While studying in the UK, international students can work up to 10 or 20 hours as part-time. During vacations, you can work full-time. This helps students to have some extra cash but more importantly, it provides students with an excellent opportunity to boost up experience in the workplace.
The number of hours a student can work depends upon the type of student visa. Below table gives a good overview of working hours and conditions for different student visas.
| Type of visa | Conditions | During Term | During Vacations | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short-term study visa | Short courses | Not Allowed | ||
| Tier 4 (Child) visa | Age below 16 years old | Not Allowed | ||
| Age between 16 - 17 years old | 10 hours per week | Full Time | ||
| Tier 4 (General) visa | Courses from private provider, further education college, and part-time courses | Not Allowed | ||
| Courses below degree level | 10 hours per week | Full Time | ||
| Courses at degree level or above | 20 hours per week | Full Time | ||
Although your student visa might allow you to work part-time by law, some universities have their own guidelines on the limits of working hours. Do check with your university and find out how many hours you can work while you study.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. What type of jobs are available for you when on UK Student Visa ?
Below table gives you the sample of job you can engage for both on-campus and off-campus, also the jobs you shouldn’t do by the UK home office.
| On-campus Job | Off-campus Job | Jobs You CAN’T Do |
|---|---|---|
| student ambassador | customer support officer | self-employment and business activity |
| student support officer | delivery driver | professional sportsperson and sport coach |
| admission officer | sales promoter | entertainer |
| waitress | social media assistant | permanent full-time job |
| library assistant | event coordinator | doctor or dentist in training (except on the foundation programme) |
2. Where can I find the job opportunities for international student in the UK?
For on-campus job vacancies, most of the universities have a career services office, you can access the job information at their office or online vacancies portals.
There are also a number of job website which you can look for, most of jobs are off-campus bases, they are:
3. What is the part-time jobs salary in the UK?
The pay is different depends on the job scope and also the city where you study. Generally, the pay for part-time jobs is between £7 to £11 per hour.
You should also know your employment rights, find out more on the UK government’s guidance on the national minimum wage.
4. Can my spouse work in the UK?
Your spouse can work if you are taking:
- a postgraduate course that more than 9 months
- a government-sponsored course that more than 6 months
- a degree level or above course (need to apply for permission)
Your spouse can work without time restrictions, but he/she will not able to be a professional sportsperson and a doctor or dentist in training.
