On-Campus Employment

On-campus employment for F-1 and J-1 students is limited to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters and up to 40 hours per week during the summer term and official university breaks.

F-1 and J-1 students may work on campus while simultaneously participating in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Pre-Completion Academic Training (AT), provided that these activities do not interfere with academic progress.

For example, during the fall and spring semesters, students may work up to 20 hours per week on campus and an additional 20 hours per week of part-time CPT or Pre-Completion Academic Training.

Students may hold multiple on-campus positions simultaneously; however, the combined total of all on-campus employment must remain within these limits. Students are responsible for monitoring their total work hours and ensuring compliance with immigration and university requirements.

Many international students work in campus locations like the USC Bookstore, USC Department of Public Safety, libraries, hospitality services, transportation services or are employed through a scholarship, fellowship or assistantship in their academic department. Visit the USC Career Center online or in person for helpful job search resources.

Once a job is secured, it’s a good idea to sign up for direct deposit to receive payment for hourly work, stipends and reimbursements.

International students are not eligible for Federal Work-Study positions, which are funded by the U.S. government and generally available only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Work-study opportunities are commonly advertised as “College Work-Study Preferred (CWSP).”

Any international student working on campus must be enrolled in the minimum number of units below to qualify as a student employee through USC Payroll.

For F-1 and J-1 students, these minimums are separate from full-time enrollment requirements for maintaining immigration status. Working on campus does not authorize students to drop below full-time enrollment unless OIS has approved a Reduced Course Load (RCL) or another exception applies.

The minimum enrollment requirements for on-campus employment are: 

• 6 units for undergraduate students
• 4 units for master’s degree students
• 3 units for doctoral-level students

The following exceptions apply:

• Final Semester:* Students in their final semester may work on campus even if they are enrolled below the minimum units listed above, provided they submit their SEVIS Final Semester Check to confirm eligibility with OIS.
• Thesis/Dissertation or Qualifying Exam Stage: Graduate students who register in thesis, dissertation or qualifying exam coursework (594/794/800) are considered to be enrolled full time, regardless of the unit value. An RCL is not required in these circumstances, and students remain eligible for on-campus employment.

*To work on campus and be paid through USC Payroll during their final semester, students must have their STARS report updated to confirm that they are in their final semester. Please note that this is a separate process from submitting the SEVIS Final Semester Check request to OIS. Updating the STARS report requires the student’s academic advisor to apply the student’s remaining courses toward their degree and enter a “degree check” in the Student Information System (SIS). This action prompts STARS to determine whether all graduation requirements have been met. It may take approximately 24 to 48 hours after the degree check is completed for USC Payroll Services to receive the updated information needed to process payroll paperwork.

Immigration regulations allow international students to work at an off-campus location, if:

• The employer is educationally affiliated with USC. At present, only employment at Hebrew Union College and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) is considered on-campus employment.
• The educational affiliation is associated with USC’s established curriculum or is related to a graduate-level research project that USC has contracted to perform.
• The employment at this off-campus location is an integral part of the student’s academic program.

For clarification on whether employment at an off-campus location qualifies as on-campus employment, please consult with an OIS advisor.

While USCIS regulations provide a variety of opportunities for F-1 and J-1 international students to be employed during their time in F-1/J-1 student status, working without proper authorization is a serious violation of this student status. Please speak with an OIS advisor about any concerns.

F-1 Student Employment

J-1 Student Employment

U.S. Taxes