Study and Work For International Students in the UK
In a bid to supplement their income or acquire valuable skills and work experience to improve future career prospects, most international students in the UK often work alongside studying. While this is a good idea, as the UK is one of the most expensive places to live, you should not rely on part-time work to fund your studies. The money for tuition alongside living expenses should have been put aside already.
Work Eligibility
The eligibility to work as an international student in the UK depends on two major restrictions:
- Restrictions set by the university of study (majorly influenced by your study course), and
- Restrictions set by state-run official institutions.
Before you consider study and work option as an international student in the UK, you must first find out if your university has any conditions that could affect your working as an international student. These conditions could restrict the type of work a student can do and its location (whether on or off campus).
If your university does not have any restrictions on your eligibility to work, then you must ensure the information on your student visa, residence permit paperwork and passport are properly looked through to check for any restrictions on your eligibility for a study and work in the UK as an international student.
It should be noted, however, that these restrictions only apply to students coming from non-EU/EEA countries. Students from EU/EEA countries, including Switzerland, are not constrained by any of these conditions to work as international student in the UK.
Restrictions on Study and Work Eligibility
Typically, international students (except citizens of EU/EEA counties) are allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week (where a week is defined as a period of 7 days from a Monday to a Sunday) during term-time and full-time during holidays.
However, international students studying a course below degree level at a Higher Education Institution are only allowed to work 10 hours per week during term time.
International Students in the following categories are not eligible to work during term time while studying in the UK:
- A part-time postgraduate course or above that is supported by a recognized body in the UK or that receives public funds as a Higher Education Institution.
- Â A course at a further education college.
- Â A course offered by a private higher education provider.
- Â A course where the student aged under 16 has a Tier 4 (Child) visa.
Work placements are also a great opportunity for international students to gain employment and work experience in the UK, especially those not eligible for work. International students are allowed to do a work placement during the course of their study, even if they are not legally permitted to take employment.
Study and Work Jobs for International Students.
Upon confirmation of your eligibility to work as an international student in the UK, you should also know that there are certain jobs, you are not allowed to engage in as an international student, whether paid or unpaid. They include:
- Self-employment or initiating a commercial activity.
- Professional sportsperson including a sports coach.
- Full-time permanent jobs.
- Work as a dentist or a doctor in training, except you are enrolled in a foundation program.
Study and Work Jobs that you can do as an International Student
While looking for part-time jobs to apply for, you should know that most of these jobs open to students need little or no specific qualifications or skills, as there would likely be on-the-job training. Nevertheless, you should tailor your CV to fit the role you are applying for, to present yourself as a better candidate.
You can also apply for job opportunities within your university. Most schools recruit international students for part-time roles on campus or as a research assistant for a professor.
Listed below are some job roles you can explore while studying as an international student in the UK.
- Sales or retail jobs
- Customer Service Agents
- Part-time jobs in cafes or restaurants
- Delivery jobs
- Assistant roles
- Hospitality roles
- Personal tutor
- Blogger
- Graphic designer
- Caretaker
Your Rights as an International Student Working in the UK
International students working part-time are entitled to the same rights as a full-time employee and is compensated according to the current minimum hourly rates in the UK.
The rates applicable to different age range are:
- Under 18 – £4.55
- 18 to 20 – £6.45
- 21 to 24 – £8.20
- 25 and over – £8.72
Applying For Your National Insurance Number
International students looking to explore study and work options in the UK will need to apply for a National Insurance Number to be eligible to work.
Application for a National Insurance Number can be done for free by calling the National Insurance Number application line and you can start work while waiting to be issued this.
During the period of part-time or full-time employment as an international student, you would be required to pay Income taxes and National Insurance. This entitles you to a few state benefits that include healthcare.
Work After Study Visa in the UK
A new post-study visa for international students launched as the Graduate Immigration Route in September 2020 now allows international students to stay back in the Uk after their study.
International students who have successfully concluded their undergraduate or postgraduate degree in the UK can stay and work at any skill level for a maximum period of two years (three years for PhD graduates) after graduation if they meet the necessary criteria.