Visiting Students & Interns

What is a Visiting (Research) Student?

Typically these are undergraduate or graduate students currently enrolled at a foreign university whose degree programs either require students to conduct research in another country, or permit research conducted in another country to meet the research requirements for their degree program. They will not be registered for courses or credits at Rutgers and arrive here to conduct research either required or integral to his/her degree. Certification from the home institution is required and there is a two year maximum term limitation.

Visiting (Research) Students must be fully funded by any combination of the following: Rutgers, home institution, government agency, or other bona fide funding agency. Evidence of funding support requirements are $1330/mo for undergraduate student and $1666/mo for graduate students. Exception: federal regulations permit visiting research students who are coming to Rutgers under the auspices of a formal institutional exchange agreement to be funded by personal or family funds.

The only employment permitted is that which the hosting Rutgers department may have offered to enhance the research the student will carry out at Rutgers. It is restricted to part-time (up to 20 hours per week) employment in the host department at Rutgers, and is limited to work that is integral to the research objectives of the student. Any departments, centers or institutes wishing to add Visiting Research Students to Rutgers payroll should classify them as Type 9 Fellow/Stipend-No Remission using Job Class Code 99641.

What is a Student Intern?

These are undergraduate or graduate students who are currently enrolled at a foreign university whose degree programs either require students to conduct an internship in another country, or permit an internship in another country to meet the requirements of their degree program. Certification from the home institution is required and the term may vary from one month to a maximum term of 12 months.

Student interns can take courses as part of their program and receive credit for those courses. Tuition and fees would apply. Courses should be discussed prior to the student intern’s arrival and incorporated into the Trainee/Internship Placement Plan (Form DS-7002) by the sponsoring professor.

Funding for student interns can come from any source, including 100% personal funds, government funds, Rutgers or home institution funding. The student must be able to show they have sufficient funding to support the duration of their stay.  Rutgers University requires evidence of $1309/month for undergraduate student interns and $1750/month for graduate student interns.  These amounts are subject to change but current rates can always be found on the J-1 Student Verification form.

Student interns may be paid or unpaid by Rutgers, but are required to perform the internship duties for a minimum of 32 hours per week. Student interns are not allowed employment outside of their internship. Any departments, centers or institutes wishing to add student interns to Rutgers payroll (Type 5 hourly employees) must complete the I-9 verification within the first 3 days of work. Internships cannot contain more than 20% clerical work. Additionally, all interns must be evaluated by the PI or sponsoring professor at the end (and in some cases in the middle) of their programs. A complete list of responsibilities for sponsoring a student intern can be found on the Global Services website https://global.rutgers.edu/international-scholars-students/for-rutgers-departments/sponsoring-students

Eligibility

  1. Be sponsored by a Rutgers unit/department and have arranged for professor/staff member to supervise you during your internship program
  2. Meet all student intern criteria on the Student Intern Verification Form
  3. Have a valid passport valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements).
  4. Show evidence of English proficiency
  5. Show sufficient proof of living expenses from any funding source, or combination of sources, including 100 percent personal funding.
  6. Show proof of adequate health insurance
  7. Paid any J-1 Student Intern Fees
  8. Evidence of current immigration status if currently in the United States

Sponsoring Student Interns

Rutgers is authorized to sponsor student interns on a J-1 status. Please be sure the potential intern and the sponsor unit/department are able meet the requirements below, before sponsoring a J-1 student intern, by submitting the Student Intern Verification Form. 

  1. The internship must be project/research based in student’s field of study
  2. The intern must return to their home institution after to complete their degree
  3. The internship is at least of 32 hours per week, which can be paid or unpaid
  4. The intern can perform clerical work, but no more than 20 percent. Internship may not involve child/elderly care, or provide therapy/medication
  5. Maximum duration of internship is 12 months
  6. Sponsoring professor/staff must create a Trainee/Intern Placement Plan (DS-7002)
  7. The internship must not displace U.S. workers

There is no requirement for a formal exchange agreement, or MOU, to be established in order for a student intern to be placed. However, some foreign institutions will require Rutgers to draft an agreement with the home institution and the student intern. Rutgers has over 300 international MOUs—and Rutgers Global–Partnerships facilitate these agreements.

Student Intern Appointment Process

Email the completed Student Intern Verification Form to international student adviser Carissa McCarthy at the Center for Global Services at carissam@global.rutgers.edu. Once you receive notification from Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services that the student intern has been approved, issue an invitation letter to the student intern. If you have problems accessing the Sunapsis portal, please contact Gina Antonatos at gantonatos@global.rutgers.edu.

  1. After you have entered the intern's email address, the student intern will receive an automatic notification to login and upload documents such as a passport copy, resume, and more. Feel free to coordinate with the Center for Global Services to complete the process.
  2. Stay in touch with the student intern throughout the process and keep Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services informed of the student intern's arrival date. The student intern may arrive up to 30 prior to the program start date, but must not arrive more than 30 days after the program start date.
  3. Assist the student intern with Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services' check-in process if necessary and ensure that program objectives are being followed

For More Information

For more information on Visiting Research Students and Student Internships, please contact the Rutgers Global website for more detailed information:  https://global.rutgers.edu/international-scholars-students/for-rutgers-departments/sponsoring-students