off-campus employment as part of the curriculum of your degree program. CPT employment MUST be directly related to your major area of study.

Can I apply for CPT if my internship is unpaid?

Yes. However, bear in mind that you will still be required to pay for your credits.

Can I do an internship if I have completed all my out-of-department credits (MS students only)?

No. The Internship course is counted towards your out-of-department credits. Graduate students are eligible to complete 6 total out-of-department credits.

As an international student, what is the procedure to apply for CPT?

• Submit all the below documents to the CSE department:
  • Offer letter, which should include:
    • Rate of Pay
    • Hours per week [internship must total 240 hours (grads), total 120 hours (undergrads)]
    • Start Date (first day of classes for the semester) and End Date (last day of final exams for semester)
  • Detailed job description (may be included in Offer Letter)
  • Internship Agreement Form [Paid Internship | Unpaid Internship] 
• If you are a Ph.D. student, ensure that you have written permission from your advisor.
• The department will process the application and revert to you with the relevant course and its permission number.
• Register for the course.
• Submit the online request for CPT form and attach your I-94 copy.
  • (Graduate students only) For academic advisor info enter: Kayla Huang | csegradadvising@nyu.edu
  • (Undergrad students only) For academic advisor info enter: Your assigned undergrad advisor OR faculty processing internship requests

Note: OGS processing can take up to 5 business days. You may not work until you receive the work permission from the OGS.

As a domestic student, what is the procedure to apply for an internship?

• Submit all the below documents to the CSE department.
  • Offer letter, which should include:
    • Rate of Pay
    • Hours per week [internship must total 240 hours (grads), total 120 hours (undergrads)]
    • Start Date (first day of classes for the semester) and End Date (last day of final exams for semester)
  • Detailed job description (may be included in Offer Letter)
  • Internship Agreement Form [Paid Internship | Unpaid Internship] 
• If you are a Ph.D. student, ensure that you have consult with your faculty advisor regarding your internship opportunity.
• The department will process the application and revert to you with the relevant course and its permission number.
• Register for the course.

What are the course numbers that I need to take as part of the internship?

• Course numbers for graduate students: CP-GY 9911 and CP-GY 9921.
• Course number for undergraduate students: CP-UY 2013 and CP-UY 2023 or CP-UY 2011 and CP-UY 2021.
• Course number for Ph.D. students: CP-GY 9941, CP-GY 9951, CP-GY 9961 and CP-GY 9971.

Do I need to register for CPT if I am doing an internship On-Campus?

No. However, if the on-campus internship is part of a course that you wish to take credits for, you need to submit the following to the CSE department:

• Offer letter
• Job description
• Employment Agreement Form

Once you obtain the course permission number, you can register for the relevant course.

As an international student, can I do an off-campus internship AND an on-campus part-time job in the same semester?

Please consult with Office of Global Services to confirm that the two employment opportunities will not be an issue.

When do I register for the internship course?

The department will begin processing internships registration in August (Fall internships), December (Spring internships) and March (Summer internships). Students will be sent an email with instructions for internship registration. Students must submit all required documentation to be approved for internship. Students need to be registered for the internship course prior to starting their internship.

I got my offer letter late after the add/drop period. Is it too late to apply for CPT?

Maybe not. Contact the department advisor for more details.

I got myself fired from the internship before the end date. What should I do?

Contact the department advisor for more details.

Send your questions to csegradadvising@nyu.edu. For more information on CPT, visit NYU Curricular Practical Training.