Careers Service

Part-Time Jobs

Part-time Jobs

About

Part-time work not only helps you earn extra money while you’re studying, it’s also a great way to gain work experience, develop valuable skills and meet new people.

While many students work part-time in shops, bars, restaurants and call centres (the easiest jobs to find and fit around study), it’s possible to find a part-time job related to your degree course, for example healthcare, marketing or web design.

Lots of students seek part-time work in the city centre, so think about extending your search. Locations outside Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside and North Tyneside are all accessible by bus and metro.

There are also opportunities for temporary and casual jobs on campus for current Newcastle students, including within the Careers Service.

We hold a part-time jobs fair at the start of each academic year with a range of employers, such as event management companies, healthcare, retail stores and hospitality and catering recruiters. Look out for our next fair in our Events section.

Think about approaching employers directly, even when they aren't advertising a vacancy, by sending or handing in a copy of your CV and covering letter. This is particularly useful when looking for retail, bar or restaurant work. It’s worth following up a speculative application with a phone call or visit a few days afterwards to show you are still interested in the position.

We have advice for international students on working in the UK during your studies, including information on employment rights and how to apply for a National Insurance number.

Part-time pay

How much you will be paid depends on your age, the type of work and employer. However, legally all employers must pay their employees at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

The current NMW rates (from 1 April 2022) are:

  • £9.50 per hour for workers aged 23+
  • £9.18 per hour for workers aged 21-22
  • £6.83 per hour for workers aged 18-20
  • £4.81 per hour for workers aged under 18 and apprentices 

Work experience

To gain valuable skills and experience, you may want to consider volunteering. You won’t get paid, but you will be gaining practical work experience and making yourself more employable.

If you're interested in finding work experience related to your degree, see internships and placements.

Identifying fake jobs

We're often asked how to tell whether a job advert is a scam or for a real job. It can be hard sometimes to tell the difference, however, there are typical warning signs.

Here are some guidelines to help you identify fake jobs.

Finding Part-time Jobs

If you're looking for a part-time job on campus, visit our Opportunities on Campus pages. 

You can use these websites to find part-time jobs:

For holiday and seasonal jobs, visit:

Recruitment agencies can also be a useful source of part-time or temporary work. See Recruitment agencies for information and tips on using an agency.

More help and advice

You can find more opportunities and advice on these websites:

If you’re worried about financial issues, the University has advice on managing your money and dealing with financial pressure during your studies.

Self-employment

If you are working on a self-employed basis, you need to register with HM Revenue and Customs within three months of starting your business, or you could pay a penalty.

You will pay tax on profit you make in excess of your personal allowance. You will normally be sent a Self Assessment tax return each year to enable you to do this. You may also have to pay National Insurance contributions and register for VAT (although for a student in full-time education, this is very unlikely).

Personal allowances are for all your income added together. You may find your income goes over the personal allowance if you have your own business and are also employed by someone else.

International students who are in the UK on a student visa are not allowed to work on a self-employed basis.

For more information on self-employment, visit: