International Students and Scholars Office

Review the ISSO  Curricular Practical Training (CPT) webpage and schedule an appointment with your ISSO Advisor if you have any questions about your eligibility.

Review the ISSO Curricular Practical Training (CPT) webpage to see various course options for undergraduate and graduate students. 

• Students must be registered for the appropriate course concurrently while participating in the proposed employment. 
• Students can contact the Course Instructor to register for the appropriate internship course or register for the course directly in Workday.  
• Students should register for the course BEFORE applying for CPT.  

Do not complete the CPT request in the ISSO Portal until you have confirmed that you are registered for the appropriate course during the appropriate term. 

Once you have found an internship/job you will need an official "Employment Offer Letter" written on company letter head and signed by your employer that contains ALL of the following elements:

• Employer's name (offer letter must be on company letterhead)
• Job title
• Physical address of the employment location (street, city, state, and zip code)
• Exact employment start and end dates 
  • Your CPT start date must be a date that is at least 5-7 business days in the future
  • The start and end dates for CPT must fall within the dates of the academic term for which you are enrolled in the CPT course. These dates are published on the ISSO Curricular Practical Training (CPT) webpage.
• Specification if the job is full-time (more than 20 hours/week) or part-time (20 hours/week or less)
• Name of your supervisor
• List of job responsibilities/job description
• Signature of your employer

For guidance on the format of the CPT Employment Offer Letter, see our Sample Offer Letter (pdf)

• Log in to the ISSO Portal with your Brandeis credentials
• Click on the Request Center tab, then click on the  “CPT Request” icon
• Complete the CPT Request, including the questionnaires, file uploads, electronic signature documents, and the Academic Advisor Approval section.
  • Make sure to enter your company's name and NOT your Supervisor's name in the field that asks for "Employer's Name"
  • It is important to review the instructions carefully in the ISSO Portal to select the appropriate individual as the "Approver" to approve your request
• Click “Submit” (not “Save”) to submit the CPT Request.

The designated Approver will be sent a notification to approve your CPT request. Once the Approver has approved your Request, an ISSO Advisor will review and process your CPT Request.

Your CPT will be processed within 5-7 business days and a new Form I-20 authorizing you for CPT and will be prepared. This Form I-20 will also have a valid travel signature for future use. 

You will receive an email from the ISSO with instructions on how to download your new Form I-20. Once you have downloaded your Form I-20, please:

• Review page 2 to ensure that the dates and the employment information are correct.  It is your responsibility to make sure that your employment information is correct before you begin your CPT.
• Print your Form I-20,  and sign and date page 1