For International Students

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Welcoming International Students

International students can complete the IKNS degree as a full time student on an F-1/J-1 Visa in 16 months. You can customize your course selection to meet the full time enrollment requirements for F-1/J-1 students. Internship courses for CPT (Curricular Practical Training) are available as an IKNS elective to engage in company internships during your course of study. The IKNS Master of Science degree is STEM-accredited, enabling you to automatically gain practical work experience in the US for up to 3 years following your degree (OPT).

Schedule and duration of study for F-1/J-1 students

As a full time student, you will complete your degree in 16 months, starting at the end of August with the 1st Residency, and ending in the middle of the next December with the 3rd Residency. In the first fall term and in the spring term, you must be enrolled for at least 12 credits per term (most courses carry 3 credits each, so 12 credits typically equate to 4 courses). In the summer term, you can (but do not have to) enroll in electives and/or engage in an industry internship. You can customize your selection of elective courses to meet the in person course requirements for F-1/J-1 students: These include that, except for the summer term, the maximum number of online courses you take in any given term is one. The IKNS curriculum is structured such that you can meet these full time requirements while still taking advantage of IKNS' built-in flexibility. A typical schedule looks as follows:

  • Fall 1: Two required courses and two electives to meet the 4 course minimum requirement. Note that at most one of these four courses may be fully online.
  • Spring: Two required courses and two electives to meet the 4 course minimum requirement. Note that at most one of these four courses may be fully online.
  • Summer [optional]: Zero to two electives (your choice whether in-person or online; choices include the internship course for CPT)
  • Fall 2: Two required courses and any remaining electives for a total of 2-4 courses in fall 2. Note that at most one of these four courses may be fully online.
  • Total: 6 required courses and 6 electives.  

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Info Session For International Students 

(recorded on August 21, 2024)

IKNS Online Information Session - Aug 21, 2024 Play

This recorded webinar was designed for international prospective students and prospective students requiring a visa to study in the U.S.  Viewers of this webinar can expect to learn about the international student experience, visa requirements, internships with U.S.-based employers and OPT opportunities. In addition to meeting current international students, you will hear from our Career Design Lab and our academic advisors for international students.