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Internships & OPT FAQ
Unpaid Internship Eligibility & Requirements
Find and do an internship while you study in our International Program.
Why do an internship?
- Gain experience at a real company in Silicon Valley. Also, the internship is worth 3 units per quarter and counts towards the minimum 12-unit requirement.
What is the cost of doing an internship?
- $200.
How do I find an internship?
- Look here for unpaid Internships www.internships.com, https://www.linkedin.com, https://www.ziprecruiter.com or https://www.indeed.com.
- Come to our “How to Network in the Bay Area” free talk while studying with us.
- Work with the Internship Coordinator. They will send out your resume to our partners, making it easier to land an Internship.
I have secured an internship offer, now what?
- Receive an offer letter or use our confirmation form describing:
- Role and responsibilities and how it relates to your certificate.
- Number of hours per quarter you will be interning.
- Supervisor’s title and contact information and company URL.
- Once confirmed, we will enroll you in the course called “Business Practices for International Students.”
How many hours per week should my internship be?
- A maximum of 20 hours per week, but no more than 200 per quarter. The minimum is 90 hours.
Can I be paid for my internship?
- No.
Does my internship need to be related to my studies?
- Yes, and you must use the skills you are currently studying.
How am I evaluated for my work during the internship?
- At the end of each quarter, your supervisor must submit a short evaluation of your work.
- You must also evaluate your company.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) for International Students
Finish your studies and get work experience in the U.S.
How do I qualify for OPT?
- Studied for at least nine months.
- Completed a professional certificate program.
- F-1 status at the time of application.
When should I apply for OPT?
- 90 days before you complete your certificate.
How long is OPT and where can I work?
- Up to one year. You can work anywhere in the U.S. as long as the job is related to your studies.
Can my OPT job be paid?
- It can be paid or unpaid.
- Does OPT cost anything?
- $100 application fee will apply.
- $410 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Am I guaranteed employment by completing one of your certificate programs?
- No, you must interview and receive an offer from a company willing to sponsor your practical training. Many of our students have successfully secured positions.
I've already completed OPT during my last degree studies. Can I do OPT again?
- If you already had OPT at a Bachelor's degree or higher, you are not eligible for an OPT with a certificate.
Questions?
International Inquiry Form
Speak to an international programs representative.
Call +1 (408) 450-4945
Envelope extensioninternational@ucsc.edu
To schedule an online meeting with an international advisor, please click here.
Recent International Stories
What Students Are Saying
"From assignments, class exercises, and group discussions to the project work and quizzes—it all helped me build strong foundations and solidify concepts."
— Neville Mistry
International Student
Program Manager
"I made a lot of good connections while I was here."
— Aakash Dave
International Student
Entrepreneur, Founding CEO of Spotmi
"It’s a very supportive program. The engagement within our class was great. We learned from the professors as well as our classmates."
— Renuka Adnane, MSOD PHR SHRM-CP
International Student
Human Resources Business Partner
"It was pretty deep and the assignments were demanding so I had to work hard to get the point."
— Renato Roschel Ribeiro, MBA
International Student
Director of Digital & Analytics | Data Analytics Professor
"The response from my fellow students was so enthusiastic that I had to think more in depth. It evolved. Every course demands that you think in a certain way. Every course took me a step further."
— Bouwien Luppes
International Student
Art Entrepreneur and Marketer
"She’s really inspired me to do a lot of things I was not doing with the kids. It helps you think differently about your role. It helped me a lot with teaching art and creativity. If they want to color a heart blue, we let them do it."
— Vandana Gupta
International Student
Child Care Teacher
"Diana is a fabulous instructor and is always willing to share her insights and make sure course content is adapted to everyone's needs. She is approachable and willing to help you have a thorough understanding of the content without judgment."
— Jasleen Kaur Monga
International Student
Learning Specialist | Educational Therapist
"Jagadeesh really prepares for the sessions and the assignments, not letting students to lose focus during classes, engaging all. He has got a lot of examples to share and makes people think to apply what we learn in the class."
— SasiKumar Arumugan
International Student
Lead Software Engineer
"The class involved whiteboard sessions and collaboration projects which really prepared me well to start working in the industry and tackle UX design interviews."
— Agnieszka Zimolag
International Student
Product Design, Cloud at IonQ
