Working While Studying in the UK

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Working while studying can help international students:

Earn additional money
Gain UK work experience
Improve their English
Meet new people
Develop professional skills
Understand UK workplace culture
Strengthen future job applications

However, your right to work depends on your immigration permission.

Students holding an eligible Student visa may commonly work:

Up to 20 hours each week during term time when studying a full-time degree-level course
Up to 10 hours each week during term time when studying an eligible full-time course below degree level
Full time during official university vacations
On an approved work placement that forms part of the course

Students on some courses have no permission to work at all.

The exact conditions shown on your eVisa are the starting point. Your university may also impose stricter working limits where it believes employment could interfere with your studies.

You are personally responsible for following your work conditions.

This remains true when:

Your employer misunderstands the rules
Your manager schedules too many hours
You work for several employers
You work online
You are paid in another country
You believed the university was on holiday
You urgently need additional income

Working beyond your permitted hours can affect:

Your Student visa
Future immigration applications
Your university’s sponsorship
Your employer
Your ability to remain in the UK

This guide explains the main rules. Immigration conditions can change, so check your eVisa and speak to your university’s international student advisers before accepting work when anything is unclear.

Working While Studying at a Glance

Student or course type	Typical work permission
Full-time degree-level course at an eligible higher education provider	Up to 20 hours a week in term time and full time during official vacations
Full-time course below degree level at an eligible higher education provider	Up to 10 hours a week in term time and full time during official vacations
Eligible overseas study-abroad student	Up to 20 hours a week in term time and full time outside term time
Part-time postgraduate course	Normally no ordinary employment
Course at an ineligible or probationary sponsor	Ordinary work may be prohibited
Child Student aged 16 or 17	Up to 10 hours a week during term and full time during vacations
Child Student under 16	No employment
Visitor or Short-term Student	Employment is generally prohibited

These are broad categories. The permission attached to your own immigration status controls what you may do.

Can International Students Work in the UK?

Many international students can work, but not all of them.

Your work permission depends on:

Immigration route
Course level
Whether the course is full time
Type of education provider
Sponsor’s compliance status
Whether the course includes a placement
Whether it is term time or an official vacation

A full-time student studying at degree level or above with a higher education provider holding a track record of compliance will normally receive permission for up to 20 hours a week during term time. A student studying below degree level at such a provider is normally limited to 10 hours.

Check Your eVisa

Your eVisa records your immigration status and the rights attached to it, including whether you can work.

Before applying for a job:

Sign in to your UKVI account.
View your immigration status.
Check the work condition.
Confirm the visa expiry date.
Generate a right-to-work share code when required.

An employer can use your share code and date of birth to check:

Whether you can work
Which types of work are permitted
Whether an hours limit applies
How long the permission lasts

Do not rely only on:

An old visa letter
A photograph of a previous biometric residence permit
Advice from another student
The conditions attached to a friend’s visa
What an employer says students are “usually” allowed to do

University Work Restrictions

A university may recommend or require a lower weekly limit than your immigration permission.

For example, it may advise students to work no more than:

10 hours a week
15 hours a week
A set number during examination periods

Postgraduate research students may also need approval before undertaking external work.

Breaching a university rule may not always be the same as breaching immigration law, but it can affect:

Academic progress
Attendance
Scholarship conditions
Research responsibilities
University sponsorship

Your permission is the maximum immigration limit, not a target you are expected to reach every week.

The 20-Hour Student Visa Rule

When your eVisa says you may work 20 hours during term time, this means a strict maximum of 20 hours in each immigration week.

For this purpose, a week runs:

Monday to Sunday

The hours cannot be averaged over several weeks.

Example: Hours Cannot Be Averaged

Suppose you work:

Week	Hours worked
Week 1	24
Week 2	16

The average is 20 hours.

However, you breached the condition in Week 1 because you worked more than 20 hours between Monday and Sunday.

Working fewer hours the following week does not correct the earlier breach.

Multiple Jobs

The limit applies to your total hours across every job.

For example:

Job	Hours
University library	8
Restaurant	7
Online work for an overseas employer	5
Total	20

You cannot then work an additional shift during the same Monday-to-Sunday week.

Your employers may not know about each other. You must track the combined total yourself. UKCISA specifically advises students with irregular hours or more than one employer, including employers outside the UK, to keep detailed records.

Does an Unpaid Break Count?

An unpaid break is not normally working time when you are genuinely free from work.

However, time may still count when you are required to:

Remain at the workplace
Stay available to perform duties
Supervise customers
Respond immediately if needed

Check your timesheet and employment arrangements.

Does Training Count?

Compulsory work training is normally part of your employment time.

Examples may include:

Induction
Required online training
Staff meeting
Health and safety training
Mandatory preparation

Do not assume that unpaid or online training is invisible to the weekly limit.

On-Call Time

On-call arrangements are complicated.

Time may count as work where you must:

Remain at the workplace
Remain awake for work
Respond under significant restrictions
Perform active duties

Ask the employer to state clearly how on-call and sleep-in hours are recorded.

What Is Term Time?

Term time is the period during which your university expects you to study.

It is determined by your education provider, not by:

Your employer
Your friends
School holiday dates
Cheap flight prices
The fact that you have no lectures that week

Official term time may include:

Teaching weeks
Reading weeks
Revision periods
Examination periods
Dissertation work
Resit preparation
Research
Required placements

UKCISA defines term time as the period when your Student sponsor expects you to be studying. Students should obtain official term and vacation dates from their institution and provide those dates to an employer where necessary.

Reading Week

A reading week is normally part of term time.

You cannot work full time simply because scheduled lectures have paused.

Examination Periods

Examination and revision periods are normally term time.

Your ordinary 10-hour or 20-hour limit continues to apply.

Weekends

Weekends during term are still part of term time.

You may work at weekends, but the hours count towards the same Monday-to-Sunday limit.

Public Holidays

A public or bank holiday does not automatically turn a term-time week into a vacation.

When Monday is a bank holiday but your course remains in term, the ordinary weekly limit still applies.

Strikes or Cancelled Lectures

A cancelled class does not create a vacation.

You remain in term time unless the university officially confirms otherwise.

When Can You Work Full Time?

Students with the relevant permission may normally work full time:

During official vacations
Before the course begins, once their visa has started
After the official course end date while valid Student permission remains
During an approved course-related work placement
As an authorised students’ union sabbatical officer

Periods after a student has completed the course are treated as outside term time for the ordinary hours condition. However, restrictions on permanent full-time vacancies continue unless a specific immigration exception applies.

What Does Full Time Mean?

Student immigration rules do not give every employer one standard number of full-time hours.

The employer may treat full time as:

35 hours
37.5 hours
40 hours
Another normal working pattern

You must still follow general working-time, rest-break and employment rules.

Before the Course Starts

You may normally work full time during the period after your Student visa begins but before your course starts, provided your immigration permission allows employment.

You cannot work before the visa start date.

After the Course Ends

When you have completed your course, the remaining period of Student permission is generally treated as outside term time.

You may therefore normally work full time in a temporary or non-permanent role.

However, a Student visa normally prohibits filling a permanent full-time vacancy unless you fall within a specific switching exception.

Starting a Permanent Graduate Job

A Student visa holder may be permitted to fill a permanent full-time vacancy when making a valid application under an eligible work route and meeting the relevant conditions.

For example:

A student applying to switch to Skilled Worker may be able to begin the permanent role up to three months before course completion where the precise rules are met.
A student applying under the Graduate route may begin a permanent full-time role once the course has been successfully completed and a valid application has been made under the relevant conditions.

Do not begin a permanent graduate job solely because your final examination has finished.

Confirm:

Official course completion
New visa application status
Job start date
Employer right-to-work check
University reporting

Vacations for Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate courses commonly have official vacations around:

Christmas
Easter or spring
Summer

You can normally work full time during these periods when your eVisa permits it.

However, check whether the university defines any part of the period as:

Assessment
Resit study
Placement
Compulsory activity
Extended term

Keep a university letter or official webpage showing your dates.

Vacations for Master’s Students

Taught postgraduate courses often have a different calendar from undergraduate degrees.

A one-year master’s may include:

Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
Summer dissertation
Research project
Final submission period

The summer dissertation period is commonly term time, not a long vacation.

You may therefore remain limited to 20 hours a week even when undergraduate students are working full time.

Ask the university for dates specifically applying to your course.

Do not use the undergraduate calendar.

Vacations for PhD and Research Students

Research students often do not have standard Christmas, Easter and summer vacations in the same way as taught students.

You may be expected to conduct research throughout the year.

Some universities allow full-time work only during:

Approved annual leave
A formally agreed vacation
The period after submission
The period after the viva
The period after all corrections are completed

The position differs between institutions. UKCISA advises research students to obtain confirmation from their faculty, department or supervisor because universities define term time differently for research degrees.

Do not assume that July and August are automatically holidays because the undergraduate campus looks empty.

Work Placements

A work placement forming part of your course can normally be completed even where your ordinary visa condition permits only 10 or 20 hours of employment.

To qualify, the placement must be:

An integral part of the course
Assessed as part of the course
Authorised and monitored by the Student sponsor

An approved placement is treated separately from ordinary part-time employment for the hours condition.

Examples of Course Placements

These may include:

Placement year
Clinical placement
Teaching placement
Engineering placement
Legal clinic
Social-work placement
Laboratory placement
Industry project
Professional practice module

Placement Length

Under the Student route, a placement is normally limited to a proportion of the overall course.

The standard limit is generally 33%, but a placement can form up to 50% of an eligible degree-level course studied at a UK recognised body or higher education provider. Separate exceptions can apply to study-abroad programmes and courses with statutory placement requirements.

Paid Placements

A course placement can be paid.

Payment does not remove its status as a placement, provided it remains an integral and assessed part of the course and the university has authorised it.

Placement Plus a Part-Time Job

A student undertaking a full-time authorised placement may potentially also have ordinary work permission.

However, combining both can create serious practical and compliance problems involving:

Total workload
University rules
Placement contract
Attendance
Health and safety
Fatigue

Obtain written advice from your university before adding another job.

Internship Not Included in the Course

A voluntary summer internship that is not part of your course counts as ordinary work.

You may undertake it:

Full time during an official vacation
Within the normal weekly limit during term time

Calling the role an “internship” does not exempt it from your work restriction.

Volunteering and Voluntary Work

The immigration rules distinguish between volunteering and voluntary work.

Volunteering

A genuine volunteer normally:

Has no employment contract
Has no obligation to attend set hours
Is not replacing a paid employee
Is not paid
May receive reasonable travel or meal expenses
Commonly helps a charity, public-sector or voluntary organisation

Genuine volunteering does not normally count as employment hours in the same way as voluntary work.

Voluntary Work

A voluntary worker may:

Have contractual obligations
Be expected to attend at fixed times
Be required to perform particular duties
Receive payment in kind
Fill a structured role for an organisation

Voluntary work counts towards the Student visa weekly limit.

For example, when you can work 20 hours and complete:

15 hours of paid employment
5 hours of voluntary work

you have reached the weekly maximum.

The Home Office states that voluntary work and paid work must remain within the combined term-time limit.

Ask Before Starting

When the organisation describes a position as “unpaid”, ask:

Is there a contract?
Are fixed hours required?
Must I perform particular tasks?
Am I replacing an employee?
Will I receive benefits or goods?
Can I stop attending freely?

Unpaid does not automatically mean immigration-neutral.

Work That Student Visa Holders Cannot Normally Do

A Student visa normally prohibits:

Self-employment
Business activity
Freelance work
Working as an entertainer
Working as a professional sportsperson
Working as a professional sports coach
Filling a permanent full-time vacancy, except under specified switching rules

Self-Employment and Freelancing

Student visa holders must not normally be self-employed or engage in business activity.

Self-employment can include work where you:

Find your own clients
Set your own rates
Invoice for services
Manage your own tax
Operate as a contractor
Sell goods as a business
Run a company
Provide independent consultancy

UKCISA warns that people described as freelancers, contractors or consultants are highly likely to be treated as self-employed.

Examples That May Be Self-Employment

These can include:

Freelance graphic design
Private tutoring where you find and invoice clients yourself
Independent translation
Photography services
Social-media consultancy
Delivery work through a self-employed platform
Selling handmade products for profit
Running an online shop
Monetised independent content creation
Paid consulting for an overseas business

The fact that work is:

Online
Part time
Paid abroad
Completed for a friend
Described as a side hustle

does not automatically make it permitted.

Agency Tutoring vs Private Tutoring

Tutoring may be allowed when:

A genuine employer hires you
The employer controls the work
Tax is deducted through payroll
You receive a contract and payslips
You remain within your weekly hours

It may be prohibited self-employment when:

You advertise directly
Parents pay you personally
You set your own price
You invoice clients
You operate independently

Ask your university’s immigration team when the arrangement is unclear.

Selling Personal Possessions

Occasionally selling your own unwanted belongings is not normally the same as operating a business.

Regularly:

Buying items to resell
Manufacturing goods for sale
Maintaining commercial stock
Advertising a shop
Accepting customer orders

could indicate business activity.

Company Ownership and Directorship

A Student visa holder can breach the business-activity restriction by:

Establishing a company
Working for a company they control
Acting as a company director
Holding a significant operational role in a business
Receiving income through their own company

Do not register a company or accept a directorship without qualified immigration advice.

An exception can apply in the limited situation where an eligible student has made a valid Innovator Founder application supported by an approved endorsement and is awaiting the outcome. This is a specific immigration exception, not a general permission to start a student business.

Online and Overseas Work

Work completed while you are physically in the UK is relevant to your Student visa conditions even when:

The employer is overseas
Payment enters a foreign bank account
The company has no UK office
You work remotely
The work began before you moved to the UK

The hours should be included in your weekly calculation.

You must also consider whether the arrangement makes you:

An employee
A worker
Self-employed
A contractor

Continuing freelance work for overseas clients can breach the self-employment restriction.

Do not assume immigration rules stop at the edge of your laptop.

Professional Sport

Student visa holders cannot normally work as professional sportspeople or professional sports coaches.

The Home Office may consider factors such as whether a student:

Plays or coaches at professional or semi-professional level
Is registered with a professional or semi-professional team
Has recently represented a national or regional team
Receives payment covering most UK living or travel costs
Uses an agent to seek a professional sporting career

Amateur participation is permitted.

Certain university sports scholarships can also be allowed where the student plays or coaches at an amateur level for their sponsor or through British Universities and Colleges Sport.

Speak to the university before:

Signing with a club
Accepting coaching pay
Receiving sporting accommodation
Registering with an academy
Joining a semi-professional league

Entertainment Work

Student visa holders are generally prohibited from employment as entertainers.

This can affect paid work as:

Actor
Musician
Performer
Dancer
Model
Professional content performer

A permitted exception can apply where a professional performance is an integral and assessed work placement arranged through a degree-level music, drama or dance course.

Do not accept paid entertainment work without checking the immigration position.

Students’ Union Sabbatical Officers

A Student visa holder can serve as a full-time, salaried students’ union sabbatical officer for up to two years under the relevant rules.

This is a specific exception to the ordinary weekly hours limit.

The university sponsor must know about and report the arrangement appropriately.

Speak to:

Students’ union
University visa team
Student sponsor

before standing for or accepting the position.

Part-Time Jobs for International Students

Common student jobs include:

University ambassador
Library assistant
Receptionist
Café worker
Retail assistant
Restaurant server
Barista
Hotel staff
Event assistant
Administrative assistant
Call-centre worker
Warehouse worker
Care assistant
Laboratory assistant
Research assistant
Teaching assistant
Campus tour guide

The suitability of a role depends on:

Work permission
Hours
Contract type
Course timetable
Travel
Physical demands
English level
Experience

University Jobs

University employment can be convenient because the employer understands:

Academic calendars
Student timetables
Visa hour limits
Examination periods

Possible roles include:

Open-day ambassador
Peer mentor
Library assistant
Department administrator
Research assistant
Campus café worker
Student caller
Digital-content assistant

University jobs can be competitive.

Check:

Careers portal
Students’ union
Department notices
Library jobs page
Campus recruitment service

Retail and Hospitality

Retail, cafés, hotels and restaurants commonly recruit students for:

Evenings
Weekends
Seasonal work
Holiday periods

These roles can develop:

Communication
Customer service
Teamwork
Problem-solving
Confidence
Time management

Care Work

Care homes and support organisations may offer flexible shifts.

However, the work can involve:

Physical tasks
Personal care
Emotional pressure
Night work
Background checks
Training
High responsibility

Check whether the organisation is legitimate and whether the role fits safely around your course.

Temporary and Seasonal Work

Seasonal employers may recruit for:

Christmas retail
University events
Festivals
Tourism
Summer schools
Conferences
Warehouses

Confirm that the dates fall within an official vacation before agreeing to full-time hours.

Finding a Part-Time Job

Use Your University

Look at:

University jobs board
Careers service
Students’ union
Department opportunities
Campus employers
International student events

Search Established Job Sites

Use reputable vacancy websites and the employer’s official recruitment page.

Avoid roles where the advertiser:

Requests an upfront payment
Uses only a messaging app
Refuses to identify the employer
Promises unusually high earnings
Wants to use your bank account
Asks you to receive parcels
Offers cash without records
Describes illegal hours as “flexible”

Ask Local Employers

You may find vacancies at:

Shops
Cafés
Restaurants
Hotels
Cinemas
Venues
Supermarkets

Bring a concise CV and ask whether applications should be completed online.

Tailor Your CV

Include:

UK contact details
Education
Previous employment
Languages
Relevant skills
Availability
Customer experience
Right-to-work information where appropriate

You do not need to place:

Passport number
Share code
National Insurance number
Bank details

on your CV.

Proving Your Right to Work

Before employment begins, the employer must complete a right-to-work check.

Most international students with digital immigration status will provide:

A right-to-work share code
Date of birth

The employer uses the Home Office system to confirm the conditions.

The Employer May Need Term Dates

When your visa permits limited hours during term, the employer should obtain evidence of your academic term and vacation dates.

Provide:

Official university letter
University email
Formal course calendar
Research-student confirmation

Do not supply dates from an unrelated undergraduate webpage.

Share Codes Expire

Generate a fresh share code when needed.

A share code is used to access your current status. It does not transfer control of your UKVI account to the employer.

Do not share:

UKVI password
Email password
Bank login
Authentication code

National Insurance Number

A National Insurance number is used to record:

Tax
National Insurance contributions
Employment history
Certain benefit or pension records

Your number may already appear in your UKVI account or on an older biometric residence permit.

When you do not have one, you can apply after arriving in the UK if you:

Have the right to work
Are working
Are looking for work
Have a job offer

You can begin employment before receiving the number, provided you can prove your right to work.

Keep It Private

Do not disclose your National Insurance number publicly.

Give it only where genuinely required, such as to:

Employer
HMRC
Government service
Pension provider

It is not proof of work permission.

Holding a National Insurance number does not override your Student visa restrictions.

Minimum Wage

International students are normally entitled to the same statutory minimum wage as other eligible workers.

From 1 April 2026, the minimum hourly rates are:

Age or status	Minimum hourly rate
Age 21 and over	£12.71
Age 18 to 20	£10.85
Under 18	£8.00
Eligible apprentice rate	£8.00

The apprentice rate applies to apprentices under 19 or those aged 19 and over during the first year of an eligible apprenticeship.

These rates normally change each April.

Unpaid Trial Shifts

A short genuine recruitment trial can sometimes be unpaid, but an employer cannot use repeated or excessive unpaid trials to obtain free labour.

Be cautious when asked to:

Work a full shift without pay
Complete several trial days
Perform ordinary productive work
Cover staff shortages
Return for repeated unpaid training

Ask in writing:

How long is the trial?
What will I do?
Will it be paid?
When will I receive the outcome?

Cash-in-Hand Work

Receiving cash is not automatically illegal.

However, employers must still:

Pay at least the minimum wage
Record employment properly
Operate tax and National Insurance where required
Provide employment rights
Complete a right-to-work check

Be cautious when an employer says cash work means:

No contract
No payslip
No tax
No record of hours
No visa checks

That arrangement can expose both you and the employer to serious problems.

Income Tax

Students are not automatically exempt from tax.

For the 2026/27 tax year, the standard Personal Allowance is £12,570.

GOV.UK summarises this as:

£1,048 a month
£242 a week
£12,570 a year

Income Tax is normally deducted by your employer through PAYE.

Why Might Tax Be Deducted From a Low-Paid Student Job?

Possible reasons include:

Emergency tax code
Employer does not have your previous payroll information
You have more than one job
Income was high during one pay period
Your tax-free allowance has been allocated elsewhere

Check your:

Payslip
Tax code
HMRC account
P45
Starter checklist

When you have paid too much tax, you may be able to claim a refund.

Double-Taxation Agreements

Some international students may be affected by a tax agreement between the UK and their home country.

Certain agreements can provide specific treatment for student income.

The rules vary by country and circumstances, so do not assume an exemption. HMRC confirms that students without an applicable agreement pay UK tax in the normal way.

National Insurance Contributions

For 2026/27, employees generally begin paying Class 1 National Insurance when earnings exceed:

£242 a week
£1,048 a month
£12,570 a year

The standard employee rate is 8% on earnings between the primary threshold and upper earnings limit, with a 2% rate above the upper limit. Payroll normally calculates the deduction automatically.

Income Tax and National Insurance are calculated differently.

You may therefore:

Pay National Insurance in a high-earning week
Pay little or no annual Income Tax
Receive an Income Tax refund but not a National Insurance refund

Payslips

Workers and employees are normally entitled to an itemised payslip.

It should show information such as:

Gross pay
Net pay
Tax
National Insurance
Pension contribution
Other deductions
Hours worked when pay varies according to hours

Check every payslip.

Compare it with:

Shift records
Clock-in system
Contract
Minimum wage
Holiday pay
Bank payment

Report unexplained deductions promptly.

Employment Contracts

Employees should receive a written statement or contract setting out key terms.

It should explain matters including:

Job title
Pay
Hours
Work location
Holiday
Notice
Start date
Benefits
Sick arrangements

Part-time employees are also entitled to minimum employment protections, including paid holiday, payslips and minimum wage.

Zero-Hours Contracts

A zero-hours contract does not guarantee a fixed number of weekly hours.

It may offer flexibility but can create uncertainty.

Before accepting, ask:

Must I accept offered shifts?
How much notice is given?
Can shifts be cancelled?
Is holiday pay included properly?
Is there a minimum commitment?
How are hours recorded?

Remember that you must refuse shifts taking you above your visa limit.

The employer’s staffing problem does not change the immigration rule.

Paid Holiday

Almost all workers are legally entitled to paid annual leave.

The statutory entitlement is generally 5.6 weeks a year, adjusted for part-time or irregular working patterns.

For example, a person regularly working two days a week would usually build an entitlement equivalent to:

2 × 5.6 = 11.2 days a year

Irregular-hours workers build holiday entitlement according to the relevant calculation rules.

Holiday Pay and Visa Hours

Receiving holiday pay does not necessarily mean that you are performing work during those paid hours.

However, you cannot use paid holiday as a method of secretly exceeding the actual hours you are working for different employers.

Keep accurate records of:

Work performed
Leave taken
Pay received

Workplace Pensions

An eligible employee may be automatically enrolled in a workplace pension when they meet the relevant age and earnings conditions.

Your employer should explain:

Contribution amount
Scheme
Opt-out process
Refund rules

Leaving the UK later does not automatically mean the pension disappears.

Ask the pension provider what options are available.

Balancing Work and Study

Working the legal maximum is not always academically sensible.

Consider:

Contact hours
Independent study
Assignments
Exams
Travel time
Sleep
Health
Social adjustment
Language demands

A 20-hour working week plus a full-time degree can become difficult very quickly.

Warning Signs You Are Working Too Much

These may include:

Missing classes
Falling behind
Sleeping during lectures
Missing deadlines
Poor attendance
Increased anxiety
Eating badly
Constant exhaustion
Working during examinations
Ignoring university messages

Speak to:

Personal tutor
Careers service
Student support
International student adviser
Employer

before the situation damages your academic status.

Your Student visa exists primarily for study.

Can Part-Time Work Fund Your UK Degree?

Part-time work may contribute towards:

Food
Transport
Social costs
Phone
Personal spending
Some accommodation expenses

It should not be treated as the main plan for paying:

International tuition fees
All accommodation
Visa costs
Healthcare surcharge
Full living expenses

Reasons include:

Work is not guaranteed.
Weekly hours are restricted.
Salaries vary.
Academic timetables change.
Some cities are expensive.
You may need time to find a job.
Employers may reduce shifts.
Visa financial evidence is required before arrival.

Read Tuition Fees for International Students [Tuition Fees for International Students] and Cost of Living in the UK [Cost of Living in the UK] before relying on expected earnings.

Employment Scams and Exploitation

International students can be targeted by employers who believe they are unlikely to complain.

Warning signs include:

Pay below minimum wage
No right-to-work check
No payslip
Unpaid regular work
Excessive deductions
Employer keeps your passport
Threats involving your visa
Shifts above your legal limit
Sexual harassment
Unsafe working conditions
Payment routed through another person
Request to receive or transfer money
Fake parcel-reshipping jobs
Job requiring an upfront fee

Never Hand Over Your Passport

An employer may inspect immigration evidence.

They should not normally keep your passport.

Do Not Let an Employer Use Your Bank Account

A supposed job may ask you to:

Receive money
Transfer money elsewhere
Open several accounts
Buy cryptocurrency
Forward packages
Accept payments for “clients”

This can involve:

Fraud
Money laundering
Stolen goods
Identity theft

Your Employer Cannot Cancel Your Visa

An employer can:

End your employment
Report suspected illegal work
Cooperate with authorities

It cannot personally cancel your visa.

Do not accept abuse because a manager claims they control your immigration status.

Where to Get Help

Seek advice from:

University international student team
Students’ union advice centre
Careers service
ACAS
HMRC minimum wage service
Citizens Advice
Police in an emergency
Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority where relevant

Do not continue illegal hours because an employer promises to correct the records later.

Common Student Visa Work Mistakes

Averaging Hours Across Two Weeks

The limit applies separately to every Monday-to-Sunday period.

Believing Sunday Starts a New Week

The immigration week begins on Monday.

Forgetting a Second Job

All employment hours must be combined.

Ignoring Overseas Remote Work

Work performed from the UK still matters.

Treating a Reading Week as a Vacation

It is normally term time.

Working Full Time During a Master’s Dissertation

The dissertation period may remain term time.

Assuming PhD Students Have a Summer Holiday

Research-student vacations must be confirmed by the university.

Accepting Freelance Work

Student permission normally prohibits self-employment.

Running an Online Shop

Regular commercial selling may amount to business activity.

Completing Too Much “Unpaid Experience”

Voluntary work can count towards the weekly limit.

Believing an Internship Is Automatically Exempt

Only an authorised, integral and assessed course placement receives separate placement treatment.

Working as a Professional Coach

Professional sports coaching is prohibited.

Starting a Permanent Job Too Early

Confirm the course-completion and visa-switching requirements first.

Letting an Employer Schedule Illegal Hours

You remain responsible for compliance.

Failing to Keep Records

Retain:

Rotas
Timesheets
Payslips
Contracts
University term dates
Employer emails

Working Before the Visa Starts

Permission begins on the date shown in your immigration status.

Continuing After Visa Expiry

Stop working unless you hold continuing lawful permission allowing employment.

Working While Studying Checklist

Before Applying for a Job

I have checked my eVisa.
I know whether my limit is 20 hours, 10 hours or no work.
I have official term dates.
I know whether my course is in term.
I understand prohibited types of work.
I know whether the role is employment or self-employment.
The employer appears legitimate.
The hours fit around my studies.

Before Starting Work

I have generated a right-to-work share code.
The employer completed the check.
I have provided the correct course dates.
I have received written terms.
Pay meets the legal minimum.
I understand holiday entitlement.
I know how hours are recorded.
I know how to refuse excess shifts.
I have applied for a National Insurance number where needed.
I have not paid an illegal recruitment fee.

Each Week

I count hours from Monday to Sunday.
I include every employer.
I include relevant voluntary work.
I include compulsory work training.
I keep my rota and timesheet.
I remain below the maximum.
Work is not interfering with attendance.

During Vacations

The university has confirmed the vacation.
The dates apply to my exact course.
I have given evidence to the employer.
I know when term resumes.
My full-time shifts end before term starts.

After Employment

I have received my final payslip.
I have received a P45 where applicable.
Final holiday pay is correct.
Tax deductions are correct.
I have retained employment records.
I have updated my CV with honest evidence.

Questions to Ask an Employer

Ask:

Is this an employee role?
Will I be paid through PAYE?
How many hours are guaranteed?
How are weeks calculated?
Can shifts be limited during term?
How much notice is given for rotas?
What is the hourly pay?
Is training paid?
How is holiday pay calculated?
Will I receive a contract?
Will I receive payslips?
Are any deductions made?
Is the role temporary or permanent?
Is any self-employed work involved?
Can I reduce hours during examinations?

A legitimate employer should be willing to explain the arrangement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Hours Can an International Student Work in the UK?

A student on an eligible full-time degree-level course can normally work up to 20 hours a week during term time.

Eligible below-degree students are commonly limited to 10 hours.

Does the 20-Hour Limit Include Weekends?

Yes.

The limit covers all work completed between Monday and Sunday.

Can I Work 40 Hours One Week and None the Next?

No.

The term-time maximum applies to each individual week and cannot be averaged.

Can I Work More Than 20 Hours During Reading Week?

Normally not.

Reading week is generally part of term time.

Can I Work Full Time During Christmas and Easter?

Usually, when these dates are official vacations for your exact course and your eVisa permits full-time vacation work.

Can Master’s Students Work Full Time in Summer?

Not necessarily.

The dissertation or research period may remain term time.

Check your official course calendar.

Can PhD Students Work Full Time During Summer?

Not automatically.

Research students must obtain confirmation of their approved vacation periods.

Can I Work Full Time After My Course Ends?

You can normally work full time during the remaining period of valid Student permission after official course completion.

You cannot normally fill a permanent full-time vacancy unless the relevant visa-switching exception applies.

Can I Work Before My Course Starts?

Usually, after your Student visa begins and where your immigration permission allows work.

Can I Work Two Jobs?

Yes, provided:

Both jobs are permitted
The combined hours remain within your limit
Neither involves prohibited work

Does Online Work Count?

Yes.

Work completed while you are physically in the UK should be included, including work for an overseas employer.

Can I Freelance?

Student visa holders are normally prohibited from self-employment and freelance business activity.

Can I Be a Private Tutor?

You may work as an employee of a tutoring organisation within your hours.

Working independently for your own clients is likely to be self-employment and is normally prohibited.

Can I Sell Things Online?

Selling occasional personal belongings is different from running an online business.

Regular commercial selling may amount to prohibited business activity.

Can I Start a Company?

Student visa holders must not normally establish or actively operate a business.

Can I Be an Influencer?

Unpaid personal use of social media is not employment.

Monetised independent activity involving sponsorships, advertising, affiliate income or selling services may amount to self-employment or business activity. Seek advice before accepting payment.

Can I Do an Internship?

Yes, provided it:

Fits within your ordinary work hours
Takes place during an official vacation, or
Is an approved work placement forming part of the course

Does a Placement Year Count Towards the 20 Hours?

An authorised placement that is integral and assessed as part of the course is treated separately from the ordinary term-time work limit.

Can I Volunteer?

Yes.

Genuine volunteering is permitted. Voluntary work with contractual obligations counts towards your weekly work limit.

Can I Work as a Sports Coach?

Professional sports coaching is prohibited.

Amateur sporting activity may be permitted, but check before accepting any payment or formal position.

Can I Work as an Actor or Musician?

Employment as an entertainer is normally prohibited.

A specific exception may apply to an authorised assessed placement on an eligible degree course.

Do International Students Pay Tax?

Yes, when their taxable earnings exceed the relevant thresholds.

Employers normally deduct Income Tax and National Insurance through PAYE.

How Much Can a Student Earn Before Paying Income Tax?

The standard Personal Allowance for 2026/27 is £12,570, although individual circumstances and tax codes can affect the calculation.

Do I Need a National Insurance Number Before Starting?

No.

You can begin work before receiving one when you can prove your right to work. You should apply when eligible.

What Is the Minimum Wage for International Students?

From 1 April 2026:

Age 21 and over: £12.71
Age 18 to 20: £10.85
Under 18: £8.00

International students receive the same statutory rate as other eligible workers.

Are International Students Entitled to Paid Holiday?

Almost all workers are entitled to statutory paid leave, adjusted for their working pattern.

Can an Employer Keep My Passport?

An employer may inspect documents for a right-to-work check but should not normally retain your passport.

What Happens If I Accidentally Work Too Many Hours?

Stop the breach immediately and contact your university’s international student advisers.

Keep accurate records and obtain qualified advice before submitting a future visa application.

Do not hide or falsify timesheets.

Can My University Find Out How Much I Work?

Universities have sponsorship and attendance responsibilities. Employers and government departments also retain payroll and right-to-work records.

Assume that your employment must be lawful and accurately documented.

Can I Rely on a Part-Time Job to Pay My Tuition?

No.

Employment is limited, not guaranteed and unlikely to cover international tuition fees.

Can a Student Visa Holder Claim Benefits?

Student visa permission normally includes a no-public-funds condition.

Final Thoughts: Working While Studying

Part-time work can be one of the most valuable parts of your international student experience.

It can help you develop:

Communication
Confidence
Customer service
Teamwork
Time management
Commercial awareness
UK workplace experience

The rules are manageable when you remember the essentials:

Check your eVisa.
Know your weekly limit.
Count weeks from Monday to Sunday.
Combine hours from every job.
Use your exact university term dates.
Do not average hours across weeks.
Treat reading and examination weeks as term time.
Check postgraduate and PhD vacation dates carefully.
Avoid self-employment and freelance work.
Check whether unpaid activity is volunteering or voluntary work.
Complete placements only through the proper university process.
Never accept professional sport or entertainment work without advice.
Provide a right-to-work share code.
Check your pay and payslips.
Keep employment and hours records.

The 20-hour limit is a maximum, not a recommended workload.

A good student job should support your time in the UK rather than:

Damage your grades
Exhaust you
Create visa problems
Expose you to exploitation
Become your only source of essential funding

Choose lawful employment.

Keep accurate records.

Communicate clearly with your employer.

Ask your university before accepting anything unusual.

And remember that a manager saying, “Everyone does it,” is not an immigration category.

Continue with Opening a UK Bank Account [Opening a UK Bank Account] for a guide to account types, proof of address, international transfers, banking apps and avoiding financial scams.