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International Student and Scholar Services

  • Federal regulations allow students in J-1 status to engage in employment off-campus before or after completion of studies.
  • Academic Training must be directly related to the J-1 student's major field of study. The student must also be in good academic standing and receive written approval in advance from the Responsible Officer for the duration and type of Academic Training. Health insurance coverage is required throughout the training.
  • Students must obtain Academic Training authorization in advance, for each and every off-campus internship/training experience, whether paid or unpaid.
  • Note: Academic Training can last no more than the time spent in the program of study .
To apply for academic training:

BEFORE BEGINNING EMPLOYMENT: The student must provide a letter from an employer offering proposed training to his/her academic dean or advisor. The academic dean/advisor will then write a letter to ISSS setting forth the following:

  • 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
  • For Post Completion Academic training, include salary

The student will then submit an Academic Training e-form request at https://ist.byu.edu.

The Responsible Officer will review the request and the letter and grant permission for academic training if the criteria and time limitations are satisfied. A new DS-2019 will be issued to the student.

IF A STUDENT WILL BE ENGAGING IN ACADEMIC TRAINING AFTER GRADUATING, HE/SHE MUST SECURE AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT BEFORE THEIR PROGRAM END DATE AND COMMENCE TRAINING WITHIN 30 DAYS FOLLOWING THE END DATE.

J-1 Students are authorized to participate in academic training for the length of time necessary to complete the goals and objectives of the training, provided the training:

  1. Is approved by the academic dean or advisor and then by the Responsible Officer;
  2. Does not exceed 18 months (for undergraduate and pre-doctoral training), inclusive of any prior academic training in the United States, or the period of full course of study in the United States, whichever is less. Students in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic year, who are enrolled in a program listed on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List may qualify for an additional 18 months of academic training; and
  3. Does not exceed a total of 36 months (for postdoctoral training), inclusive of any prior academic training, or the period of the full course of study, whichever is less (a new Form DS-2019 shall be issued for each 18 month period).

Part-time employment for Academic Training counts against the 18 or 36 months limit the same as full-time employment.

As long as the student stays within the stipulated time limits, academic training permits part-time training while school is in session or full-time training during vacation periods and after completion of course work (while the student is completing a thesis or dissertation).