What a student visa permits
A student visa is for study. It does not carry a general right to part-time work, so do not build a budget that assumes casual earnings.
Internships, projects and assistantships that form part of the programme are permitted, and research assistantships at doctoral level routinely carry a stipend.
Moving to an employment visa
Graduates who receive a job offer convert to an employment visa, which is sponsored by the employer and subject to a minimum annual salary threshold set by the government. Conversion is normally handled from within India through FRRO with the employer's documentation.
The threshold excludes low-paid roles by design, so target employers who hire international graduates at professional salary levels — IT services, product companies, consulting, and the campuses of multinational firms.
A realistic picture
International graduates who plan for it do find roles, most often in technology, analytics and management. Those who start looking in the final semester with no internship history and no employer conversations find it hard.
Treat the second year as the hiring year: internships, a visible project portfolio, and direct contact with employers who have sponsored before.
