Seize Your Superpower
International students bring a wealth of wisdom and life experience to UCSB from across the globe. As an international student, you have access to services that help you discover options for your career, gain experience to prepare for the future, get hired for internships and jobs, and explore graduate school for further education.
Career Services supports you in uncovering your career goals throughout your journey at UCSB. Whether you are seeking assistance with planning for work opportunities within the U.S. or beyond, we are here to help.
Key Campus Resources @ UCSB
Provided by the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) for currently enrolled students.
Discover Options: International Students
For complete information on assessing yourself, choosing majors, and exploring careers, review our starter tips to Discover Options in all careers as well as the specialized tips on this page.
Getting Started
As an international student, you bring a global perspective and cross-cultural skill set to any environment, including UCSB and your future workplace. When beginning your journey and selecting majors and careers, the following information is important to consider, particularly as you shift toward your long-term goals for where you hope to work.
Working in the United States
As a benefit of your academic program, you are currently eligible to enhance your learning experience by participating in on-campus employment and off-campus employment opportunities, if you meet certain criteria as outlined by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). By following the proper steps, you can apply to internships directly related to your major and positions of full-time employment directly related to your field of study.
If you are interested in a specific career path and are seeking internship/full-time opportunities in the United States related to that career path, you may wish to select a specific academic program in order to pursue those opportunities. While your academic preparation does not determine your entire career, it may impact your path if those careers require specific majors or academic preparation as a pre-requisite or requirement for entry-level positions. For example, generally speaking, in order to obtain an internship in accounting or engineering, your major should be related to accounting or engineering. Similarly, if you want to obtain an internship and job in curating art, you need to major in a discipline related to art or history of art and architecture.
If you are interested in pursuing internships during your time at UCSB and jobs in the United States after you graduate, you should look at job descriptions of the positions that interest you and explore majors that align with them. Any internship or job that you obtain during the extent of your student visa must be related to your current academic program at UCSB.
Working Outside of the United States
If you plan to build a career in your home country or another country, your major and career selection might be different based on which countries you are interested in. You may still wish to pursue a major that is related to your career interests, but your preparation for employment in those countries may be different. For example, an entry-level position in finance in the United States requires extensive preparation and is highly competitive; however, this may or may not be the case in other countries.
Research the type of job preparation you may need for employment opportunities outside of the United States. Before you commit to a career path, it is helpful to understand the academic preparation, job market, and visa requirements if you are seeking a job or internship in other countries beyond your home country.
Learn More
Utilize online resources such as GoAbroad.com to find international career information. You can also review our Career Exploration page to learn how to get advice from professionals or UCSB alumni who work internationally in your fields of interest, or our Majors and Beyond page to explore the general connection between your academic interests and career goals.
