On-Campus Employment

On-Campus Work/Employment Information

ATTENTION: Engaging in unauthorized work/employment violates U.S. immigration regulations and can result in severe consequences, including the termination of a student’s immigration status, requiring their immediate departure from the U.S.

• U.S Work/Employment Overview
• Defining On-Campus Work/Employment
• Limitations For On-Campus Work/Employment
• On-Campus Work/Employment Resources
  • F-1 Student Resources
  • J-1 Student Resources
  • Special & Advanced Study Program Students
  • MIT Visiting Student Program (VSP)
• Additional Resources

U.S. Work/Employment Overview

Important Information For MIT International Students: U.S. federal regulations impose strict limitations on work/employment opportunities for international students. International students enrolled in an MIT degree program are eligible for limited on-campus work/employment.

Defining On-Campus Work/Employment

The U.S. government defines work/employment-related activities by the “nature of the work/employment-related activities, services, and/or duties performed”, regardless of whether it’s paid or unpaid, for a company outside the U.S. and/or a non-U.S. company. If a student provides a service or benefit to an employer, organization, or individual, proper work/employment authorization is required.

U.S. Work/Employment Categories

• On-Campus: “On-Campus” work/employment is defined as activities exclusively for MIT, at MIT, and/or funded by MIT (i.e., salary, stipends, fellowships, RA/TA-ships, housing benefits, honorarium, etc.). Activities off-campus, even if paid by MIT, may not qualify as on-campus employment.

• Off-Campus: “Off-Campus” work/employment is defined as activities that DO NOT meet the “On-Campus” work/employment criteria, requiring prior authorization from the ISO and/or USCIS. Examples include but are not limited to:
  • Activities performed at MIT, but they are not for MIT and/or funded by MIT.
  • Activities with a professor’s private company/companies.
  • Consulting or freelance work/employment.
  • Participation in another MIT student’s and/or professor’s startup.
  • Activities with/for a company outside the U.S.
  • Mentor/Mentee relationships in company/start-up.
  • Team project that provides a service/benefit.
  • Activities conducted at another school, university, institution, lab, etc. even if affiliated with MIT or part of an MIT award (research/teaching assistantship)

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Limitations For On-Campus Work/Employment

The total number of hours for on-campus work/employment is subject to a strict weekly limit, which includes the combined hours of ALL on-campus work/employment activities.

• During Required Academic Terms: During a program’s required academic terms (e.g., fall and spring), on-campus work/employment is limited to 20 hours per week or LESS.
• During Official Vacation Terms: During a program’s official vacation term (e.g., summer and IAP), students may work more than 20 hours per week, but ONLY if their program/department does not require coursework or enrollment during those terms.

IMPORTANT: Research Assistantships (RA), Teaching Assistantships (TA), and Fellowship Awards with service components count as on-campus work/employment at 100% and are considered equivalent to the 20-hour weekly limit for international students. 

NOTE: Some Fellowship Awards without service components may not be categorized as on-campus work/employment. Students should confirm with their academic department if unsure.

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On-Campus Work/Employment Resources

Understanding U.S. immigration rules and regulations regarding work/employment is crucial for a student’s success in the U.S. MIT international students should thoroughly review the resources on the toolbar of this webpage and through the direct links below:

• F-1 Students: F-1On-Campus Work/Employment webpage.

• J-1 Students: J-1On-Campus Work/Employment webpage.

• Special & Advanced Study Program Students: MIT Special and Advance Study Program (ASP) Students are NOT eligible for on-campus work/employment at MIT.

• MIT Visiting Student Program (VSP): International students taking part in the MIT Visiting Student Program (VSP) are NOT allowed to pursue work/employment or positions (paid or unpaid) outside the research activity with their host research group on-campus at MIT.

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Additional Resources

• ISO Main Employment webpage.
• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Working in the United States webpage.
• The Department of State (DOS) J-1 College and University Student webpage.

Disclaimer: The information on this webpage is for MIT students only. For additional questions, students should email their ISO Advisor directly.

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