International Students
Interested in a JBS program?
Contact the International Students and Scholars Office to schedule an appointment with an ISSO advisor to discuss your options.
International Students
Q. Interested in a JBS program?
Q. Can an international student pursue a JBS program that includes an internship?
Q. What if the course is offered in my declared minor?
International students (undergraduate or graduate) who are planning to enroll in a JBS program should contact the International Students and Scholars Office to schedule an appointment with an ISSO advisor to discuss
your options related to your visa status.
Can an international student pursue a JBS program that includes an internship?
Yes. International students in a visa status that allows for off-campus employment authorization can pursue a JBS program. Students will have to limit the internship to under 20 hours per week, however. Employment authorization will be required regardless if the internship/practicum/work experience is a paid or non-paid position, but the process is not a difficult one. There are limitations on the amount of employment authorization time a student can receive from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (under the F-1 Practical Training authorization or the J-1 Academic Training authorization). The time limitations can depend on whether or not the internship/experience is part-time or full-time.
Students will need to work closely with the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) to process the necessary employment authorization BEFORE they may begin the internship or work experience.
If a student wishes to pursue a JBS program, they should contact the ISSO by email (isso@brandeis.edu) or by phone (6-3480) to schedule an appointment with an ISSO Advisor to discuss these issues.
If a course on a JBS program is related to my major, but the course is not offered under my major's program offerings, can I still pursue that JBS program?
Yes, it may indeed be possible. Students who are interested in pursuing a course offered on a JBS program that is not listed in their declared major, but for which they may be able to receive the credit towards their program as the experience is related to their major, should meet with an ISSO Advisor to see that (a) the experience being pursued in the JBS program is directly related to their declared major, and (b) if the course credit can be received through a related internship course offered in their major. Each student's situation is different, so speaking early with an ISSO Advisor is very important.
Can I pursue a JBS program, and its off-campus work/internship/volunteer service component, if the experience is not directly related to my declared major?
No, but the ISSO office encourages students to meet with their ISSO Advisor to explore the possibility of engaging in the internship component if it is related to your major field of study.
Immigration regulations governing student visas specifically state that a student may only pursue an internship or work experience "...in a position that is directly related to his or her major area of study." [8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)]. This is a very important distinction since so many students have multiple majors, and minors (and programs, such as the Legal Studies Program), where a student may not be eligible for employment authorization.
What if the course is offered in my declared minor?
Immigration regulations only allow for obtaining employment authorization in one's major field of study.
International students may speak with an ISSO Advisor to investigate the options to obtain the appropriate employment authorization under their student visa status.
If the experiential learning component is volunteer service, will I require employment authorization under my visa status to pursue that experience?
The term "volunteer" is very broad, and is not addressed in immigration regulations. Employment is defined as providing any service for which you or someone else providing a similar service receives anything in return. "Anything" includes not only a paycheck, but also free meals, a subway or bus pass, etc..
Special projects for which Brandeis has contractually affiliated agreements/projects for students, faculty, or staff to volunteer their time may not require employment authorization. Consultation with an ISSO Advisor is necessary for any activity viewed as a "volunteer' service.
Where can international students obtain more information on options for employment authorization to use for pursuit of a JBS program?
The ISSO offers regular "Employment Seminars" throughout the year to discuss options for pursuing internships, work experiences, practicum, and volunteer service. The schedule of the Employment Seminars is available on the ISSO Web site and is published in the ISSO e-newsletter, ISSOnews.
The ISSO recommends that international students interested in pursuing off-campus experiences of any kind first attend an Employment Seminar, facilitated by an ISSO Advisor who will provide a general overview of authorization options and conditions, and answer individual questions.