Can I work more than 20 hours per week?

Students in F-1 status are allowed to work on-campus (at MIT, for MIT, paid by MIT) Part-Time (maximum 20 hours per week) only while school is in session (Fall and Spring semesters). Students can work on-campus more than 20 hours a week only during official Institute vacation periods of at least one week in length (IAP, Spring Break, Summer).

If you are required to be enrolled in and taking classes/subjects during a common vacation term (IAP or Spring), then that period is not considered a vacation period for your program and you would only be allowed to work on-campus a maximum of 20 hours per week.

If there are questions about off-campus employment and number of hours per week you may be eligible to work under off-campus employment authorization, please consult the ISO website pages on off-campus employment (F-1 Curricular Practical Training, F-1 Optional Practical Training, J-1 Academic Training).  F-1 visa holders should also plan to attend an F-1 CPT/OPT Employment Information Session (offered weekly, and sign-ups are available on iMIT) for more details on off-campus employment.  J-1 visa holders with questions about off-campus employment can contact their ISO Advisor after consulting the Employment page on the ISO website.