Skip to main content
International Student and Scholar Services

Academic Training

  • The primary purpose of academic training (AT) is to provide either paid or unpaid practical experience directly related to your major.
  • Training may be part of a class project that benefits a non-BYU business AND/OR for work experience in a business as an employee.
  • You may participate before or after graduation engaging in part-time training while school is in session or full-time training during vacation periods and after course work with only thesis or dissertation credit remaining.
  • For post-completion AT, you must have secured an offer of employment and begin training within 30 days of your program end date.
  • You must apply for and receive written approval from our office for the duration and type of academic training BEFORE starting.
  • Health insurance coverage is required throughout the training.
  • Your training time is based upon the length of your student program and equates to one month of training for each month of your program.
    • AT will not exceed 18 months for undergraduate and pre-doctoral programs inclusive of any prior AT or the period of full course of study, whichever is less.
    • AT will not exceed a total of 36 months for postdoctoral programs inclusive of any prior AT or the period of the full course of study, whichever is less. A new DS-2019 will be issued for each 18-month period.
    • Part-time and full-time AT days are all counted at the same rate.
  • MORE

Approval Process

  • For on-campus: obtain a letter from your department recommending the training. Details of letter follow.
  • For off-campus:
    • obtain an offer letter from your business employer
    • discuss this offer with your college advisor, and
    • obtain a letter from your department recommending the training according to the following information:
      • The goals and objectives of the specific training program,
      • A description of the training program including its location, the organization's name and address,
      • Name, phone number, and address of the training supervisor
      • Number of hours per week and start/end dates of the training,
      • How the training relates to the student’s major field of study,
      • Why it is an integral or critical part of the student’s academic program, and
      • Any associated salary.
  • Submit an Academic Training e-Form request at https://ist.byu.edu.
  • Your ISSS advisor will carefully review your eForm request and approve the amount of time available for your training and issue you an updated DS-2019.
J-1 student on academic training sitting by his supervisor discussing a topic

Academic Training allows you to gain practical experience in an unpaid or paid work setting before and after graduation. You must carefully adhere to the associated regulations to maintain your lawful status.