Review Employment Opportunities for F-1 Students.
You can never accept unauthorized employment. See below for the types of employment that are possible while in F–1 Student status.
On-Campus Employment
Students are allowed to work on campus from the time they arrive in the U.S. in F–1 Student status to attend The New School. On-campus employment does not require any written permission. On-campus work must be limited to 20 hours per week while classes are in session, but can be full-time during official breaks and vacations.
The Student Employment Office can let you know what jobs are available. Go to the Student Employment Office, 72 Fifth Avenue, lower lobby, to apply or visit The New School careers website. Note: student worker positions designated as "Work Study" are a form of federal financial aid and are thus open only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Again, in all cases except for on-campus employment, be sure to obtain written authorization from the Department of Homeland Security or ISS first.
Off-Campus Employment
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
CPT is work off-campus work in your field of study, which is considered to be ‘an integral part of an established curriculum’. A request for authorization for curricular practical training must be made to an advisor from International Student Services. The objective of CPT is academic, not employment, and students must register for internship credit.
(All International Students must pick up a CPT Form from ISS except for Parsons. Parsons students must download an Internship Work Contract).
View Curricular Practical Training Information
- Optional Practical Training (OPT)
This type of employment must also be directly related to the student’s field of study, but is limited to a maximum of 12 full months for each higher degree. Students usually use this type of employment after completing their programs of study, but some also do OPT before completing their program. In either situation, OPT is limited to a maximum of 12 months.
View Optional Practical Training Information
- International Organization Employment
F-1 students may be eligible to work or intern for a recognized international organization. Students must obtain prior authorization from ISS and The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before working for an international organization.
International Organization Employment List
For a list of multinational businesses in the U.S. and abroad, you can access the Uniworld Directory. Download the "How-to Guide" for the Uniworld Directory.
