Can I work during my studies?
If you are in the UK on a student visa you will be able to tell if you can work by looking at your visa sticker or UKBA biometric residence permit card.
Most students studying on a student visa at degree level or above have permission to work part-time up to 20 hours per week and full-time during university vacations, but special rules apply to postgraduate students writing up dissertations over the summer and postgraduate research students. Typically, the writing-up period is not considered as university vacation, and therefore the work restrictions will apply.
Students studying below degree level are limited to a maximum of 10 hours per week work.
If your visa sticker says ‘No work’, then you must not work in the UK, even on an unpaid basis.
Work Placements
While on a student visa, you will be allowed to undertake a course-related work placement which constitutes an assessed part of your course and does not exceed half of the total length of the course undertaken in the United Kingdom. If the work placement does not form part of your assessed course and/or exceeds more than half of the total length of the course, you may not be able to undertake the work placement on a student visa.
Prohibited Employment
Generally, while on a student visa, you will not be allowed to undertake the following types of employments:
- Self-employment
- Employment as a doctor or dentist in training
- As a professional sportsperson
- As an entertainer
- Employment that would fill a permanent full-time vacancy
Rules regarding working in the UK are very strictly enforced. There are severe penalties for students who exceed their relevant limit and for those who work without permission.
For further information about working during studies, please see visit the UKCISA website.
