A UK Student visa permits some employment, but the hours and the type of work allowed depend on the course and the sponsor. Working beyond the permitted hours breaches the visa conditions and may affect future immigration applications. This post provides an overview of working in the UK on a Student Visa.
Can you work in the UK on a Student Visa?
Most students on the Student route can work in the UK, subject to limits set by the level of the course and the type of sponsor. The work conditions are set out in Appendix Student of the Immigration Rules.
A student sponsored by a higher education provider to study a full-time degree-level course has the widest work rights on the route. Students on lower-level courses, and those sponsored by providers that are not higher education providers, have narrower rights. The exact permission granted to an individual is recorded on their immigration status, as explained below. The Student Visa route is the firm’s overview of the visa as a whole.
How many hours can a student work during term time?
A student studying a full-time degree-level course at a higher education provider can work up to 20 hours per week during term time. A student studying below degree level can work up to 10 hours per week during term time.
The weekly limit applies to the whole of any week in which term is running, and it cannot be averaged across several weeks. A common misunderstanding is that the 20-hour limit is a guideline rather than a fixed cap. The limit is a strict condition of the visa, set out in Appendix Student. A week in which a student works more than the permitted hours is a breach of the conditions of leave.
Can a student work full time during the holidays?
A student can usually work full time during official vacation periods, outside term time. This reflects the structure of the academic year, where there is no teaching during recognised holiday periods.
The dates that count as vacation are set by the sponsoring institution and the course timetable. Once the course has formally ended, a student may also work full time until their visa expires, subject to the route’s other conditions. The relevant period is therefore defined by the course, not by the calendar. Students should confirm their term and vacation dates with their institution before taking on additional hours.
What work is not permitted on a Student Visa?
The Student route permits employed work within the hour limits, but certain activities are not permitted at any time. These restrictions are set out in Appendix Student and apply regardless of the hours worked.
A student on the route may not be self-employed and may not engage in business activity. A student may not work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach. A student may not fill a permanent, full-time vacancy. The exceptions are a recognised post-study work basis, or a role that is part of a sponsored arrangement. The route is designed to support study, so work is permitted around the course rather than in place of it.
Where are a student’s work conditions stated?
A student’s exact work rights are recorded on their immigration status, which the individual should check before starting any job. The grant confirms whether work is permitted and, if so, the weekly hour limit that applies.
The conditions appear in the applicant’s online immigration status, the eVisa, accessed through the UK Visas and Immigration online account. An employer carrying out a right-to-work check will rely on the same record. Where the status states that work is permitted up to a stated number of hours, that figure is the operative limit. A student who is unsure of their conditions should confirm them before accepting work, rather than relying on what a course or employer assumes.
Can a student do a work placement as part of the course?
A work placement can be undertaken where it is an assessed and integral part of the course, within the limits set by the rules. This is treated differently from general part-time work taken alongside study.
A placement that forms part of the course is treated differently from outside employment. It does not count against the term-time hour limit, provided it meets the conditions in Appendix Student and the sponsor has confirmed it. The proportion of the course that may be spent on a placement is also regulated. Students should confirm with their sponsor that a placement is correctly classified before it begins.
What happens to work rights after the course ends?
When the course ends, a student’s right to work changes, and continuing to work in the UK long term usually requires a different visa. The Student route is not a settlement route, and its work rights are temporary.
A graduate who wishes to stay and work may be eligible for the Graduate Visa, which permits work without a sponsor for a limited period. A graduate moving into longer-term employment may instead switch into the Skilled Worker Visa, where the role and salary qualify. The firm’s Graduate Visa FAQs explain how the post-study options compare. Planning the next route before the visa expires avoids a gap in permission.
Frequently asked questions
A student on a full-time degree-level course at a higher education provider can work up to 20 hours per week during term time. A student on a course below degree level can work up to 10 hours per week. The limit is a strict condition of the visa and cannot be averaged across weeks.
Yes. A student can usually work full time during official vacation periods and after the course has formally ended, until the visa expires. The vacation dates are set by the sponsoring institution, so a student should confirm them before taking on extra hours.
No. The Student route does not permit self-employment or business activity at any time. A person who wishes to work for themselves in the UK would need a different visa that allows it, such as a business route.
It can. Working beyond the permitted hours is a breach of the conditions of the Student Visa. A breach may be taken into account in a later immigration application. Keeping within the stated weekly limit protects both the current visa and future applications.
Yes, in most cases, until the visa expires. A student who wants to keep working in the UK after that point usually needs another visa. The Graduate Visa or the Skilled Worker Visa may fit, depending on their plans and eligibility.
How Whytecroft Ford can help
The Whytecroft Ford immigration team advises students and graduates across the student and work routes. The firm helps confirm the work conditions attached to a current visa, and plans the switch into the Graduate or Skilled Worker route where appropriate. This is particularly useful for the graduate moving from study into employment without a gap in permission.
To discuss your situation with our immigration team, call 0208 757 5751 or use the contact form.
Sources
Written and reviewed by the Whytecroft Ford immigration team. IAA Accredited. All guidance is researched against primary sources, including the Immigration Rules, Home Office caseworker guidance and GOV.UK. Reviewed every six months, or sooner following a rule change.
