part time phd on h1b

Can I Do PhD on H1B Visa? H1-B visa For Full, Part-time PhD students

You may wonder if you can study PhD part time in the US, while working at the same time. You may think about using visas such as H1B as a step to permanent residency in the US. So, the question here would be – Can I do a PhD on H1B Visa?

You can do a PhD study on a H1B visa. You may however, only do the study part-time, as H1B visa requires you to keep a full time job. H1B visa holders to end up with Green Cards although the process can be unpredictable. 

In this post, we explore if you can do PhD study with a H1B visa. We also look at how you can use the H1B as a stepping stone to achieve a US permanent residency.

What Is a H1-B Visa?

An H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa used by the United States to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

These occupations often include fields such as:

• engineering,
• mathematics,
• science, and

To qualify for an H1B visa, an individual must hold at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in the field of the specialty occupation they are being hired for.

In some cases, significant professional experience may be considered as equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.

There’s an annual cap on the number of H1B visas issued, which currently stands at 85,000, with 20,000 of those visas reserved for applicants holding a master’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution.

Due to the high demand and limited number of visas available, a lottery system is often used to select the petitions that will be processed. H1B visa holders can stay in the U.S. for up to six years, with an initial period of up to three years that can be extended.

What Student Visa Can I Apply To Study In the US?

Now that we know the H1B is not a student visa, which visa should you apply to study in the US then?

If you’re eyeing a Ph.D. in the U.S., the F-1 visa is your gateway. As an international student, this visa aligns with your pursuit of advanced degrees at accredited U.S. universities.

The process starts once you secure admission. Your chosen university will issue an I-20 form, crucial for your F-1 visa application. 

For Ph.D. students with a penchant for research, the F1 visa offers a unique advantage. You can engage in practical training related to your study, known as Optional Practical Training (OPT), either during or after your program. 

This opportunity can extend your stay, allowing you to gain invaluable experience in your field.

What’s more intriguing is the bridge from F-1 to H1B status, known as the “Cap-Gap” extension. This provision ensures you remain in the U.S. while waiting for your H1B petition outcome, provided it’s filed before your F-1 status expires.

It’s a seamless transition that many Ph.D. graduates leverage to transition into the workforce , especially those eyeing roles that complement their extensive research and academic work.

The path from F-1 visa holder to potential H1B visa candidate and even green card applicant illustrates the U.S. immigration system’s accommodation for academic and professional growth.

It’s a testament to the value placed on international scholars and their contribution to the U.S. academic and professional landscape.

Can I Study PhD Part Time While Working With H1B Visa?

Trying to work full time an H1B visa while diving into a Ph.D. part-time is a path tread by the ambitious.

Yes, it’s possible, and many have navigated this route successfully, blending their professional experience with academic rigor. 

When working on H1B visa, primarily tied to your employer, the idea of adding a PhD program to your plate might seem daunting. Yet, it’s entirely feasible, provided you maintain your H1B status by fulfilling your job’s requirements.

Pursuing a Ph.D. part-time allows for a practical application of your work experiences, enriching your academic pursuits.

Universities across the U.S. offer part-time Ph.D. programs designed to accommodate working professionals.

These programs understand the unique challenges faced by H1B visa holders, offering flexibility in class schedules and research commitments.

Before you embark on this journey, a conversation with your employer is essential. They need to be on board, as your H1B visa is tied to your employment with them. Some employers might even offer support, recognizing the value a Ph.D. can add to their organization.

It’s also wise to consult with a student advisor or legal expert to navigate the complexities of balancing H1B full time job commitments with trying to pursue PhD studies. 

They can provide insights into how this balance can enhance your career trajectory, potentially leading to opportunities like an EB-1 green card, reserved for individuals with extraordinary abilities or advanced degrees.

The blend of working on an H1B visa while pursuing a Ph.D. part-time is a testament to the pursuit of excellence and expertise. It’s a challenging yet rewarding path that can significantly impact your professional and academic growth.

Can H1B Visa Help Me Get US Green Card?

Navigating the path from an H1B visa to a U.S. green card is a journey many ambitious professionals undertake.

The H1B visa, known for its dual intent feature, subtly lays the groundwork for this transition, allowing you to pursue permanent residency while working in the States.

It’s like holding a key that potentially unlocks the door to becoming a green card holder, a status many international workers aspire to achieve.

For those with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities, especially Ph.D. holders, the green card process might seem a tad less daunting.

The U.S. recognizes the significant contributions of such individuals to the economy and academia, often streamlining their path to permanent residency.

An H1B visa holder with a groundbreaking research background or pivotal work experience may qualify for an EB-1 green card, a category reserved for the top-tier of: 

• professionals,
• researchers, and

Your employer plays a pivotal role in this journey. They must be willing to sponsor your green card application, a commitment that starts with a job offer for a position related to your expertise.

The process kicks off with the Labor Certification Application (LCA), ensuring no qualified U.S. worker is overlooked for the role. Following this, the I-140 petition comes into play, where your unique qualifications are highlighted.

While the H1B to green card process is fraught with complexities and waiting periods, success stories abound. It’s a testament to the dedication of those who’ve made significant strides in their fields, contributing to their professional landscape while on an H1B visa. 

How Hard Is It To Apply For H-1B Visa?

Trying the H-1B visa application process is akin to steering through a labyrinth, filled with both bureaucratic hurdles and moments of anticipation.

For starters, the H-1B visa, a beacon for many aiming to work full time in specialized occupations within the U.S., comes with its fair share of complexities.

The journey begins with finding an employer willing to tread the path with you, as the H-1B visa requires employer sponsorship.

Once you’ve secured a job offer, the real challenge unfolds. Your employer must file a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor, ensuring your employment won’t adversely affect U.S. workers.

Following the LCA’s approval, the H-1B petition is next, submitted to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This step is crucial and often mired in detail, requiring meticulous attention to ensure compliance with legal requirements.

The most unpredictable aspect, however, is the H-1B lottery. Due to the annual cap on H-1B visas, with 85,000 slots available (including 20,000 reserved for advanced degree holders from U.S. universities), many petitions enter a lottery system.

This process can feel like a gamble, with chance playing a significant role in determining who gets to proceed.

For those with a Ph.D. or pursuing advanced studies, the journey might seem slightly more navigable. Advanced degree holders have a slightly better shot in the lottery, offering a glimmer of hope in the competitive process.

Yet, regardless of one’s qualifications, the H-1B visa application process demands patience, perseverance, and a bit of luck, making it a challenging but not impossible endeavor for aspiring professionals from around the globe.

Tips When Applying For H-1B Visa

Applying for an H1B visa? Here are some tips you can try to navigate the process.

• Ensure Your Job Qualifies As A Specialty Occupation: These usually requires a bachelor’s degree or higher. Fields like IT, engineering, and finance are common, but don’t overlook less obvious roles that your advanced degree might make eligible.
• Timing: T iming is crucial. The H1B visa has an annual cap with a fixed application window. Start preparations early, ideally with your employer, to file the petition right when the window opens. Remember, there’s a lottery due to high demand, so prompt submission is key.
• Get Your Employer To Help: Your employer’s role is pivotal. They must file a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor, affirming that hiring you won’t adversely affect U.S. workers. Ensure your employer is well-versed in this process.
• Get Your Documentation Right:  From your qualifications, job offer details, to the employer’s business credentials, every paper counts. Precision in documenting how your role aligns with your academic background, especially for Ph.D. holders, enhances your petition.
• Consider The Broader Picture: An H1B visa can be a stepping stone to a green card, especially for those in academia or holding advanced degrees.

Strategize with long-term goals in mind, understanding how your H1B journey could facilitate permanent residency, leveraging options like the EB-1 green card for individuals with extraordinary abilities or achievements.

Study Part-Time For A PhD, Workable For H1B Visa Holders

Pursuing a Ph.D. on an H1B visa is indeed feasible, blending professional endeavors with academic aspirations.

This unique pathway allows for the application of real-world experiences to research and studies, enriching both the workplace and academia.

With the right balance, support from employers, and adherence to visa regulations, ambitious individuals can navigate this journey successfully, contributing significantly to their field of expertise while maintaining their status in the U.S.

Dr. JW Ong holds academic degrees, including a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from universities in New Zealand, Malaysia, and the UK. He started PhDPursuits.com as a way to share the experience he wish he would have had known before embarking on his PhD.

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Can i study while in h-1b status.

Yes. As long as you maintain your status and continue your employment as described in your H-1B petition, you may enroll in full-time or part-time, degree or non-degree program. However, note that you may not be able to complete all components (e.g. required teaching in a PhD program) of a program while in H-1B status, due to specific requirements of the program. You should discuss this with an international student advisor at the institution where you intend to enroll.

Office of International Students & Scholars

About h-1b visas.

Please note that Premium Processing and other USCIS application fees have increased recently.  Learn more about this change here . Additionally, there have been changes to some 'remit to connection' addresses. See the Application Fees form for the most up-to-date addresses and fees.

H-1B temporary worker status is designated for individuals coming temporarily to the U.S. to work in a specialty occupation. A specialty occupation is defined as one that requires  “theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge, and attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree, or its equivalent, as a minimum requirement.” Further, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the federal H-1B petition adjudication authority, adds that “ the 'degree' means not just any degree, but one in a specific specialty that is directly related to the offered position.”

The H-1B is an 'employer specific' status. This means that the H-1B employee may only be paid by the specific H-1B petitioner and only according to the terms in the H-1B application. Scholars in H-1B status cannot accept funds from another employer or source other than the employer listed in the H-1B application.  At Yale, H-1B status is typically used for faculty appointments.

At Yale, H-1B status is most often use for  faculty and academic positions such as, Assistant Professor, Instructor and Associate Research Scientist. Occasionally, postdoctoral associates will be eligible for H-1B, but they most commonly use the J-1 status.

Maximum Duration 

H-1B status is initially granted for a maximum period of  three years  and  can be extended to a total of six years  (regardless of the number of employers). Because the application process is lengthy and complex, requesting a full-three year H-1B status (providing the intention is to retain the scholar for that long) is recommended and advantageous.

Yale H-1B Sponsorship Eligibility Basic Criteria

• Faculty level academic appointment (see  Faculty sponsorship policy )
• M&P Appointment (see M&P sponsorship policy )
• Full-time (100% FTE)
• Must be considered a Yale employee (e.g. Postdoctoral Fellow,   not considered a Yale employee. Also, postgraduate trainees are not eligible for H-1B or any other employment-based Yale visa sponsorship and use a J-1 visa instead.)
• At least one year sponsorship commitment, up to three years with appointment renewal intention and foreseen secured funding
• Work location(s) MUST be on Yale campus(es)

The H-1B Application Process  and Fee Requirements

The H-1B process is more complicated than other immigration statuses and the processing time is long and sometimes unpredictable. The  hiring department at Yale must initiate the H-1B application process on behalf of the scholar  they wish to sponsor, and then provide (in coordination with the scholar) the required documentation to OISS. There are two separate government agencies involved in H-1B visa sponsorship: the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

The H-1B filing fees, which must be paid by the hiring unit, include a petition a $460 petition filing fee, a $500 anti-fraud fee and and optional but highly recommended $2805 premium processing fee.

Processing Time

The total processing time for an H-1B application, involves three stages: Yale preparation (OISS adviser, host department and international scholar), the DOL step, and USCIS review. The entire process can take up to four months using premium processing (an additional $2805 fee), or as long as four to six months without premium processing. While the Department of Labor will not allow H-1B processing to begin earlier than six months prior to the start date, OISS recommends submitting all materials to OISS  at least seven months in advance  to be officially part of the OISS processing queue. OISS advisers prioritize all H-1B requests in order of the beneficiaries' current status end dates and the dates of their request submission to meet timely petition submission deadlines.

Other Considerations

Prevailing wage.

The department is required to pay a salary to the H-1B beneficiary that meets the “prevailing wage” as determined by the DOL. Because of these strict DOL requirements (as well as Yale compensation policies for specific appointment type), part-time positions are not eligible for Yale H-1B sponsorship.

Use of Outside Counsel

All H-1B requests must be processed through OISS. Yale policy does not allow outside attorneys to represent Yale in the preparation of the H-1B petition for any Yale employee without written consent from the OISS.

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H1B Visa: The Pathway to Working in the United States Post-Graduation

Thinking about post-graduation in the United States as an international student can be very worrying and speculative. This article contains tips and information to ease your mind and direct you on the pathway to working in the United States after graduating from an undergraduate or graduate program .

Overview of F1 to OPT to H1B and F1 to H1B

After graduation, many students on the F1 visa aspire to adjust their status from F1 to the highly sought-after H1B status. To change from F1 to H1B, students can either change directly to H1B or take the F1 to OPT to H1B path. Many F1 students participate in OPT (see OPT article for further information) before applying for H1B. After graduating, participating in OPT gives F1 students a buffer phase to gain experience in their field of study while searching for an H1B sponsoring employer , required by the visa. Suppose a student participating in OPT wishes to consecutively stay in the United States after the twelve-month OPT or their STEM OPT extension . In that case, it is advisable to prepare and submit their application during their OPT . However, students may also apply for the H1B as an F1 without OPT .

H1B Overview

The H1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa program that allows employers in the United States to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations. The H1B visa is reserved for professions that require theoretical and practical application of specialized knowledge along with at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent . The effective start date for approved petitions is always October 1 of the year your H1B petition is approved . H1B visa holders may:

• Work legally in the United States for three years allowing for a possible extension of an additional three years for a total of six years. In addition, in some cases, a person with a United States permanent resident application on file can extend H1B status beyond the standard six-year limit.
• Bring their spouse and children to the United States on an H4 visa .
• Travel in and out of the United States if a valid H1B status is maintained
• Apply for permanent residency in the United States, also known as a green card.

The H1B Visa Cap

Every year, the United States sets an H1B visa cap since so many students apply. For example, since 2004, the cap has been limited to 85,000 accepted applications . During the lottery selection phase, USCIS will first randomly select 20,000 H1B cases for students who possess a United States Master’s degree or higher from a qualifying non-profit or public higher education institution accredited by a nationally recognized agency. After, USCIS will randomly select 65,000 H1B petitions , of which 6,800 are reserved for citizens of Singapore and Chile since they are listed under the free trade agreement . Finally, any unused H1B visas from the Chile and Singapore pool are added to the next fiscal year.

Suppose USCIS receives more than 65,000 registrations to meet the standard cap and more than 20,000 registrations to meet the Master’s cap. In that case, USCIS will conduct two separate randomized electronic lotteries to identify the cap registration winners . The USCIS will first apply the random selection process to all cap registrations received to determine the initial 65,000 winners. Any Master’s cap registrations not selected in the first lottery will be eligible for selection in a separate H-1B Master’s cap lottery, effectively being granted two opportunities in the selection registration process.

Petitions Exempt from H1B Cap

A few ways to be considered H1B cap-exempt are if your United States Employer matches one of the following categories:

• Higher education institution
• A non-profit affiliated with a higher education institution
• Non-profit research or government organization
• Beneficiaries who will work in Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands

However, suppose you previously held H1B status but were not counted against the H1B cap because a cap-exempt employer employed you. In that case, you will be counted against the H1B cap unless you are eligible for another exemption.

Basic Overview of the H1B application process

First and foremost, you will always need a job offer from a sponsoring employer in order to apply for an H1B visa. The H1B petition is filed by your employer by which you, the H1B applicant, are the beneficiary. Your employer must be in good standing and prove to USCIS that you will be paid higher than the prevailing wage or the actual prevailing wage for the applicable occupation. Your employer will also need to prove that your employment will not harm the work conditions for the United States workers.

Once you have found a sponsoring employer , they will need to file your H1B registration on your behalf by the stated deadline. Currently, the registration start date for H1B applications for the year 2023 is not yet posted . USCIS states that the initial registration period for every year is open for a minimum of 14 calendar days each fiscal year. For example, applicants applying for 2022 , the H1B registration process was from March 9 to March 25, 2021 . Therefore, your employer should submit your H1B registration as soon as possible with respect the posted registration start date. This is done on the USCIS site and frequently done with assistance from an attorney. If you are selected in the lottery selection process, this means that your employer is authorized to file an H1B cap-subject petition . Therefore, you and your employer should ensure that you have all your necessary documents and forms for the petition prior to submitting your initial H1B registration.

Keep in mind that only your sponsoring employer may file your H1B petition. To do this, your petitioning employer MUST:

• As the employer, submit your H1B registration via the USCIS site on the first start date of the online registration process.
• If you are selected in the lottery process, you are approved to submit the H1B cap-subject petition (“change of Status”)
• Ensure that you have an approved LCA (Labor Condition Application) with the United States Department of Labor.
• Then, ensure that all required supporting documentation, appropriate payment (certain employers may pay more or less than others), and forms are properly submitted to the USCIS .

Suppose you have filed an H1B visa petition and your case is pending. In that case, you may be eligible for a cap-gap extension in which you can remain on F1 visa status where your work authorization and F1 status would otherwise expire until the H1B employment is approved . For F1 students whose period of authorized stay expires before October 1 and do not qualify for a cap-gap extension must leave the United States , or they may lose their status . Upon leaving the United States, students must apply for an H1B visa at a consulate abroad and e nter the United States on H1B status if the petition is approved.

At  The Law Office of Yifei He, PLLC , our lawyer has years of experience helping clients overcome a wide range of legal barriers. We can help you present the strongest possible case to USCIS, thereby maximizing your likelihood of success. With our attorney by your side, you can navigate this process with efficiency and confidence.

Request your initial consultation by calling 1 (917) 338-7678  or  sending us an online message  today.

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General Topics

Want to do PhD while working on H1B

Hi Everyone, I am working as senior software engineer and I have a MS in Computer Science. I am planning to do full-time PhD while working full time. Do you think it is legally possible to do it. As I need the 100 % scholarship from university to complete my PhD. That means I will be working as TA/RA in the university and also maintain a full time job at my present company. I want to explore all the legal options I have to do my PhD. Thanks

I think it’s both physically and legally not possible.

@uvur74. I know its challenging but I am ready for the grind. I am only concerned about the legality.

It would be a grind for 4-5 years. Why do you wanna go through it? The ROI isn’t worth it. Instead spend that time with your family.

Not gonna happen... not if you need 100% scholarship

You can do a part time PhD and work. That is possible and legal. You can go full time for PhD and then work at a company as well (PhD related research) and be a TA/RA as long as total work hours are within limits (not sure if its 20 hours or higher)

@v5gfrj6. Thanks for your response. But I don't think university will provide me scholarship if I am doing part time PhD.

He is right and this is how I did it. Used my employer tuition assistance to pay for my PhD. You can’t work at school while on h1-b. If your employer doesn’t pay tuition then you have to pay out of pocket and the bad news is, it is not deductible probably because you make good money.

Dude, forget TA/RA. If your job is able to sustain you, why do you want to eat up funding? If you don’t take RA you will be able to work at your own pace without feeling obligated in exchange of funding and your advisor will love you for working for free. Legally it might be possible, just ask your university’s international students’ office or a lawyer. Don’t take anyone’s word here - always verify with legal expert. It should be practical to manage PhD along with a full time job. I know of many people who have done that (US citizens so no visa limitations). I would suggest this over quitting job because you will also accumulate industry experience over the 4-5 years which matters a lot. You will avoid opportunity cost with this route.

Agree, why would you depend on RA funding while working full-time!

@oGqu88. Thanks for your response. I was looking for a way where I don't have to pay for tuition fees from my pocket. As managing the tuition fees without any assistance for 4-6 years is not easy even with a full time job as we all have other financial commitments.

If you are on a visa you need to be on F1 to get scholarship. I don’t think you can be on two payrolls on H1. On the other hand if your company have Tuition reimbursement policy, you can do PhD part time and make your company pay for it.

Good point.

We can be on two payrolls on H1B legally. That's what I have found so far online. I will be meeting with my immigration team in the company to discuss about it.

Do you want to do PhD or TA?

@12356.$/8/ . I need tuition fees waiver and for that, If I need to do TA/RA, then so be it. If I get a tuition fees waiver without doing TA/RA then that would be great.

Why did you copy my username? 😡😡

Ok, I have a PhD and let me tell you this. Taking classes + TAing + conducting original research is >60 hour/week job. You won't be able to hold your fulltime job. Also, a university would have to file a new H1b petition for you, which is very rare. Usually students are on F1 and J1 visas. Only university staff members might be eligible for H1b.

@FXzH34. Yea I am aware of the fact that, I need to work 100 hours/week and I am ready to put that kind of effort to pull it off. My only concern is about tuition fees. If I get tuition fees waiver from university then I don't need to think much about TA/RA.

Seriously. You think you can do it until you burn out 1.5 years into it and lose your job along with it. A decent school won't even allow this. They want your full attention in a full time program and won't waste resources or scholarships on someone who thinks 100hrs a week is realistic...a top accredited US school that is. Because where else do they even have the courses you've described?

People are getting creative these days for GC 🤦‍♂️

@smartpm9. Trust me, if the motivation behind PhD is GC then that person will dropout within 2-3 semesters.

You should try it too!

Hey! I see your comments above that “you’re ready for the grind and only worried about the legal possibilities”. It’s good to see that you’re motivated about a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. I honestly don’t know about the legal concerns. I wanted to share some of my experience about research in AI. I’m wondering what background or understanding you have on how Phd in AI is done these days, the conferences that happen throughout the year, no of papers that are accepted, how the review process works, fellow colleagues who are working on similar problems in other universities, professors you want to work with and most of all important: what are the problems that you would like exactly tackle and what solutions you propose and how good these solutions are? I’m guessing you’re answer to these solutions is a NO. If that is the case, then legally you maybe able to do it, but you won’t be able to get the most out of your PhD if you do your job and Phd together. Also, do you want to just get a PhD in this area so that you can learn about it or do you want to actually solve these problems for the future of mankind? If you’re motivated by the latter reason, then you should dedicate yourself to Phd and make an attempt. If you’re motivation is the former, I’m afraid a phd might not matter in the long run. All this is just advice. Would be happy if you made it and prove me wrong. Either way, I would like to see you do well and be happy (of course!). Edit: yes, you will figure out and do well. But if you want to do a Phd in 6years along with your job.. then the papers you publish will not be if very high quality..(especially if your job is not related to your phd) you’ll still learn a lot about the area and the problems and contribute a bit. What I meant to say was: There’s a lot more you can achieve during a Phd and you’ll have to miss out on them.

@mondler. Thanks for your thoughts. May be my answer is 'NO' for few of those questions. But I can definitely get those answers over the period of time. Nobody know everything from the beginning. If I knew everything then I won't even try for PhD. All I know is I am ready to do everything needed to complete it and I'm not going to give up. And thanks for sharing your experience in AI research. That may help me as well.

You seem smart, and you also seem decided on this regardless of what anyone may say. If it’s worth the risks I say go for it. Failure is not a sin. They can take your h1b but no one will touch your PhD. No pun intended

@ComTruise. Thanks for your thoughts. Yea I believe I can do it no matter what others are saying . I am aware of the amount effort it will take. My job is to put an honest effort and as you said failure is not a sin. At this stage I'm not at all thinking about success or failure.

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Part-time students are charged the appropriate per-course rate until the equivalent of two years of full tuition has been paid. Thereafter, they register and are charged reduced tuition as full-time students. They must have paid a minimum total of two years of full tuition and two years of reduced tuition prior to receipt of the PhD unless the degree was completed in fewer than four years from initial registration. If a student who has been part-time completes the PhD in fewer than four years, the student will be charged what a full-time student would have paid over the same period of time.

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Can we do PhD in university while working on H1B for another private company employer?

By rajhyd1 , November 8, 2019 in H1B : General

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I have a question, Suppose I have a job on H1B (some private company employer) which is remote/work from home, and i would like to do PhD in some university. Can I do PhD while keep working on remote H1B job? I can manage time and I can able to handle the work, but i am talking only about legality, whether it is legal/feasible to work on H1B as well as do PhD. Can I still receive Tuition waiver and graduate assistant funding from university? Because I heard that while someone is on H1B from a private company employer, he cannot receive GA/funding/Scholarship/tuition waiver from university, Is this true? I want to know whether it is possible in terms of legality if someone can do H1B job as well as do PhD without compromising on any of GA/funding/Scholarship/tuition waiver and receive same benefits as a regular student who do PhD on F-1 visa status without any job?

Please suggest...waiting for reply from someone.

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I don't know how you can manage working a full time job on H1 and do PhD and ALSO DO GA. Good luck with it!

A PhD requires you to do research 24/7, so it is not possible to do a PhD and work fulltime. You can think you can manage time, but the day only has 24 hours...

You'd fail both the PhD and the job, and would lose both.

Further, you couldn't get research funding, because that would be a work relationship with the university, which is only  possible on F1. Also, PhD programs usually require some quarters as TA, which also would not be possible without work authorization for the university, which an F1 provides.

The bottom line: Not possible.

OP, you can study and work on H1b no problem. Its upto you how you would manage time. GA funding, etc is a separate topic that depends on your school. To be a GA, many times you would need to be at school during business hours but these questions would most likely be answered by your school and/or the professor you would be working under.

On 11/11/2019 at 7:43 AM, JoeF said: A PhD requires you to do research 24/7, so it is not possible to do a PhD and work fulltime. You can think you can manage time, but the day only has 24 hours... You'd fail both the PhD and the job, and would lose both. Further, you couldn't get research funding, because that would be a work relationship with the university, which is only  possible on F1. Also, PhD programs usually require some quarters as TA, which also would not be possible without work authorization for the university, which an F1 provides. The bottom line: Not possible.

That is a highly misleading information. A PhD does not REQUIRE you to research 24/7. I have no idea where you get your information from. I know 2 different people who got their PhD while also working a full time job. I also know of people who are full time Phd students. 

Now please dont clutter this thread more by saying, the people i know are doing it from fake universities and also please dont clutter with false information.

1 hour ago, jobfed said: OP, you can study and work on H1b no problem. Its upto you how you would manage time. GA funding, etc is a separate topic that depends on your school. To be a GA, many times you would need to be at school during business hours but these questions would most likely be answered by your school and/or the professor you would be working under. That is a highly misleading information. A PhD does not REQUIRE you to research 24/7. I have no idea where you get your information from. I know 2 different people who got their PhD while also working a full time job. I also know of people who are full time Phd students.  Now please dont clutter this thread more by saying, the people i know are doing it from fake universities and also please dont clutter with false information.  

I get my information from having done it...

It is time wise pretty much impossible to get a PhD from a decent university and work full time at the same time.I was at the University of California, a top public university.

And research is on your mind 24/7, in particular when you are writing papers, doing surveys, etc.

As far as funding, that is not possible to get on H1. The funding is done as part of employment, and universities don't sponsor H1s for graduate students. Graduate students can get it as part of the allowed on-campus employment on F1.

Please educate yourself about these things before mouthing off.

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The Detailed Guide to Part Time H-1B Visa

You may be interested in knowing that the H 1b visa allows you to work part time in the United States. This offer surprise many people as getting an H 1b visa is not so easy and even after that it is allowing part time employment. That’s the beauty of this visa. This article will explain you in detail what is part time h 1b visa and how it works.

Is there any minimum number of hours required for a part-time h 1b visa?

There is no rule as to the minimum number of hours to be provided by the employer to the H 1b visa holder in their part-time employment. The only condition that needs to be satisfied to qualify or be considered as a part-time employee is to work less than 35 hours per week for the employer.

The employer does not necessarily have to mention the number of hours for which he is employing the H 1b employee in the Labor Condition Application (LCA); however, they should specify it in the H 1b visa petition filed with the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). The employee should work minimum hours per week as specified in the H 1b visa petition by the sponsoring employer; however, having exceptions in case of holidays or vacations.

For example, If a US tech firm employs Harry as a part-time h 1b employee and specifies working hours to be between 20-25 per week. Harry has to work for a minimum of 20 hours per week for the US employer as a condition to his part-time H 1b status except in case of holidays, and also Harry cannot work for more than 35 hours in a single week as that will question his part-time h1b employee status because the maximum permissible number of hours allowed to a part-time H 1b employee is fewer than 35 hours.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of hiring an H 1b part-time worker

Advantages of hiring an h-1b part-time worker.

Hiring an H 1b employee does provide certain benefits to the US employer in general and in specific situations as well. An employer can go to amend the status of current H 1b employers to part-time h 1b employees when they feel that doing is more advantageous than keeping them in full-time employment. The benefits are:

#Helps in recovering from the bad economic situation

Running a private company or business is not easy and beneficial at all times. Employers often face the risk of bad economic conditions where they may face hardship to keep all the employees working with them. The ideal situation in such cases is either to remove the number of employees working with them or reduce the employees’ salary.

However, as a general rule, an employee cannot reduce the salary of H 1b workers, and they must pay minimum wage as mentioned in the LCA. Therefore, converting an H 1b worker part-time will allow an employer not to pay the full salary and only limit the payment to the number of hours the employee did the part-time job.

#Helps in situations when the employer does not have sufficient work for the h 1b employee

When the employer is not providing full-time work to the H 1b employee, why would he pay them for the full time? For a US employer, he has to pay h 1b employers minimum wage as mentioned in the LCA. If the employer does not have sufficient full-time hours for the H 1b employee, he can reduce the number of hours by converting them to part-time H 1b employees, thereby reducing the amount they have to pay.

#Improve employee’s H 1b dependent status

An employee is considered as an H 1b dependent employer when he has:

• A minimum of 8 H 1b employees when the total number of employees hired by the employer is 25 or less.
• At least 13 H b1 full-time workers when the total number of employees hired by the employer ranges between 26-50.
• When the employee hires 51 or more total workforce, his status will become h 1b dependent employer when the workforce includes 15 per cent or more H 1b workers.

The H 1b dependent employer status can negatively affect the employer’s ability to hire more h 1b workers, and their application will be highly scrutinized. However, when the employee hires part-time h 1b visa employees and not full time, they can improve their H 1b dependent status because a part-time H 1b employee is counted as less than a full-time H 1b employee while determining H 1b dependent status of the employers .

Disadvantages of Hiring an H-1B Part-Time Worker

#Can have a negative effect on the employer-employee relationship

An employee who is generally been hired for full-time H 1b work, may negatively feel if he has been switched to part-time work. This is because he may lose potential earnings during that time which can impact their relationship with the employer and not in a positive way.

#Can increase employer’s turnover

As an employee, every H 1b worker wants steady work and income to support them financially in the US. We know how high the living cost is in the big cities in the US. If an employee is made to do a part-time job, he may start looking for another H 1b job that is giving full-time work and may try to change his H 1b employer. This can increase the employer’s turnover and put an additional burden on the employer to hire more H 1b workers.

How to file for a part-time h 1b visa?

The employer if converting existing full-time employees to part-time employees, they have to file an amended visa petition and pay the fees for the same. Other fees such as fraud fees are exempted because they had been paid previously when H 1b petition was filed for the first time.

Do I get more than 6 years if I work as a part-time H-1B worker?

We know that an H 1b worker can maximum extend his stay for a period of 6 years. However, some may wonder if they can work for more than 6 years if they work part-time. This is not the case, the maximum authorized stay that USCIS grants for any H 1b worker (whether part-time or full time) is 6 years and the basis of the extension of visa is the period of stay and not the amount of work you do during your stay.

Can I work for more than one employer in part-time H-1B visa?

YES! It is possible to work for multiple employers in h 1b visa as long as the basic requirements of H 1b visa are fulfilled such as a bachelor’s degree in relevant job, prevailing wage in employer’s payroll, specialty occupation etc. You can work under concurrent employment as long as it does not seem unreasonable or unpractical for a person to work.

How can Herman Legal Group Help You?

We hope that this article has cleared your queries related to part time H 1b visa. In case you have any other doubts or feel alone in your visa processing, remember you are not alone. Contact the  Herman Legal Group . We are an award-winning immigration law firm founded in 1995 and experienced in all areas of immigration.

Our immigration lawyer will have a quick consultation with you, and you can describe your case to him. You can set up a consultation with one of our immigration attorneys by calling us at 1-216-696-6170 or by booking online . Most of their meetings with clients and prospective clients are conducted online, via Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp, Facetime, or Google Meet.

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• Published: 08 May 2024

Measurement and analysis of change in research scholars’ knowledge and attitudes toward statistics after PhD coursework

• Mariyamma Philip 1  

BMC Medical Education volume  24 , Article number:  512 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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Knowledge of statistics is highly important for research scholars, as they are expected to submit a thesis based on original research as part of a PhD program. As statistics play a major role in the analysis and interpretation of scientific data, intensive training at the beginning of a PhD programme is essential. PhD coursework is mandatory in universities and higher education institutes in India. This study aimed to compare the scores of knowledge in statistics and attitudes towards statistics among the research scholars of an institute of medical higher education in South India at different time points of their PhD (i.e., before, soon after and 2–3 years after the coursework) to determine whether intensive training programs such as PhD coursework can change their knowledge or attitudes toward statistics.

One hundred and thirty research scholars who had completed PhD coursework in the last three years were invited by e-mail to be part of the study. Knowledge and attitudes toward statistics before and soon after the coursework were already assessed as part of the coursework module. Knowledge and attitudes towards statistics 2–3 years after the coursework were assessed using Google forms. Participation was voluntary, and informed consent was also sought.

Knowledge and attitude scores improved significantly subsequent to the coursework (i.e., soon after, percentage of change: 77%, 43% respectively). However, there was significant reduction in knowledge and attitude scores 2–3 years after coursework compared to the scores soon after coursework; knowledge and attitude scores have decreased by 10%, 37% respectively.

The study concluded that the coursework program was beneficial for improving research scholars’ knowledge and attitudes toward statistics. A refresher program 2–3 years after the coursework would greatly benefit the research scholars. Statistics educators must be empathetic to understanding scholars’ anxiety and attitudes toward statistics and its influence on learning outcomes.

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A PhD degree is a research degree, and research scholars submit a thesis based on original research in their chosen field. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees are awarded in a wide range of academic disciplines, and the PhD students are usually referred as research scholars. A comprehensive understanding of statistics allows research scholars to add rigour to their research. This approach helps them evaluate the current practices and draw informed conclusions from studies that were undertaken to generate their own hypotheses and to design, analyse and interpret complex clinical decisions. Therefore, intensive training at the beginning of the PhD journey is essential, as intensive training in research methodology and statistics in the early stages of research helps scholars design and plan their studies efficiently.

The University Grants Commission of India has taken various initiatives to introduce academic reforms to higher education institutions in India and mandated in 2009 that coursework be treated as a prerequisite for PhD preparation and that a minimum of four credits be assigned to one or more courses on research methodology, which could cover areas such as quantitative methods, computer applications, and research ethics. UGC also clearly states that all candidates admitted to PhD programmes shall be required to complete the prescribed coursework during the initial two semesters [ 1 ]. National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) at Bangalore, a tertiary care hospital and medical higher education institute in South India, that trains students in higher education in clinical fields, also introduced coursework in the PhD program for research scholars from various backgrounds, such as basic, behavioral and neurosciences, as per the UGC mandate. Research scholars undertake coursework programs soon after admission, which consist of several modules that include research methodology and statistical software training, among others.

Most scholars approach a course in statistics with the prejudice that statistics is uninteresting, demanding, complex or involve much mathematics and, most importantly, it is not relevant to their career goals. They approach statistics with considerable apprehension and negative attitudes, probably because of their inability to grasp the relevance of the application of the methods in their fields of study. This could be resolved by providing sufficient and relevant examples of the application of statistical techniques from various fields of medical research and by providing hands-on experience to learn how these techniques are applied and interpreted on real data. Hence, research methodology and statistical methods and the application of statistical methods using software have been given much importance and are taught as two modules, named Research Methodology and Statistics and Statistical Software Training, at this institute of medical higher education that trains research scholars in fields as diverse as basic, behavioural and neurosciences. Approximately 50% of the coursework curriculum focused on these two modules. Research scholars were thus given an opportunity to understand the theoretical aspects of the research methodology and statistical methods. They were also given hands-on training on statistical software to analyse the data using these methods and to interpret the findings. The coursework program was designed in this specific manner, as this intensive training would enable the research scholars to design their research studies more effectively and analyse their data in a better manner.

It is important to study attitudes toward statistics because attitudes are known to impact the learning process. Also, most importantly, these scholars are expected to utilize the skills in statistics and research methods to design research projects or guide postgraduate students and research scholars in the near future. Several authors have assessed attitudes toward statistics among various students and examined how attitudes affect academic achievement, how attitudes are correlated with knowledge in statistics and how attitudes change after a training program. There are studies on attitudes toward statistics among graduate [ 2 , 3 , 4 ] and postgraduate [ 5 ] medical students, politics, sociology, ( 6 – 7 ) psychology [ 8 , 9 , 10 ], social work [ 11 ], and management students [ 12 ]. However, there is a dearth of related literature on research scholars, and there are only two studies on the attitudes of research scholars. In their study of doctoral students in education-related fields, Cook & Catanzaro (2022) investigated the factors that contribute to statistics anxiety and attitudes toward statistics and how anxiety, attitudes and plans for future research use are connected among doctoral students [ 13 ]. Another study by Sohrabi et al. (2018) on research scholars assessed the change in knowledge and attitude towards teaching and educational design of basic science PhD students at a Medical University after a two-day workshop on empowerment and familiarity with the teaching and learning principles [ 14 ]. There were no studies that assessed changes in the attitudes or knowledge of research scholars across the PhD training period or after intensive training programmes such as PhD coursework. Even though PhD coursework has been established in institutes of higher education in India for more than a decade, there are no published research on the effectiveness of coursework from Indian universities or institutes of higher education.

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of PhD coursework and whether intensive training programs such as PhD coursework can influence the knowledge and attitudes toward statistics of research scholars. Additionally, it would be interesting to know if the acquired knowledge could be retained longer, especially 2–3 years after the coursework, the crucial time of PhD data analysis. Hence, this study compares the scores of knowledge in statistics and attitude toward statistics of the research scholars at different time points of their PhD training, i.e., before, soon after and 2–3 years after the coursework.

Participants

This is an observational study of single group with repeated assessments. The institute offers a three-month coursework program consisting of seven modules, the first module is ethics; the fifth is research methodology and statistics; and the last is neurosciences. The study was conducted in January 2020. All research scholars of the institute who had completed PhD coursework in the last three years were considered for this study ( n  = 130). Knowledge and attitudes toward statistics before and soon after the coursework module were assessed as part of the coursework program. They were collected on the first and last day of the program respectively. The author who was also the coordinator of the research methodology and statistics module of the coursework have obtained the necessary permission to use the data for this study. The scholars invited to be part of the study by e-mail. Knowledge and attitude towards statistics 2–3 years after the coursework were assessed online using Google forms. They were also administered a semi structured questionnaire to elicit details about the usefulness of coursework. Participation was voluntary, and consent was also sought online. The confidentiality of the data was assured. Data were not collected from research scholars of Biostatistics or from research scholars who had more than a decade of experience or who had been working in the institute as faculty, assuming that their scores could be higher and could bias the findings. This non funded study was reviewed and approved by the Institute Ethics Committee.

Instruments

Knowledge in Statistics was assessed by a questionnaire prepared by the author and was used as part of the coursework evaluation. The survey included 25 questions that assessed the knowledge of statistics on areas such as descriptive statistics, sampling methods, study design, parametric and nonparametric tests and multivariate analyses. Right answers were assigned a score of 1, and wrong answers were assigned a score of 0. Total scores ranged from 0 to 25. Statistics attitudes were assessed by the Survey of Attitudes toward Statistics (SATS) scale. The SATS is a 36-item scale that measures 6 domains of attitudes towards statistics. The possible range of scores for each item is between 1 and 7. The total score was calculated by dividing the summed score by the number of items. Higher scores indicate more positive attitudes. The SAT-36 is a copyrighted scale, and researchers are allowed to use it only with prior permission. ( 15 – 16 ) The author obtained permission for use in the coursework evaluation and this study. A semi structured questionnaire was also used to elicit details about the usefulness of coursework.

Statistical analysis

Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, number and percentages were used to describe the socio-demographic data. General Linear Model Repeated Measures of Analysis of variance was used to compare knowledge and attitude scores across assessments. Categorical data from the semi structured questionnaire are presented as percentages. All the statistical tests were two-tailed, and a p value < 0.05 was set a priori as the threshold for statistical significance. IBM SPSS (28.0) was used to analyse the data.

One hundred and thirty research scholars who had completed coursework (CW) in the last 2–3 years were considered for the study. These scholars were sent Google forms to assess their knowledge and attitudes 2–3 years after coursework. 81 scholars responded (62%), and 4 scholars did not consent to participate in the study. The data of 77 scholars were merged with the data obtained during the coursework program (before and soon after CW). Socio-demographic characteristics of the scholars are presented in Table  1 .

The age of the respondents ranged from 23 to 36 years, with an average of 28.7 years (3.01), and the majority of the respondents were females (65%). Years of experience (i.e., after masters) before joining a PhD programme ranged from 0.5 to 9 years, and half of them had less than three years of experience before joining the PhD programme (median-3). More than half of those who responded were research scholars from the behavioural sciences (55%), while approximately 30% were from the basic sciences (29%).

General Linear Model Repeated Measures of Analysis of variance was used to compare the knowledge and attitude scores of scholars before, soon after and 2–3 after the coursework (will now be referred as “later the CW”), and the results are presented below (Table  2 ; Fig.  1 ).

Comparison of knowledge and attitude scores across the assessments. Later the CW – 2–3 years after the coursework

The scores for knowledge and attitude differed significantly across time. Scores of knowledge and attitude increased soon after the coursework; the percentage of change was 77% and 43% respectively. However, significant reductions in knowledge and attitude scores were observed 2–3 years after the coursework compared to scores soon after the coursework. The reduction was higher for attitude scores; knowledge and attitude scores have decreased by 10% and 37% respectively. The change in scores across assessments is evident from the graph, and clearly the effect size is higher for attitude than knowledge.

The scores of knowledge or attitude before the coursework did not significantly differ with respect to gender or age or were not correlated with years of experience. Hence, they were not considered as covariates in the above analysis.

A semi structured questionnaire with open ended questions was also administered to elicit in-depth information about the usefulness of the coursework programme, in which they were also asked to self- rate their knowledge. The data were mostly categorical or narratives. Research scholars’ self-rated knowledge scores (on a scale of 0–10) also showed similar changes; knowledge improved significantly and was retained even after the training (Fig.  2 ).

Self-rated knowledge scores of research scholars over time. Later the CW – 2–3 years after the coursework

The response to the question “ How has coursework changed your attitude toward statistics?”, is presented in Fig.  3 . The responses were Yes, positively, Yes - Negatively, No change – still apprehensive, No change – still appreciate, No change – still hate statistics. The majority of the scholars (70%) reported a positive change in their attitude toward statistics. Moreover, none of the scholars reported negative changes. Approximately 9% of the scholars reported that they were still apprehensive about statistics or hate statistics after the coursework.

How has coursework changed your attitude toward statistics?

Those scholars who reported that they were apprehensive about statistics or hate statistics noted the complexity of the subject, lack of clarity, improper instructions and fear of mathematics as major reasons for their attitude. Some responses are listed below.

“The statistical concepts were not taught in an understandable manner from the UG level” , “I am weak in mathematical concepts. The equations and formulae in statistics scare me”. “Lack of knowledge about the importance of statistics and fear of mathematical equations”. “The preconceived notion that Statistics is difficult to learn” . “In most of the places, it is not taught properly and conceptual clarity is not focused on, and because of this an avoidance builds up, which might be a reason for the negative attitude”.

Majority of the scholars (92%) felt that coursework has helped them in their PhD, and they were happy to recommend it for other research scholars (97%). The responses of the scholars to the question “ How was coursework helpful in your PhD journey ?”, are listed below.

“Course work gave a fair idea on various things related to research as well as statistics” . “Creating the best design while planning methodology, which is learnt form course work, will increase efficiency in completing the thesis, thereby making it faster”. “Course work give better idea of how to proceed in many areas like literature search, referencing, choosing statistical methods, and learning about research procedures”. “Course work gave a good idea of research methodology, biostatistics and ethics. This would help in writing a better protocol and a better thesis”. “It helps us to plan our research well and to formulate, collect and plan for analysis”. “It makes people to plan their statistical analysis well in advance” .

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the existing coursework programme in an institution of higher medical education, and investigated whether the coursework programme benefits research scholars by improving their knowledge of statistics and attitudes towards statistics. The study concluded that the coursework program was beneficial for improving scholars’ knowledge about statistics and attitudes toward statistics.

Unlike other studies that have assessed attitudes toward statistics, the study participants in this study were research scholars. Research scholars need extensive training in statistics, as they need to apply statistical tests and use statistical reasoning in their research thesis, and in their profession to design research projects or their future student dissertations. Notably, no studies have assessed the attitudes or knowledge of research scholars in statistics either across the PhD training period or after intensive statistics training programs. However, the findings of this study are consistent with the findings of a study that compared the knowledge and attitudes toward teaching and education design of PhD students after a two-day educational course and instructional design workshop [ 14 ].

Statistics educators need not only impart knowledge but they should also motivate the learners to appreciate the role of statistics and to continue to learn the quantitative skills that is needed in their professional lives. Therefore, the role of learners’ attitudes toward statistics requires special attention. Since PhD coursework is possibly a major contributor to creating a statistically literate research community, scholars’ attitudes toward statistics need to be considered important and given special attention. Passionate and engaging statistics educators who have adequate experience in illustrating relatable examples could help scholars feel less anxious and build competence and better attitudes toward statistics. Statistics educators should be aware of scholars’ anxiety, fears and attitudes toward statistics and about its influence on learning outcomes and further interest in the subject.

Strengths and limitations

Analysis of changes in knowledge and attitudes scores across various time points of PhD training is the major strength of the study. Additionally, this study evaluates the effectiveness of intensive statistical courses for research scholars in terms of changes in knowledge and attitudes. This study has its own limitations: the data were collected through online platforms, and the nonresponse rate was about 38%. Ability in mathematics or prior learning experience in statistics, interest in the subject, statistics anxiety or performance in coursework were not assessed; hence, their influence could not be studied. The reliability and validity of the knowledge questionnaire have not been established at the time of this study. However, author who had prepared the questionnaire had ensured questions from different areas of statistics that were covered during the coursework, it has also been used as part of the coursework evaluation. Despite these limitations, this study highlights the changes in attitudes and knowledge following an intensive training program. Future research could investigate the roles of age, sex, mathematical ability, achievement or performance outcomes and statistics anxiety.

The study concluded that a rigorous and intensive training program such as PhD coursework was beneficial for improving knowledge about statistics and attitudes toward statistics. However, the significant reduction in attitude and knowledge scores after 2–3 years of coursework indicates that a refresher program might be helpful for research scholars as they approach the analysis stage of their thesis. Statistics educators must develop innovative methods to teach research scholars from nonstatistical backgrounds. They also must be empathetic to understanding scholars’ anxiety, fears and attitudes toward statistics and to understand its influence on learning outcomes and further interest in the subject.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the participants of the study and peers and experts who examined the content of the questionnaire for their time and effort.

This research did not receive any grants from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Department of Biostatistics, Dr. M.V. Govindaswamy Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, 560 029, India

Mariyamma Philip

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Mariyamma Philip: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Investigation, Writing- Original draft, Reviewing and Editing.

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Ethics approval and consent to participate.

This study used data already collected data (before and soon after coursework). The data pertaining to knowledge and attitude towards statistics 2–3 years after coursework were collected from research scholars through the online survey platform Google forms. The participants were invited to participate in the survey through e-mail. The study was explained in detail, and participation in the study was completely voluntary. Informed consent was obtained online in the form of a statement of consent. The confidentiality of the data was assured, even though identifiable personal information was not collected. This non-funded study was reviewed and approved by NIMHANS Institute Ethics Committee (No. NIMHANS/21st IEC (BS&NS Div.)

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Not applicable because there is no personal information or images that could lead to the identification of a study participant.

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Philip, M. Measurement and analysis of change in research scholars’ knowledge and attitudes toward statistics after PhD coursework. BMC Med Educ 24 , 512 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05487-y

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Received : 27 October 2023

Accepted : 29 April 2024

Published : 08 May 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05487-y

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