New federal immigration guidelines on the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) program mean that WashU international students will no longer be able to pursue internships unless they are required to complete their major. 

Student Life reviewed the around 160 majors listed on the WashU website, and none explicitly required an internship to graduate. None of the four students interviewed said their majors required an internship. 

The CPT program is the primary method for international students on F-1 visas to complete off-campus work opportunities and internships. Previously, students could pursue internships as part of elective credits, but on Aug. 12, 2026, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announced it was applying a stricter interpretation of the existing policy to only authorize CPT if required for a major. The employer must now also have a formal cooperative agreement with WashU.

One international student interviewed said they had to drop their planned internship because of the new policy. All international students interviewed about the new guidelines requested anonymity due to concerns about losing their legal status. 

“In this country I don’t feel as welcomed, nor do I feel like I have the same equity as domestic students to build my career,” said an international student in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. 

Although WashU has updated its website to reflect the policy changes, four international students interviewed by Student Life said they have not received any communication from WashU on the issue. The WashU Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) did not respond to requests for comment before publication. Kedra Tolson, the associate vice chancellor for University communications, declined to comment. 

Some students said they were frustrated with the lack of communication from WashU. 

“I think that [for] these [federal] updates, they should be sending out messages as soon as they drop,” said one international student in the McKelvey School of Engineering. 

The SEVP’s first broadcast stated the change was because it had “observed a rise in CPT authorizations that do not meet regulatory requirements, specifically those not constituting an integral part of an established curriculum.” 

Another international student in the College of Arts & Sciences hoped to stay in America after graduation, but now worries they may have to return to their country of origin instead. 

“I learned the knowledge in America. I want to try it in America. It’s that simple,” the student said. 

If international students now wish to do internships, they will have to go through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. OPT provides students with a 12-month pool of work authorization or up to an additional 24 months of post-graduation OPT for STEM majors. Since pre-graduation OPT subtracts from that post-graduation allotment, students have traditionally favored CPT for summer internships and part-time work. 

Additionally, while CPT is authorized by University officials, OPT requires approval from federal immigration services, which typically involves application fees and longer processing times.

The guideline changes come amidst other restrictions on international student life. A separate Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule taking effect on Sept. 15, 2026, replaces the previous “duration of status” system, which lets international and exchange students stay in the country as long as they maintain legal status, with a flat four-year maximum on all F and J visas. The regulation is actively being challenged in court. 

For many international students, like another student in McKelvey, the mounting regulatory hurdles are prompting a shift in long-term plans.

“I feel like they [international students] are changing their plans of studying in the U.S. Because of these changes, a lot of international students are applying to schools in the U.K., Singapore, and Europe as a substitute,” the student said. 

Coby Rinke and Tanvi Gorre contributed to the reporting of this article.