By Nathaniel Luce
The Vanderbilt MBA program is excited to announce that, effective Fall 2019, its finance concentration has been designated as a STEM degree program. The STEM designation allows international students the eligibility to prolong their post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the US by 24 months.
“This STEM designation is a direct result of the leadership team here listening to what our students are saying, specifically our international students,” said Sue Oldham, Associate Dean, MBA Programs Operations.
“Under the leadership of Dean Eric Johnson, we were able to work with our faculty to ensure that this STEM designation in the Finance concentration is one that would have an immediate impact, not only for our current students but for all prospective students,” she added.
Under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, international students who graduate from colleges and universities in the United States are eligible to remain in the country and receive training through work experience for up to 12 months.
Now that the Vanderbilt MBA Finance Concentration has achieved the STEM designation, international graduates on F-1 visas are eligible to remain in the U.S. for an additional 24 months, utilizing the STEM OPT extension.
In sum, International Vanderbilt MBA students who earn a finance concentration have access to work in the U.S. within their field of study for a total of 36 months after graduation.
“For the student, the three years of OPT offers a level of security and peace of mind,” said Oldham. “For the hiring companies, attracting and retaining better quality international students is always top of mind from a recruiting standpoint.”
