COLLEGES OF ARTS & SCIENCES, PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, AND THE
HAMILTON HOLT SCHOOL
INTERNSHIP INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
As part of your educational experience here at Rollins, you may be eligible to gain study-related, practical work
experience through an internship. The following guidelines provide you information to begin your search. While
internships are not guaranteed, our goal is to assist you in every way we can. The Offices of Career and Life
Planning and International Student & Scholar Services will work together with you during this process. Frequent
communication with them is essential.
Policies listed in this section are subject to change. In order to stay current with the U.S. Citizenship &
Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations, you must be in regular contact with the Office of International Student
& Scholar Services. For the most recent information, refer to the International Student & Scholar Services
webpage, www.rollins.edu/int-students. You can also refer to the internship section of the Office of Career and
Life Planning webpage – http://www.rollins.edu/careerservices/internships/index.html
ELIGIBILITY FOR AN INTERNSHIP
International students in F-1 status are eligible to participate in study-related internship positions only with
approval from the Office of Career and Life Planning and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorization
issued by the Office of International Student & Scholar Services. Students are responsible for completing all
necessary documentation before beginning any internship. Your Form I-20 must be updated with CPT
authorization. Do not let it expire! Written proof of authorization to work should be shown to an employer prior
to beginning the internship.



Students must be fully matriculated in a degree program as a full-time student (12 credits for
undergraduate; 9 credits for graduate students).
Students must be in F-1 status and a full-time student for one full academic year before they are eligible
to work off-campus.
Students who meet the eligibility requirements may participate in an internship if it is related to your
program of study.
EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS
Students may work in an internship position:
 Part-time (maximum 20 hours weekly) during the academic year
 Full-time during the winter, spring, and summer breaks from school
Students working on campus in a Graduate Assistantship or in an on-campus job cannot work in an internship if
the total hours working will exceed 20 hours weekly during the academic year.
Office of International Student & Scholar Services
10/08/2014
HOW DO I FIND AN INTERNSHIP?
Internships can be found in a variety of ways. There is a list of over 400 internships that have been pre-approved
by Career and Life Planning to receive interdisciplinary academic credit.
Internships on Jobs for Tars:
A listing of pre-approved credit-bearing internships can be found through the Jobs for Tars database available in
FoxLink. Accessing the database will allow you to search internships utilizing multiple criteria including,
organization, career field, credit requirement, term offered and salary.
If you would like to search for a national or international internship, the Office of Career and Life Planning also
has both print and on-line resources to help you in your search. Please stop by the office at 170 W. Fairbanks for
more information.
Finally, you can create your own internship. Think about a local company or non-profit organization where you
would like to intern and give them a call. Explain that you are a Rollins student and you are interested in doing an
internship in the field of _______ (your major). Be sure to do some research on the organization before you call,
so you are prepared to discuss why you would like to do an internship there. You might be pleasantly surprised by
their response—Internship opportunities are not always advertised!
If you are interested in participating in an internship that has not been pre-approved for credit by the
Office of Career and Life Planning either locally, nationally, or internationally, you must submit the Internship
Posting Form via Jobs for Tars completed by your internship employer to the Office of Career and Life
Planning. This form is available in the Office of Career and Life Planning and on the Information for Internship
Sponsors page on the Career and Life Planning website:
www.rollins.edu/careerservices/employers/internshipsponsors.html.
APPLYING FOR INTERNSHIPS
Career and Life Planning recommends applying for at least 3 internships in case you are not selected for your first
choice. Most internship positions require that you submit a resume through e-mail followed by an on-site
interview with the employer. In addition, you may be asked to supply a cover letter. The Office of Career and Life
Planning is available to assist you in developing your resume. Finally, Career and Life Planning and the Office of
International Student & Scholar Services suggest you participate in a practice interview before you interview with
your potential internship employer.
INTERNSHIP FOR-CREDIT OR NOT-FOR-CREDIT?
For-Credit:
Once you earn 30 credit hours, you are eligible to participate in an academic internship for 2, 3, or 4 hours of
credit depending on the number of hours you plan to work at the site. If you decide to do the internship for credit,
you will need to submit an Academic Internship Registration Form by the Internship Registration deadline
posted each semester. This form is available through Foxlink under the appropriate student tab on the left side
column. You are also required to attend an Internship Orientation session before you begin work at your
internship site. You will receive your internship course syllabus and meet your internship professor at this
orientation.
Office of International Student & Scholar Services
10/08/2014
In order to receive CPT work authorization, the International Student Internship Approval Form must be
submitted to the Office of International Student & Scholar Services. You must obtain Curricular Practical
Training (CPT) work authorization on your Form I-20 before starting the internship.
Please note that students may only earn a maximum of 12 credits from internships toward their graduation
requirements.
Not-For-Credit:
You can participate in a not-for-credit internship after you have completed one academic year. In order to
participate in a not-for-credit internship, you may search the listing of internships on Jobs for Tars or submit the
Internship Posting Form via Jobs for Tars completed by your internship employer to the Office of Career and
Life Planning. This form is available in the Office of Career and Life Planning and on the Information for
Internship Sponsors page on the Career and Life Planning website:
www.rollins.edu/careerservices/employers/internshipsponsors.html..
In order to receive CPT work authorization, the International Student Internship Approval Form must be
submitted to the Office of International Student & Scholar Services. You must obtain Curricular Practical
Training (CPT) work authorization on your Form I-20 before starting the internship.
AUTHORIZATION TO WORK
In order for F-1 visa holders to start working:
 Students must submit the International Student Internship Approval Form to the Office of International
Student & Scholar Services.
 Students must receive a new Form I-20 with their CPT work authorization printed on it.
 You will be authorized to work for 1 semester (or a summer break) only! If you plan to work beyond that,
you must submit a new International Student Internship Approval Form and have your Form I-20
updated, prior to the expiration date of the current CPT authorization. Failure to keep your employment
authorization current will be a violation of your immigration status!
Our goal is to support you throughout your internship placement. To make the most of your work experience, stay
in touch with your career counselor, keep your work authorization current and notify us if there are any changes in
your work assignment.
In order to be paid for work you will need a Social Security number. Please consult with the Office of
International Student & Scholar Services for information about applying for a Social Security number and the
closest Social Security Administration location.
AFTER GRADUATION
F-1 visa students working in an internship position may continue to work with their employer after graduation by
applying for and receiving 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization. Check with the
Office of International Student & Scholar Services at least 3 months prior to your graduation for information on
how to apply for OPT.
Office of International Student & Scholar Services
10/08/2014
CHECKLIST FOR INTERNSHIP:
 If eligible to receive CPT work authorization, research Pre-approved Internship Opportunities on Jobs for
Tars.
 If you wish to do an internship not listed on Jobs for Tars, the internship supervisor must complete the
Internship Posting Form via Jobs for Tars and submit it to the Office of Career and Life Planning. This
form is available in the Office of Career and Life Planning and on the Information for Internship Sponsors
page on the Career and Life Planning website:
www.rollins.edu/careerservices/employers/internshipsponsors.html..
 Prepare a draft of your resume by attending a resume workshop or using the resume packet available in
the Office of Career and Life Planning.
 Have your resume critiqued by a staff member in Career and Life Planning.
Drop off your resume 8:30am-5:00pm (closed 12-1pm) and pick it up 24 hours later
 Apply to 3-5 internship opportunities you found in Jobs for Tars or through other sources.
Be sure to check your e-mail and voicemail on a regular basis for messages from employers
 Practice your interviewing skills.
Pick up an Interviewing Packet from the Office of Career and Life Planning
Make an appointment for a practice interview by calling (407) 646-2195
 Once you accept an offer from an Internship Site, complete a Credit Approval Form and turn it into the
Office of Career and Life Planning before the Registration Deadline (for-credit internship only)
Your faculty advisor must sign your Credit Approval Form
 Complete an Intent to Register Form and bring it to the Office of Career and Life Planning (For-Credit
Internships only)
 Submit International Student Internship Approval Form to the Office of International Student & Scholar
Services
 Receive a new Form I-20 with CPT authorization
Office of International Student & Scholar Services
10/08/2014