Working in the UK during your studies

international students

In this section:

 

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What you need to consider before getting a job

National Insurance

Everyone who works in the UK needs a National Insurance (NI) number. This is used to ensure that any National Insurance contributions and tax you pay are properly recorded.

To apply for an NI number, contact the National Insurance Office on 0845 600 0643. They will either post you an application form to fill in, or ask you to attend a brief Evidence of Identity interview to prove your eligibility to work in the UK.

The length of time it takes to get an NI number can vary, so we recommend telephoning the National Insurance Office as soon as you start looking for work.

Visit Directgov for more detailed information about National Insurance.



Work restrictions and regulations

You may have restrictions on the numbers of hours you can work and the type of work that you can do while you study. It is your responsibility to check any restrictions before applying for jobs.

The Careers Service is not authorised to give any advice on work permits and visas. The following websites answer commonly asked questions regarding entitlement to work in the UK and work restrictions:

 

Bulgarian and Romanian students

You will need a registration certificate from the UK Border Agency before you can start work during your studies. For more information, or to apply, visit UKBA: Bulgarian and Romanian nationals.

It can take up to six months to obtain a registration certificate, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. You must be in the UK when you apply.

After receiving the registration certificate, you can apply for a National Insurance (NI) number. You can then work for up to 20 hours a week during term time and full-time during course vacation periods.

If you have any queries regarding this, you can go to the Visa Team's visa drop-in sessions for further information.

Please note however that the Visa Team are unable to check the relevant application forms and/ or advise on the necessary supporting documents during the visa drop-in.

 

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Finding a part-time job

See Finding a part-time job for information and resources to help you find work.

If you are finding it difficult to get a part-time job due to lack of work experience on your CV, consider taking part in our Passport to Work scheme.

Every September and October, the Careers Service runs workshops to help international students search and apply for a part-time job:

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Work experience

Work experience is an important factor in gaining employment in the UK or your home country after graduation. Employers look for graduates who have developed transferable skills and gained commercial insight so make the most of work experience opportunities open to you!

Visit our Work experience section for more information on finding work experience opportunities and the types of work experience available, including Newcastle Work Experience.

For advice and inspiration about work experience from a Newcastle University international student, read Suzana's case study (PDF: 64.5 KB).

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Key Resources