Curricular Practical Training

For students on an F1 visa, Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows you to gain internship or work experience while earning academic credit. In order for students to be eligible for CPT, students must enroll in ECPS 291 Internship course. More information about CPT can be found on the International Center’s website, here.

Preparing your CPT Application

  • Review International Center’s CPT Presentation.
  • Complete the CPT Application Form
    • Section 2 should be left blank, will be completed by MECPS office
  • Copy of job offer letter from employer
    • Should include:
      • Company’s letterhead
      • Be addressed to you
      • Job title
      • Job description
      • Location of employment
      • Specify if work is part-time/full-time
      • Specify the exact start and end date of employment
      • Employer’s signature

CPT Dates

Summer CPT dates (if you are enrolled in both summer session 1 and summer session II) would be when the start and end date of the summer ECPS 291 course. Dates can be found on the second page of this document.

Fall CPT must begin on or after “quarter start date” and must end on or before the “quarter end date” for the quarter you are applying for. Dates can be confirmed on the UCI Registrar webpage.

To ensure your CPT application is approved and processed before the start of the quarter/course, the latest we can receive your application is 2 weeks before the beginning of the quarter.

If an application is submitted late, CPT approval in the form of an updated I-20 will not be ready by the quarter start date, but will be accepted for review/decision.

CPT Course Enrollment – Summer

Please review the Summer CPT Enrollment Instructions document for a full walkthrough of the Summer CPT Enrollment Process.

CPT Course Enrollment – Fall

Submit your CPT Application, CPT Internship Approval Form and job offer letter to mecps@uci.edu.

Once the CPT application is reviewed, you will be emailed an authorization code to enroll in ECPS 291 Internship. Please allow 2-3 business days for processing by MECPS staff.

ECPS 291 Internship Course Requirements

In order to receive a Satisfactory grade in this course, the following two items will need to be submitted at the end of the quarter you are enrolled:

  • A 2-page summary report describing the company and its products or services, the technical aspects of the position, courses that you took that helped you prepare for this role, and your professional goals as they relate to your graduate degree at UCI.
    • Must be emailed to your ECPS 291 instructor with the subject line: “ECPS 291 Practical Training Report”
  • A rating from your internship supervisor as either good/fair/poor and/or a brief overall assessment of your work emailed to the instructor of the courses
    • Must be emailed to your ECPS 291 instructor with the subject Line: “Internship Assessment”

The grade for the internship course will be S/U only and will be assigned by the instructors based on the summary report and the feedback from the industry mentor/supervisor.

For any questions about CPT application, ECPS 291 Internship enrollment, or grading, please contact mecps@uci.edu.