Working during study
Doing part-time paid or voluntary work is a great way to get to know other people and cultures and gain work experience. You will need to be aware of any restrictions that might affect you.
Firstly, think about whether you’ll have enough time for your studies. Working too many hours can seriously affect your academic progress.
You should also check whether you have permission to work or volunteer in the UK and any restrictions on working or volunteering that apply to you.
Remember that if you are applying for a visa to come to the UK to study, you can't use potential earnings from paid work to show you meet the funds requirements of the immigration rules.
If you’ve got any questions, please email the Student Visa Advice team at studentvisaadvice@leeds.ac.uk before starting work.
Nationals from the European Economic Area (EEA)
Most nationals from the EEA are allowed to work in the UK without restriction, if you first entered the UK before the 31 December 2020 and are eligible to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme.
If you entered the UK after the 31 December 2020, you will need a visa to enter the UK, like non-EU students. Please check the work conditions on your Student Visa and use the following information.
Nationals from outside the EEA
Check your visa to see whether you’re allowed to work or volunteer in the UK.
Standard visit visa
As a visitor you are not permitted to work in the UK. You can volunteer for 30 days but only with a registered charity.
Short-term study visa (English Language courses)
If you are in the UK on a short-term study visa, you are not allowed to do any paid work or unpaid work.
Tier 4/Student visa
If you have a Tier 4/Student visa, your visa or passport stamp should say “work restricted” or “able to work as authorised by the Secretary of State”. This means that you have permission to work or volunteer for a restricted number of hours. However, you should be aware that:
- Some types of work are not allowed for students even if you have the right to work.
- The number of hours per week that you are allowed to work depends on when you made your last immigration application and the type of course you are studying.
- There are different rules for working in term time and during vacations.
To work in the UK, you will need your current immigration permission (visa) to be either:
- a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or
- a vignette (sticker) in your current passport.
If your current visa is a vignette in your previous passport you must apply for a BRP to enable you to work. You can apply for a BRP online.
Working hours restrictions
The law on working is very strict and the authorities check local employers to identify students who break the rules. If you work when you do not have permission in your visa, work or volunteer for more than 20 hours per week during term time, or take work in the types of jobs that are not allowed, this is a criminal offence.
The authorities may fine you, detain you and remove you from the UK without notice. This could affect any future visa applications you make to come back to the UK.
Check the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website for more information on the types of work you can do and the number of hours you are allowed to work.
Employers in the UK have a legal duty to make sure that their employees are allowed to work in the UK. The University is not able to produce documents for students confirming if they are allowed to work. If your employer needs confirmation that you are allowed to work they should phone the Home Office Employer’s Helpline: 0300 123 4699.
The following information may also help you.
Undergraduate students
You can work 20 hours per week during term time and full time in your holiday periods and when you have fully completed your course (when the course end date has passed).
Masters students
If you’re studying a 12-month Masters course, you should use the summer period for full-time study to focus on writing your dissertation. It is not considered a holiday, so you should not work full-time during this period until after you have submitted your dissertation and the course end date has passed.
Research degree students
A Tier 4/Student visa allows you to work up to 20 hours per week but you should discuss with your supervisor before taking up any work commitments, particularly as your workload on your research degree may change throughout the year.
As a full-time postgraduate research student, you are expected to work on your research project for periods of time that are comparable to a full-time academic post (the equivalent of an average of at least 37 hours a week). This does not include paid work.
Your holiday entitlement is five weeks per year in addition to bank holidays and the days when the University is closed. The vacation periods which apply to taught students don't apply to you.
You may work full-time during your holiday period if you wish.
You can also work full-time after completing your course, which is after you have completed your viva, corrections (if required) and deposited your final e-thesis.