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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 on an un-paid or paid work setting before and after graduation. You must carefully adhere to the associated regulations to maintain your lawful status.