Graduate & International Students

Graduate Students

Potential student employees who may be enrolled in graduate school at The University of Texas at Dallas should be in good academic standing per their specific academic program requirements and enrolled for the minimum amount of eligible hours as specified in the university’s Graduate Student Catalog.

Graduate students should be aware that unlike academic research, teaching or graduate assistant positions, regular hourly student employment positions do not include additional tuition or insurance benefits. Graduate students participating in regular hourly student employment are able to work and earn on- and off-campus (commiserate with proper work authorization) just as undergraduates can but do not receive ancillary employment benefits. Graduate students are allowed to work on campus until the last day of final exams in their final semester.

International Students

Most international students studying at the University of Texas at Dallas are able to participate in authorized on-campus employment. Working off-campus will not be permitted without specific permission from the ISSO or clearance from U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. All international students participating in regular hourly student employment must maintain a full course of study and have valid documentation in order to work on campus. The International Student Services Office is UTD’s Designated School Official in relation for all matters pertinent to F-1 and foreign student affairs. The Student Employment Office is in regular contact with ISSO to uphold all relevant employment policies and applicable VISA restrictions for offers of on or off-campus employment. For more specifics on international employment restrictions please visit the ISSO webpage listed here.

Please be prepared to submit requisite documentation if needed at time of onboarding. The University of Texas at Dallas Student Employment Office will not allow students who do not have proper work authorization to work on or off-campus.

F-1 VISAs

Students here on F-1 VISA are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters.

Full-time employment (21+ hours per week) is only allowed only during university-designated breaks and with supervisor’s approval for continuing enrolled students. No special permission is necessary, however, a valid I-20 issued by The University of Texas at Dallas is required. Graduating F-1 students are allowed to work on campus until the last day of final exams in their final semester.

The following statements apply to all F-1 visa students:

• Students are limited to one experience (i.e. CPT internship, job, etc.) at a time and one experience per semester.
• Students cannot hold both an on campus job and a Curricular Practical Training (CPT) internship at the same time. F-1 student workers who want to pursue CPT must end their current student worker assignment.
• Students must receive CPT authorization before starting their internship employment. F-1 visa students can contact ISSO for more information regarding CPT. https://isso.utdallas.edu/employment-and-internships/is-employment/cpt/

J-1 VISAs

Students here on J-1 VISA are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. 

There are additional considerations concerning allowable employment for J-1 VISA students, so for specifics it is recommended to also visit the ISSO web guide for J-1 employment.

Full-time employment (21+ hours per week) is allowed only during university-designated breaks and with supervisor’s approval for continuing enrolled students. If your DS-2019 is issued by another agency then there must be written authorization from the program sponsor allowing you to work on the UTD campus. Graduating J-1 students are allowed to work on campus until the last day of final exams in their final semester.

Other VISA Categories

Our students come from a variety of countries and as there are many different U.S. visa categories, there are many different considerations for these students when searching for employment. For a full listing and additional details, we encourage a visit to the ISSO web guide for VISA categories.