Internship Requirements

As experiential opportunities are becoming a necessity for students to become competitive in either a technical or research oriented career in industry, we are starting to see the number of graduate students participating in experiential opportunities increase. If you have been offered an internship or plan to be involved in an internship, you will need to follow these procedures: 

Allow appropriate lead time to finish all steps necessary for your internship.

For Domestic Students

  1. Thesis master's and Ph.D. students must first have an open discussion with your faculty advisor including issues surrounding intellectual property in your particular lab.
  2. Obtain a copy of your offer letter. If you or your faculty advisor (as applicable) have concerns about non-compete or non-disclosure agreements, please contact the Director of Student Legal Services.
  3. For thesis students, obtain written approval (email will suffice) from your faculty advisor to participate in this experience. For non-thesis students, obtain approval from Tammy Siemers.
  4. Send your offer letter and written approval documents to Tammy Siemers (tsiemers@purdue.edu) (via email will suffice.)
  5. Thesis students: You will also need to include a paragraph explaining how the training is integral to your degree/research/curriculum requirements along with your expected graduation date.  This is a question they will ask the approved on the CPT form. 
  6. You will then be enrolled in an internship course (BME 69699) for each semester you are away. This course will allow your internship to be transcripted, keep health insurance current, keep you in full time status and preserve any student loan deferments. 
  7. If your are being paid on an assistantship or fellowship, use SuccessFactors timeoff function to request  a leave of absence by selecting "other leave" and choosing "Unpd >22  days option. Contact the employment center for any questions you may have about your leave.
  8. At the end of your internship, you will report out to your faculty advisor what experiences you gained and provide a copy of your updated CV or resume to the Grad Office.  It is highly recommended that you also obtain a letter of recommendation from either your supervisor or a project leader as well. 
  9. At the end of each semester, you will receive a grade of either a satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U).

For International Students

  1. Thesis master's and Ph.D. students must first have an open discussion with your faculty advisor including issues surrounding intellectual property in your particular lab.
  2. Obtain a copy of your offer letter. If you or your faculty advisor (as applicable) have concerns about non-compete or non-disclosure agreements, please contact the Director of Student Legal Services.
  3. Send your offer letter and written approval documents to Tammy Siemers (tsiemers@purdue.edu) (via email will suffice.)
  4. For thesis students, obtain written approval (email will suffice) from your faculty advisor to participate in this experience. For non-thesis students, obtain approval from Tammy Siemers.  
  5. Thesis students: You will also need to include a paragraph explaining how the training is integral to your degree/research/curriculum requirements along with your expected graduation date.  This is a question they will ask the approved on the CPT form.
  6. You will then be enrolled in an internship course (BME 69699) for each semester you are away. This course will allow your internship to be transcripted, keep health insurance current, keep you in full time status and preserve any student loan deferments. 
  7. Please submit the following documents to the External Relations and Professional Development Specialist in the Grad Office:
    • Offer letter
    • Email/written consent from faculty advisor
  8. Complete the directions on ISS website on how to apply for CPT.  Make sure you put Tammy Siemers down for your advisor.
  9. If your are being paid on an assistantship or fellowship, use SuccessFactors timeoff function to request  a leave of absence by selecting "other leave" and choosing "Unpd >22 Days Personal option. Contact the employment center for any questions you may have about your leave.
  10.  Hand in completed CPT form and offer letter to ISS in your in-person appointment.
  11. At the end of your internship, you will report out to your faculty advisor what experiences you gained and provide a copy of your updated CV or resume to the Grad Office.  It is highly recommended that you also obtain a letter of recommendation from either your supervisor or a project leader as well. 
  12. At the end of each semester, you will receive a grade of either a satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U).