Under the OPT programme, overseas students who graduate from US colleges and universities can apply for practical work experience in the United States for up to 12 months. However, those who graduate from certain STEM degree programmes can extend that work experience for an additional 17 months.

The DHS said in a statement: “These reforms reflect the Obama administration’s ongoing commitment to promote policies that embrace talented students from other countries, who come to study in our finest colleges and universities and enrich the nation by allowing highly skilled foreign graduates to extend their post-graduate training in the United States and work in their field of study upon graduation.”

The Department of Homeland security have made 94 additions to the list, including a number of new engineering, economics and computer science fields – traditionally big draws for international students.

The move is one of a series of administrative reforms backed by President Obama

The move is one of a series of administrative reforms backed by President Obama, which are aimed at attracting and retaining more international students to bolster the economy. These include increasing work and study rights for dependents, streamlining existing pathways for immigrant entrepreneurs to create businesses in the US, facilitating immigration by top researchers, and helping US startups and other companies compete for global talent.

NAFSA welcomed the move, having long advocated for more STEM degree programmes to be eligible for OPT extension. NAFSA Executive Director and CEO Marlene Johnson, who currently serves on the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council, has previously said that “it would be optimal to make OPT extension available to all international students”.