New ICE Rule for F-1 Students: Which Universities Have Banned Internships

A new requirement has taken effect in the US under which universities may only allow F-1 students to do practical training (CPT) if it is a mandatory part of the program’s requirements. If an internship is optional, it must be banned. Many universities have already responded — some have suspended CPT authorizations, while others continue to support it.

What changed in USCIS requirements

A month ago, USCIS administration sent an internal notice to all universities within the SEVP system. It states that student internships (CPT) during studies may only be approved if they are a mandatory requirement for earning a degree.

If a student can obtain a degree without completing an internship, the university must deny CPT authorization. Along with the notice came a warning: if universities fail to comply with the new rule, they face lawsuits, fines, and other penalties against officials (DSOs — designated school officials).

This requirement applies to all levels of education: bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral (PhD) programs.

How universities responded to the new rule

Many universities took the warning seriously. Just a month after the USCIS notice, schools began announcing their decisions.

For example, Berkeley announced it would suspend CPT authorizations until internships become a mandatory part of the curriculum. This means students at this university won’t be able to officially work an internship at companies, even if they want to.

However, not all universities did the same. Some schools continue to support CPT for students, recognizing its importance. For example, Northeastern University offers a cooperative program (co-op) in which the internship is explicitly written into the requirements for earning a degree, so students can complete it without issues.

Most universities — about 90% — do not require a mandatory internship in their programs, especially at the graduate level, where students focus on research rather than seeking jobs at companies.

Why CPT matters so much for students

An internship is a key element in building a student’s career in the US. Through practical training, a student gains valuable experience, but most importantly, builds professional connections in the industry.

These connections often become the decisive factor in finding permanent employment after graduation. If a student doesn’t complete an internship, it will be much harder to find an employer after earning a degree. Without a network of professional contacts, the job search turns into a long and difficult process.

How to choose a university that supports CPT

The new rule creates a serious choice for prospective students: they need to carefully check whether their chosen university allows practical training.

When compiling a list of schools to apply to, it’s important to find out how each university treats CPT. There are special platforms (such as student discussion sites) where you can find up-to-date information on which universities have banned internships and which haven’t.

For example, on the site cppt.com (though it’s a Chinese resource) you can find a list of universities that have changed their CPT policy after the USCIS notice. There you can also read student discussions, see letters from universities, and understand the exact state of affairs at each particular school.

Choosing the wrong university because of its ranking or other reasons could mean a student won’t get access to an internship, and therefore won’t have the opportunity to build a career after graduation. That would be a serious problem.

What’s happening with graduate school and PhD programs

For graduate students and PhD candidates, a company internship usually isn’t required, because these programs focus on research work rather than industry practice. A PhD student works with professors on a research project — that’s the whole point of the program.

The student community has already noticed that PhDs no longer have access to CPT. But that makes sense — at the graduate level, a mandatory internship simply isn’t necessary.

At the same time, if a graduate or bachelor’s program supports CPT (meaning it has included internships in the program requirements), that’s a good sign. It means the school values students’ practical experience.

Is there a chance the rule will change

At present, no university has filed a lawsuit against the new USCIS requirement. No legal action has been reported either. This means the rule is currently in effect without obstacles.

However, the situation could change in the future if universities or students file suit and challenge the new requirement. Until then, the rule applies to everyone and must be taken into account when choosing a university.

These are very recent changes — the rule has only been in place for a month, so the situation is developing quickly. Some universities support students, others don’t, and it depends on each school’s administration.