1. Why can't I register for UNIV or ENCO for my internship during the summer?

CPT registration requirements

• Before research stage: Register for UNIV099 via Handshake and apply for CPT.
• After entering research stage: Register for CMSC898 and apply for CPT.

Research stage = completed all required coursework and/or enrolled solely in CMSC898 during the previous semester.

Under the current ISSS policy, if you have remaining coursework but have been taking only 898 or 899, you are no longer eligible for UNIV099. You must sign up for CMSC898 for CPT.

What this means for you

• Plan your course registration carefully. Avoid registering only for 898 or 899 if you still have required coursework remaining.

Once you have completed all required coursework and are registering only for CMSC898, your registration options will be limited to CMSC898 or CMSC899 after you advance to candidacy.

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2. I got an internship for X hours for the Fall or Spring semester. Can I also hold any RA or TA?

Yes, with adjustments.

International students are limited to 20 hours per week total for all employment during the semester (including internships plus assistantships). Graduate assistantships can be either part-time (10 hours) or full-time (20 hours). You must adjust your assistantship accordingly.

Example structure

• Internship: X hours per week (X ≤ 10)
• TA or RA: 10 hours per week (counts as part-time, includes 5 credits of tuition remission)
• Optional hourly RA: (10 − X) hours per week (no tuition remission)

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3. CPT and OPT applications, I-20 extension, and part-time enrollment requests: academic advisor

If you are requesting CPT, OPT, an I-20 extension, or part-time enrollment authorization, please follow the guidelines below.

• Always list your primary academic advisor on forms that require academic approval.
• Only list the CS Graduate Office as your advisor if your academic advisor is unavailable or you do not currently have one.
• These requests involve academic progress and enrollment questions that must be reviewed by your advisor or the Graduate Office.

After submitting your request in iTerp or to ISSS, notify your advisor (or the Graduate Office, if applicable) with the required information below. If you are listing the CS Graduate Office, please also submit this form to ensure timely processing.

CPT and OPT applications

• Number of credits or courses you are taking this semester
• Expected date of thesis or dissertation defense
• Expected date of thesis or dissertation electronic submission (required)

I-20 extension request

• Basis for extension request, which may include: loss of credits upon transferring to the University of Maryland; change of major; change in research topic; unexpected research problems; medical condition; other compelling academic reasons; or MEI (Maryland English Institute).
• Student is expected to complete program of study by (date).
• List courses remaining for degree completion.
• Does this student have a required dissertation or thesis? (Yes / No)
• Will the upcoming term be the student's final semester? (Yes / No)
• Please provide any information about the academic or medical circumstances that have led to the student needing more time to complete the degree.
• Has the student been making normal progress towards the completion of their degree program?
• Do you recommend that this student be given additional time to continue their study?

Part-time authorization

• Basis for part-time authorization
• Academic term for part-time status
• Recommended number of credit hours
• Anticipated degree completion date

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4. Do I need to register for summer, and which session should I register for?

Summer registration is required for students who are:

• Planning to graduate during the summer, or
• Participating in internships during the summer term, or
• Required by their fellowship terms.

Summer registration is required for students planning to graduate during the summer unless you complete all your degree requirements between terms.

Summer consists of two sessions, Session I and Session II. Registration deadlines can be found on OES's academic calendar.

• Domestic students: it does not matter which session you register for.
• International students: you should register for the session in which you plan to complete all your graduation requirements.

Course registration

• Students not yet advanced to candidacy: register for CMSC898.
• Students who have advanced to candidacy: register for either CMSC898 or CMSC899.
• If you need permission for CMSC898: submit your request through the Course Registration Permission form.
• If you need permission for CMSC899: email the Grad Office to request registration permission. Include the following in your email:
  • Your UID (University ID)
  • Session section number (note: Summer Session I and II have different section numbers)
  • Number of credits you need to register for

Special registration notes

• Note that summer research section numbers differ from those in Fall or Spring. (See 898, 899, 799, and 798 section numbers.)
• Off-campus internship or individual study (I1 or I2): if you are off campus or on an internship, register for "I" sections in summer (replace the zero in the course number with the letter "I"). These sections are for students not required to come to campus, and you will be charged the off-campus mandatory student services fee.

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5. 898 and 899 courses during summer

Be aware of summer tuition fees for 899 credits. If you secure a summer RA position (provided you are registered and have had a continuous appointment in the preceding academic year), tuition remission will cover 8 credits. Without a payroll position, you may need to pay full tuition at the out-of-state rate, depending on your residency classification. For more details on tuition and fees, please visit the Extended Studies (EXST) tuition and fees page.

CMSC graduate assistantships are typically based on 9.5-month appointments, meaning they become inactive over summer unless you receive specific, approved funding for a separate summer appointment.

Summer Session doctoral candidacy (899*, 829*) tuition and fees

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6. Considerations for termination or reduction of your graduate assistantship

If you plan to start an internship before the semester ends and need to reduce or terminate your assistantship, please be aware that your tuition remission benefits will be reduced or rescinded accordingly. It is crucial to plan your internship start dates with this potential impact in mind. If your advisor agrees to cover your tuition fees, you and your advisor should contact payroll to arrange the payment.

If you decide to reduce or terminate your graduate assistantship and require proof via a letter, please follow these steps:

1. Consult with ISSS: before taking action, talk to ISSS to learn the process. They will require a letter confirming the termination or reduction of your RA appointment.
2. Email the payroll office coordinator: send an email to the coordinator of the payroll office (UMIACS: umiacs-payroll [-at-] umiacs [dot] umd [dot] edu; CS: payroll [-at-] cs [dot] umd [dot] edu) stating the exact date of your RA appointment termination or the specifics of the reduction (for example, from 20 hours to 10 hours per week). Include your advisor in this email to indicate their approval of the change, and also cc the graduate coordinator.
3. Request a termination or reduction letter: use the letter request link to submit a request for a termination or reduction letter. This letter is typically sent within 2 to 3 business days.
4. Submit the letter to ISSS: once you receive the termination or reduction letter, submit it to ISSS to obtain CPT approval.
5. Inform the payroll office of CPT approval: send a copy of your CPT approval document to the payroll office.

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7. Can I apply for 40 hours per week CPT? How should I go about it?

It is possible, but permission for such an arrangement is granted only in exceptional cases and is authorized on a case-by-case basis by the ISSS office. Follow these steps if you need to apply for full-time CPT:

1. Consult with ISSS: discuss your situation with an ISSS advisor to understand the specific regulations and obtain preliminary approval.
2. Employer statement: obtain a statement from your internship employer explaining why part-time employment (20 hours per week or less) is not feasible during your internship.
3. Advisor support letter: it is strongly recommended to get a support letter from your academic advisor endorsing your need for a full-time internship.
4. On-campus RA termination letter: request a termination letter for your on-campus RA or TA position via the letter request link. (The letter will also include details about funding for the next semester once your internship ends.)

Additional information can be found on the ISSS website: Special Requests for Full-Time CPT During the Semester for Required Research Experiences (799, 898, 899 only).

7. Completion Term vs. Graduation

Completion Term vs. Graduation Term for International Students

For most students graduating in the regular Spring or Fall semesters, the completion term and graduation term are generally the same. However, international students should understand that these are two separate concepts.

The graduation deadline is set by the Graduate School and is typically much earlier than the end of the semester. 

• For PhD students, the final dissertation submission deadline is usually around April for Spring graduation and November for Fall graduation.

Your completion term, however, is determined by when you actually complete all degree requirements. As long as you finish all requirements by the last day of the semester, your completion term remains that semester, even if you miss the earlier graduation deadline.

This distinction is particularly important for international students because your completion term, rather than your graduation term, determines your official program completion date for immigration purposes and may affect your I-20, OPT eligibility, and other post-completion immigration processes.

Therefore, international students should plan for both:

• Graduation deadlines, if they wish to graduate in a particular semester.
• Their completion term, to ensure it aligns with their immigration plans.

Completion Terms 

Unlike graduation terms, which are limited to Spring, Summer, and Fall, completion terms also include:

• Winter Completion Term (See Academic Calendar)
• Summer I Completion Term (See Academic Calendar)
• Summer II Completion Term (See Academic Calendar)

For example, there is no Winter graduation term, but there is a Winter completion term for degree completion and immigration purposes. Similarly, there are two Summer completion terms.

Completing Between Regular Semesters

Things become more complicated when you finish your degree after the regular semester’s graduation deadline but during an in-between term.

From a graduation perspective, the process is relatively straightforward. If you complete all degree requirements after the graduation deadline for the current term but before the start of the next regular semester, you may be eligible for in-between term graduation without registering for the upcoming semester.

Spring completion requires additional planning. If you also wish to participate in the Spring commencement ceremony, you must complete your defense by the required commencement eligibility deadline (typically around mid-May).

If you expect to complete your degree during one of these in-between periods, especially if you have a job offer or are planning to begin OPT, you should:

• Consult the Graduate Program Office regarding graduation-related requirements and procedures.
• Consult your ISSS advisor to ensure your completion term and immigration timeline are properly planned.

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