US universities review CPT rules for international students as higher education groups seek court relief, hearing on November 6

A lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s stricter interpretation of Curricular Practical Training (CPT) rules for international students is scheduled for a hearing on November 6. Four major higher education organisations are seeking to block the changes, which have led several US universities to suspend or limit CPT approvals, as per a report by Time of India's Lubna Kably.

The Association of American Universities (AAU), the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM) filed the lawsuit on October 5 in the US District Court (Massachusetts). They are seeking a preliminary injunction and a stay of agency action to pause the disputed interpretation while the case proceeds.

“America’s colleges and universities have long attracted the world’s best talent not only because of the high-quality education and research that they offer, but also because of the practical learning opportunities US institutions offer for students’ future professional lives – including programs like CPT,” Barbara R. Snyder, president at AAU said.


“Suddenly upending CPT just as the fall semester begins will have long-term negative consequences not only for our students and universities, but for all Americans,” she added.

The Presidents’ Alliance said the changes had already disrupted students’ plans with colleges and universities across the country having paused or halted CPT authorizations, and students have already lost internships and other placements.


CPT rules

The lawsuit challenges two messages issued on August 12 and 24, 2026, by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which operates under US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The messages launched a stricter reading of existing Curricular Practical Training (CPT) rules and stressed the responsibility of designated school officials who approve such training for F-1 international students.

CPT permits eligible F-1 students to gain practical experience directly linked to their academic courses. Under the new interpretation, the training must be a compulsory part of the degree curriculum and necessary for all students to graduate. This means internships that offer academic credits but are not mandatory may no longer be eligible for CPT authorisation.

Uncertainty for universities?

The organisations, as per TOI, argue that the Trump administration has effectively changed how the existing regulations are applied through administrative messages, without following the formal rulemaking process. They contend that the move has created uncertainty for universities and students who had relied on established practices to arrange internships, practicums and other forms of experiential learning.

NAFSA executive director and CEO Fanta Aw said the changes had placed university officials responsible for international student compliance in a difficult position. She said the abrupt changes had created “significant new restrictions and uncertainty” for designated school officials, who must advise international students and ensure that their institutions comply with immigration rules.

The plaintiffs have asked the court to intervene and grant a preliminary injunction while the case is pending, arguing that the revised interpretation threatens students’ access to practical learning opportunities and creates compliance risks for institutions without adequate notice.

Universities reassess CPT policies

Universities across the US are reassessing their CPT policies following the federal government's stricter interpretation of the rules. Restrictions differ across institutions and academic programmes. While some universities have temporarily suspended certain types of CPT approvals, others continue to accept applications that comply with the revised guidelines.

At Harvard University, several schools have stopped approving CPT for internships and training opportunities that do not meet the new requirements. The restrictions appear to affect placements at Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, the Graduate School of Design and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

According to Harvard's international office, CPT will be approved for F-1 students only if the training is a mandatory part of their degree programme, is essential for graduation and is offered by sponsoring employers under cooperative agreements with the university.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has temporarily paused new and pending CPT authorisation requests received or pending as of Aug 24, 2026, for training that is not required of all students in a degree programme.

The University of Pennsylvania, meanwhile, has resumed processing CPT requests where the practical training is an integral and required component of the student’s established curriculum. “This resumption applies only to requests that meet the current federal requirements,” the university states.

Berkeley has suspended applications for “Course Credit CPT”, but continues to process applications for degree programmes where an internship or field placement is a documented graduation requirement for all students. Yale University has also said it will process CPT requests when the training is integral to an established curriculum and required of all students in the programme for degree completion.

(With inputs from Times of India)