NOTE: To obtain credit toward graduation credits, you should seek out your Academic Advisor/Dean to discuss further. Not every major/college at UM has this option. Students may not enroll in TIP if receiving credit through another UM internship course.
Registering for TIP
Students must have an internship offer in order to register their experience and participate in TIP.
To register your experience, you must complete the learning contract prior to the start date of your internship. If your internship will be over the course of multiple semesters, you must submit a new learning contract for each semester.
*Please note: If you are registering for TIP after the UM add/drop deadline, processing times may be slightly delayed. Thank you for your patience.
Some of the information you will be asked to provide will include:
- Company name
- Internship title
- Supervisor’s contact information (name, title and email)
- Start & end date of the internship
- Number of hours per week you’ll be working
Note: Required assignments for the Toppel Internship Program will appear under a UMI course on Blackboard once you have enrolled in the program.
*Please note: If you are an international student in need of CPT authorization, you must also request authorization by completing this form.
*Please note: Students cannot receive credit from multiple academic institutions within the same semester.
Requesting a Credit Verification Letter
Some internship applications require proof that academic credit can be earned when applying.
In order to request the letter verifying you are eligible for credit, please complete this form.
Please allow 3-5 business days to receive the letter.
Once you receive an offer, you should plan to enroll in TIP and participate in the orientation session.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
International students in need of Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization must participate in TIP because proof of enrollment in at least one internship credit is required by law.
To be eligible for CPT, you must:
- Be in lawful F-1 status at the time you submit your application and maintain valid F-1 status throughout the internship period.
- Have been enrolled in valid, lawful status as a full-time student for at least one full academic year.
Refer to the ISSS website for more information on the application and authorization procedures.
Please allow up to 10 business days for the process to be completed. It is extremely important that you plan ahead. Do not wait until the last minute because you CANNOT begin working without completing each step and receiving authorization from ISSS.
Funding Resources
Learn more about funding opportunities through The Mark and Maureen Angelo Family Endowment Fund.
Types of Internships
You can participate in TIP whether your internship is paid or unpaid. If it is unpaid, we strongly recommend you participate so that you walk away from the experience with tangible compensation in the form of academic credit.
Generally, you will engage in either a part-time internship or a full-time internship.
- Part-time: working no more than 20 hours per week, totaling approximately 160 working hours, most common during the academic year (Fall/Spring semesters)
- Full-time: working between 21-40 hours per week, totaling approximately 320 working hours, only during Summer
NOTE: International students under CPT cannot work more than 20 hours per week during the Fall/Spring and cannot work more than 40 hours per week during the Summer.
Length of Internship
Internships are generally offered for one semester. You may find that your employer wishes to hire you for an academic year or multiple consecutive semesters. As long as you are open to this, Toppel will support your internship experience through TIP.
The academic calendar can be used as a guideline if you are in need of specific dates for your internship. We do recommend that you consider your academic obligations and build your schedule to accommodate for busier times (e.g., projects, papers, finals).
While Toppel does not have a specific requirement for the length of your internship, we do want to ensure that you are getting a meaningful experience. If you have specific questions or concerns about the length of your internship, please contact us at toppel-internships@miami.edu or 305-284-5451.
NOTE: International students under CPT are only authorized to work during specific dates which are based on the academic calendar. If you wish to continue your internships through the winter intersession (December 16 - January 12), you must fill out a learning contract by December 15 - no exceptions).
Internship Agreements
Some internships require a signed internship agreement between the organization and the internship site. Certain countries abroad also require these agreements.
The University of Miami is committed to supporting our students in their internship endeavors. As such, we have developed an internship agreement sample that we are able to provide to students in need of an agreement. Students must also participate in the Toppel Internship Program. This process will take at minimum 3-5 business days.
Please note: If the internship organization requires the use of its own agreement, the agreement review process could take several months.
If you have specific questions, please contact us at toppel-internships@miami.edu or 305-284-5451.
