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J-1 Intern Eligibility

Internship programs are offered to graduate students and undergraduate students who have a degree requirement for practical field experience. Internship programs provide unique opportunities for interns to gain practical experience on the process of conducting research in their academic field.  The U.S. internship must fulfill the educational objectives for the intern’s degree program at his or her home institution.

The Student Intern program is a structured work-based learning program that:

  • Reinforces an intern’s academic study,
  • Exposes the intern to American techniques, methodologies, and expertise and expands their knowledge and skills, and
  • Enhances the intern’s knowledge of American culture and society

Arts and Culture
Social Sciences
Education
Library Science
Management and Business
Counseling and Social Services
Commerce and Finance

Information Media and Communications
Engineering
Architecture
Mathematics
Industrial Occupations
Public Administration and Law
The Sciences


The student intern must meet the following requirements:   

  • Verifiable English language skills
  • Primarily in the United States to engage in a student internship program rather than to engage in employment 
  • Intern is in good academic standing with the post-secondary academic institution outside the United States
  • Intern will return to the academic program and fulfill and obtain a degree; program end date must be at least 30 days before degree completion
  • Provide evidence of sufficient finances 

Length of Program

  • The minimum length of an intern program is three weeks; the maximum length is 12 months per degree/major.  No extensions beyond the 12 months are permitted.
  • The internship program must be full-time with a minimum of 32 hours a week.

Degree Eligibility

  • The intern must be currently enrolled in and pursuing a degree at a degree-or certificate-granting post-secondary academic institution outside the U.S.
  • Certification of good academic standing with his/her institution.
  • Certification that the internship program at the University of Maryland, College Park will fulfill the educational objectives for your current degree program.

Their degree information must be verified by the following:

English Language

The J-1 Student Intern must possess English language skills sufficient to function on a day-to-day basis and to successfully participate in their program. English language proficiency can be verified through one of the following:

  • English Language Tests
    • English language test - TOEFL with a minimum score of 80
    • English language test - IELTS with a minimum score of 5.5
    • TOEIC Listening and Reading Test with a minimum score of 400 on listening and 400 on reading
    • NEW! Duolingo English Test with a minimum score of 75
  • English Proficiency Interview can be conducted by one of the following:
  • Exceptions for citizens of English Speaking Countries
  • Scholars who have received a degree from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. (with the exception of Puerto Rico) or a nationally recognized university in one of the countries on the list of English Speaking Countries do not need to submit TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores. This exemption also applies to scholars who are currently studying for a degree at an institution in the U.S. or one of the countries on the list of English Speaking Countries, but will receive their degree before beginning their appointment at the University of Maryland.

    We do not accept foreign-based evaluation tools as proof of English proficiency, for we are unable to determine if the level of proficiency is equivalent to the minimums of the accepted evaluations listed above. It is important that all J-1 Exchange Visitors meet the same standards of English proficiency so they can successfully participate in their program, function in the U.S. on a daily basis, follow lab safety rules, and handle any emergency that may arise.

Financial Support

Student Interns must provide financial support of $2,600 per month. Personal finances can be documented with a bank letter that is signed by a bank official on bank stationery, or with a recent bank statement. 

Repeat Participation

To be eligible for another internship program, UMD will review the following eligibility requirements:

  • Repeat participation is limited to 12 months per degree/major. 
  • The internship must fulfill the educational objectives for the intern’s degree program at their home institution.
  • The intern must be enrolled in and pursuing a degree at a degree-or certificate-granting post-secondary academic institution outside the U.S.
  • The intern must be in good academic standing with their institution.
  • The intern is not eligible for employment at the University of Maryland following the completion of the internship.
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