SE PhD Career & Professional Development

Internships

An approved internship is a valuable opportunity for a student to gain practical experience integral to their program of study, thereby allowing them to develop additional technical and professional skills. Many PhD students engage in summer internships in the post-prospectus dissertation phase of their program of study.

Students find internships in a variety of ways, most often through their research advisor’s professional network, including alumni and industry connections. Students may also work with the College of Engineering Career Development Office to find other opportunities. Handshake is the Career Development Office’s online system for job and internship listings, which is exclusively for BU undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni.

Requirements and Grading
All students must have completed 2 full semesters before registering for SE810 and embarking on an internship. The internship site and project must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor and the Associate Division Head*. Students will be registered for the SE810 Internship course by the Graduate Programs Manager. After which, students submit an PHD Internship Summary to be graded Pass or Fail. Student internships will be highlighted in the Student Spotlight section on the website.

International Students *
International Students need to be authorized for Career Practical Training (CPT) for an internship placement. In order to apply for CPT authorization, international PhD students need to follow these steps prior to going to ISSO:

Secure a job offer and obtain a written offer letter.
Complete a CPT Form (sections 1, 2, 3 only and the Student Acknowledgement page)
Submit the completed CPT form, job offer, and SE_PhD Internship Experience Approval Form to se@bu.edu

You may request CPT authorization from the ISSO in one of two ways:

Call the ISSO at 617-353-3565 to schedule a CPT appointment with your ISSO advisor, or
Students bring the completed and signed CPT Form and Acknowledgement along with F-1 immigration documents to request drop-off processing of the CPT request. Completed requests will be evaluated for approval within five business days.

After CPT Authorization
Once you have been granted CPT authorization for a specific placement, make certain to read ISSO FAQs for CPT, which answers many frequently asked questions related to the limits of CPT authorization, fair labor standards for unpaid internships, and rules for employment verification and taxation for paid placements.

Career Development

Professional Development

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