Working
Working in the UK
How much work you are allowed to do on a Student visa.
This general information is provided to help you understand how any right to work may be affected by º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ term and vacation periods. If you require individual advice, you should contact the Student Advice and Support Service.
What is allowed
If you hold a Student visa which is sponsored by º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, you will usually be allowed to work part-time alongside your studies. It is vital that you and your employer take note of the restrictions and ensure any work you do is fully compliant with Student visa policy and the endorsements on your visa. If you think you have been given an incorrect work entitlement, you must seek guidance from the Student Advice and Support Service.
Work limits include all part-time employment (i.e. may be made up of hours worked for different employers), whether paid or unpaid. You may freely undertake ‘volunteering activity’ but time spent undertaking ‘voluntary work’ may count towards the 10 or 20 hours weekly limit during term time. For further information regarding the difference between volunteering and voluntary work, refer to the Student Visa Policy Guidance or seek advice from the Student Advice and Support Service.
Although working in the UK can provide valuable experience, as well as additional income, you must ensure that it does not impact upon your ability to attend and successfully complete your programme.
What is not allowed
You may not engage in business activity, self-employment, or provide services as a professional sportsperson or entertainer. You are also prohibited from filling a permanent full-time vacancy.
Work restrictions by programme level
In relation to Student visas, UKVI define a working week as a period of 7 days beginning on a Monday.
Further Education students (Art and Design Foundation Studies)
Students may typically work for a maximum of 10 hours per week during term time and full-time during University Christmas and Easter vacations. The end of the programme will typically fall on the last day of term. Students will normally receive an additional two months’ Leave to Remain after this date and may work full-time during this period.
Pre-sessional English students
Pre-sessional students may have a student visa that allows up to 10 or 20 hours work per week during term time depending on whether the visa was issued for the pre-sessional course only or pre-sessional and main degree. It is term time throughout the duration of the pre-sessional course. The period between the pre-sessional course end date and start of main degree will count as vacation time, during which full-time work may be undertaken.
Undergraduates
Students may typically work for a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during University Christmas, Easter and Summer vacations. The end of the programme will typically fall on the last day of term in the final year. Students will normally receive an additional 4 months’ Leave to Remain after this date and may work full-time during this period providing the programme has been completed.
Postgraduate Taught students
Students may typically work for a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during University Christmas and Easter vacations. Students on Postgraduate Taught programmes do not have a Summer vacation and this period should be regarded as term time, with a 20 hour per week limit.
For a typical one-year master’s student, the end of the programme for immigration purposes is usually 12 months after the programme started, e.g. 3 October 2022 to 2 October 2023. The end of the programme is not necessarily set by the date of a final exam or the last submission of assessed coursework. Students will normally receive an additional 4 months’ Leave to Remain after the programme end date and may work full-time during this period providing the programme has been completed.
China Partnership Programme students
Students may typically work for a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time. During Year 1, students may work full-time during University Christmas, Easter and Summer vacations. During Year 2, the programme does not have a Summer vacation and this period should be regarded as term time, with a 20 hour per week limit.
The end of the programme for immigration purposes is usually 24 months after the programme started, e.g. 3 October 2022 to 2 October 2024. The end of the programme is not necessarily set by the date of a final exam or the last submission of assessed coursework. Students will normally receive an additional 4 months’ Leave to Remain after the programme end date and may work full-time during this period providing the programme has been completed.
Doctoral Researchers
University terms are not relevant. Students may not work in excess of 20 hours per week at any time, with the exception of during pre-approved annual leave, where the 20-hour restriction does not apply. Sponsored students should also note any additional restrictions imposed as a condition by their funding body. Most of the Student Visa work restrictions do not apply to students sponsored under the Doctorate Extension Scheme after studies have been completed.
Work placements – Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught students
Students may undertake a paid or unpaid work placement as part of their º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ degree, providing it is an integral and assessed part of the programme and accounts for no more than 50% of the programme length. Under normal circumstances, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ will continue to sponsor a student’s visa for the duration of a UK-based placement.
Students are also permitted to undertake part-time work (up to a maximum of 20 hours per week) in addition to a work placement. However, if you are considering this, you are strongly encouraged to discuss your plans with your placement employer.