Planning to study in the UK is one of the best decisions you can make to upgrade your career prospects. The UK offers some of the world’s top educational institutes for international students. Once you are granted the United Kingdom student visa, you get the opportunity to study and learn under the influence of leading education systems, excellent infrastructure and advanced teaching methodologies. You get to meet new people, make new friends and progress in your career options as you discover your path ahead through your study program.

Studying in the UK does come with its share of expenses. You may have to pull more resources to make sure you can afford education in this country. From scholarship to loan options, there are several ways to ensure that you can support yourself financially when you study in the UK. You can also study and work in the UK to ensure that you can cover your daily expenses. 

Just like most of the top study destinations worldwide, international students are permitted to work part-time. You are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during your term period and full-time during the holiday breaks. However, there are a few restrictions and conditions you must follow to be able to work without hassles.

Eligibility to work while you study in the UK

As you commence with your studies in the UK, you may find a part-time job if needed. The cost of living in the UK is expensive depending on the city you choose to live in, and study. With your part-time job, you will find relief on daily expenses and probably save up to pay your tuition fees.

Your eligibility to study and work in the UK is based on two major restrictions:

• The restrictions set by your university
• The regulations set by state-run official institutions

Therefore, you have to ensure that your university can pull you back from working before managing the restrictions with state officials. For instance, your university may limit your working hours depending on your study program, aside from governmental restrictions.

In the major cities like London, international students can easily find a part-time job. Some universities may permit you to work inside the university campus. If you don’t get a job on-campus, there are still many options available to you. Also, before you begin hunting for part-time jobs, you must check if you’re eligible for that specific nature of work. 

It all starts with your Tier 4 visa, the official United Kingdom student visa. The first criteria would be your age, that is, if you’re under 16 and don’t have a Tier 4 (General 4) visa you will not be eligible or qualified to work in the UK.

These work eligibility prohibitions are only applied to students coming from a country other than EU/EEA countries or Switzerland. Citizens of EU/EEA, including Switzerland do not need permission to work in the UK while studying.

To know more, you can access the conditions and limitations printed out on your Tier 4 sticker (vignette) including the number of work hours you can take up per week during term-time. Furthermore, when receiving your residence permit paperwork you will get a letter that will offer you all the necessary information, whether you can work or not while studying in the UK.

You can work in the UK if the letter states any of the following:

• Work as in Tier 4 Rules
• Work must be authorized
• Restricted as in Tier 4 Rules
• Restricted work – Part-time during term-time, Full-time during vacations
• Restricted work time
• Work limited to 20 hours per week at maximum during term-time
• Work limited to 10 hours per week at maximum during term-time
• Able to work as authorized by the Secretary of State

However, if your sticker mentions one of the below options, you will not be permitted to work.

• No work
• Work prohibited

If none of the above is clearly stated in your paperwork or you have a problem understanding it, you may choose to contact the necessary authorities personally before deciding to get a job.

Also, if you decide to upgrade your level of study or change the course then you may be asked to initiate a new immigration application. That said, you must adhere to the old immigration restrictions until you receive a response for the new application.

Types of study programs and working hour permissions

You can work up to 20 hours per week if you have enrolled in a full-time course at a degree level or above in a recognized higher education institution. Likewise, if you have joined a short-term student registered program in a foreign higher institution settled in the UK, you can work for a duration of 20 hours every week.

On the other hand, you are allowed to work only 10 hours a week if you have enrolled in a full-time course below the level of a degree sponsored by a recognised body or a publicly-funded higher education institution.

This rule also applies to any course if you are aged over 16 and hold a Tier 4 (Child) visa.

You may not be allowed to work in the UK, if you’ve enrolled in a part-time postgraduate course or above, supported by a recognized body in the UK. Likewise, one that receives public funds as a Higher Education Institution is also not permitted to grant international students to work while they study.

Further to this, you may also not be allowed to work if you’ve joined a course at a further education college at whatever level, or in a course at any level offered by private higher education providers.

And finally, at any course where the student aged under 16 has a Tier 4 (Child) visa will not be allowed to work while studying.

While you study and work in the UK, you may face some limits on working hours depending on a few factors, including the type of your course and the type of Tier 4 sponsor where you study. 

As a full-time student, you can work for 20 hours per week, whether or not you get paid for your job.

Types of jobs you find in the UK as an international student 

Typically, the main purpose of the United Kingdom student visa is to serve as a means for you to study without hassles or too many restrictions. Despite being designed only to permit you to attend the university of your choice, your student visa may allow you to work within specific time limits. However, note that the work allowed to you is meant to upgrade your professional skills and to support you financially. Furthermore, the UK government wants to ensure that you’re not losing track of your study goals while you study and work in the UK.

If a work placement is compulsory for your study program, then there is a fixed time period for which you can work. Currently, if you’re attending such a course you may be permitted to work for a duration which is less than 33% of the whole duration of your study program.

At the same time, there may be a few exceptions to this rule. 

• Your study program is offered in a recognised higher education institution, which is at RQF 6 or SCQF 9. You may work for up to 50% of the total length of your studies.

• Also, if your study program is part of a study abroad programme and it’s at RQF 6 or SCQF levels, you will be permitted to work up to 50% of the total length of your studies.

• You’re a Tier 4 student aged 16 or above. You will be allowed to work up to 50% of the total duration of your course. Work placement is of crucial significance in a study course. There’s also a UK statutory requirement that permits you to exceed this limit.

As an international student, you may not be familiar with how the labour market works. At the same time, it may be challenging to figure out the type of jobs you can find and still not violate the law. Surely, there are many such jobs out there. If you want to know more about your options to study and work in the UK, consult with our immigration experts today.