As an international student in the UK, working while studying offers you the chance to earn money, gain experience, improve language skills and meet people. But with so much opportunity in the UK, you’ll also need to take care that you don’t break the conditions of your visa. In light of current labour shortages in the UK, and as new ways to earn money emerge, the risk of breaching visa conditions is a growing concern for student visa holders. And the Home Office is focusing more resources than ever into enforcement action, including checks on financial earnings, employer audits and reporting requirements for universities.
After all your hard work and investment in securing a visa and your place at a UK university, it’s not worth the risk of getting caught working more hours than you should or doing the kind of work you’re not allowed to do.
The Home Office can deport you and can refuse your future immigration applications. Your employer is also likely to face illegal working penalties and your university is under a duty to notify the Home Office of any international students who have breached their work conditions.
Can you work on a student visa?
Your permission to work in the UK will depend on the type of visa you have.
If your student visa is for a part-time course, you won’t generally have permission to work in the UK, either on a paid or unpaid basis.
If you have a valid UK student visa for a full-time degree course, you’ll be allowed to work while you study, but restrictions apply to the number of hours you can work and the type of work you can do.
Working hour limits
During university term time, full-time international students are limited to working for a maximum of 20 hours per week. Term time dates are set by your university. A working week is a seven-day period starting on a Monday and running through to Sunday.
Outside of term time, during university vacations, there are no limits on the number of hours you can work, meaning you are allowed to work full-time.
The UK is currently experiencing record numbers of job vacancies. Employers in many industries popular with student workers – such as restaurants and shops – are finding they are short-staffed.
While this makes it easier for students to find a job, you’ll need to make sure you don’t breach your visa conditions by working more hours than you are allowed.
It may feel like you are helping out your manager by putting in a couple of extra shifts, but if this takes the number of hours you’ve worked over your maximum weekly limit, you’ll be in breach of your visa conditions.
To avoid exceeding the limit, it’s best to keep a record of the hours you work each day.
Beware also that while there is no restriction on the amount of money you can earn, anything perceived as too high during term time may raise suspicion that you are working more hours than the maximum threshold.
It’s also important to note that since your student visa is temporary, you can only be employed on a temporary contract and cannot be taken on a permanent basis, although certain structured schemes, like internships or industrial placements tied to academic programmes, are permitted even if they involve longer-term commitments during studies.
Restrictions on the type of work you can do
Any kind of work you undertake while present in the UK has to be permitted under the Home Office’s student visa guidance. Put simply, you’re not allowed to be employed on a permanent basis, be self-employed or to undertake “business activity” during your study visa period.
‘Business activity’ is a broad term, and while the Home Office guidance gives some indication and examples of what is prohibited, such as setting up your own company or becoming a company director in the UK, there are increasing numbers of grey areas as new ways to earn money emerge.
Changes in the employment market mean more and more people are earning money in less traditional ways. In the so-called ‘gig economy’, employers (on platforms such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats) may hire individuals either through “worker” status contracts, which might comply with visa conditions, or on a self-employed basis; self-employment, however, is not allowed for international students. You will therefore need to confirm your employment status with any such employer to avoid breaching the terms of your visa.
Freelancing will also be off-limits while you are present in the UK under a student visa, since you are not allowed to run a business, regardless of whether this is online or offline. This means you couldn’t operate on a freelance or consultancy basis – even if you have clients based in your home country – as this is the same as being self-employed.
If, however, you are employed by a UK or non-UK employer, and are working remotely from the UK, any work you undertake while you are in the UK on a student visa must not exceed the 20-hour limit during term time.
If you want to raise some spare cash, you are allowed to sell unwanted items on the likes of Ebay, but if this becomes a trading enterprise for profit, you would become self-employed, which is not allowed.
Likewise, you are not allowed to set up a business while on a student visa. However, if you have plans to remain in the UK after your studies by starting a new business under the start up route, you can carry out certain preliminary activities such as researching and putting together your business plan, but you could not start to trade.
Work placements & unpaid work
International students are allowed to undertake a work placement that meets the conditions of being an ‘integrated and assessed’ part of their course that is generally no longer than 50% of the total course length.
You can also work as a Students’ Union sabbatical officer or as a doctor or dentist in training or under the doctorate extension scheme after study.
International students are not permitted to be employed as a professional sportsperson or as an entertainer, unless the work comes within a work placement exemption.
Students can volunteer while in the UK, but can only undertake voluntary work if their visa allows. Students, therefore, have to interpret the Home Office guidance and its distinction between volunteering and voluntary work. For example, volunteering typically relates to activity for charities and voluntary organisations, and volunteers also generally don’t have any contractual obligations to carry out any work.
If you do not have permission to work under your student visa, you cannot undertake voluntary work. If you do have permission to work, the usual rules on the maximum weekly term-time threshold continue to apply to voluntary work.
Need assistance?
Studying in the UK brings considerable opportunity, but international students have to balance this by following their strict visa conditions.
Be sure to familiarise yourself with the rules and Home Office guidance, and if you are unsure about any kind of work activity, take advice from a professional immigration adviser or your university’s immigration office.
UK Student Visa Work Rules FAQs
Can I work full-time on a UK student visa?
You can work full-time during official vacation periods if you hold a student visa for a full-time degree course. However, during term time, you are restricted to working a maximum of 20 hours per week.
What types of jobs can I do on a student visa?
You can take on temporary, part-time jobs or internships, provided they comply with your visa restrictions. You are not allowed to be self-employed, work as a freelancer, start a business, or take on a
permanent job.
How do I know my term dates?
Your term dates are set by your university or institution and should be clearly communicated to you. Always confirm these dates directly with your school, as they determine your working hour limits.
Can I work more than 20 hours in one week if I work fewer hours another week?
No, the 20-hour weekly limit during term time is strict and applies to each week. You cannot average hours over multiple weeks or “make up” hours in advance or retrospectively.
Can I volunteer on a student visa?
Yes, you can volunteer, but it must not conflict with your visa’s work restrictions. Volunteering is different from voluntary work, which is subject to the 20-hour weekly limit during term time.
Is freelancing allowed on a student visa?
No, freelancing or self-employment is not permitted under a student visa. This includes offering consultancy services or working on a contract basis, even for clients outside the UK.
What happens if I breach my work conditions?
Breaching your visa conditions can lead to serious consequences, including cancellation of your visa, deportation, and future immigration bans. Your university may also report breaches to the Home Office.
Can I work remotely for an employer outside the UK?
Yes, but only if you are employed on a formal contract that complies with your visa restrictions. During term time, the 20-hour limit still applies, regardless of where your employer is based.
Can I work during my dissertation period?
For postgraduate students, dissertation periods are generally considered term time. You must adhere to the 20-hour weekly limit unless your institution explicitly states otherwise.
What should I do if I’m unsure about a job offer?
If you’re unsure, seek advice from your university’s international student office or an immigration adviser. They can help you determine if the job complies with your visa conditions.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Term Time | The period during which classes, exams, or other academic obligations are scheduled as defined by the student’s institution. |
| Vacation Period | Official breaks in the academic calendar, during which students can work full-time under a student visa. |
| Self-Employment | Running your own business or working as a freelancer, which is not permitted for student visa holders. |
| Volunteering | Unpaid activity typically for charities or non-profits, without any contractual obligation, and not restricted by visa work limits. |
| Voluntary Work | Activity that often includes a contractual obligation, such as regular shifts, which counts toward the 20-hour weekly limit during term time. |
| Dissertation Period | The time allocated to postgraduate students for completing their dissertation, usually considered term time unless stated otherwise by the institution. |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) | A document issued by licensed sponsors to international students for their visa applications, detailing their academic or work eligibility. |
| Gig Economy | A labour market characterised by short-term contracts or freelance work, often facilitated through platforms like Deliveroo, which may conflict with visa rules. |
| Right to Work Check | A legal requirement for UK employers to verify an individual’s eligibility to work in the UK under their visa conditions. |
| Integrated Work Placement | A work placement included as part of a student’s academic course, which is typically assessed and must not exceed 50% of the total course length. |
Author
Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.
Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals
