Working during study
If you’re planning to work in the UK as an international student, you will need to be aware of any restrictions that might affect you.
If you’re planning to work whilst studying, firstly consider 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. Here’s some information on the work permissions you may be given as part of your visa conditions.
The law in the UK
The law on working is very strict and the authorities check local employers to identify students who break the rules.
Your visa will tell you if you have permission to work. If you work when you do not have permission in your visa, work or volunteer for more than your permitted hours per week during term time, or take work in the types of jobs that are not allowed, this is a criminal offence.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) define working as paid and unpaid work, paid and unpaid work placements undertaken as part of a course or period of study, self-employment and engaging in business or any professional activity.
It is important to understand the difference between volunteering and voluntary work:
- Voluntary workers will have an obligation to carry out the work, for example, to attend at particular times and carry out specific tasks. They are remunerated for the work or receive payments in kind. Voluntary work counts as work.
- Volunteers don’t have a contract; are not a substitute for a paid employee and don’t receive payment (although can be re-imbursed for reasonable travel/subsistence expenses). Volunteers usually help a charity, voluntary or public sector organisation.
Tier 4/Student visa
If you have a Tier 4/Student visa, your eVisa will confirm your right to work and your weekly work limit.
A ‘week’ means a period of 7 days beginning on a Monday. It is important to keep a record of the hours you work so you do not exceed the weekly limit.
Hours of work
- If you are studying a full time undergraduate or postgraduate course (including Study Abroad) you are allowed to work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time.
- If you are studying below degree level (for example, a pre-sessional course) you can work 10 hours per week during term time.
Types of work
Some types of work are not allowed for students even if you have the right to work. You are not permitted to:
- engage in business activity or self-employment
- work as a entertainer
- work as professional sports person (including coach)
- take a permanent full-time job
UKCISA also have a useful blog covering different types of work you can and cannot do.
Work Placements
Some students are able to add a work placement to their degree programme. The University must confirm that the work placement is an assessed and integral part of your course and provide UKVI details of your work placement.
You can be paid and work full time on a work placement with your student visa in addition to working part time at 20 hours per week in other employment.
If the placement is not an assessed and integral part of your course it will be subject to your weekly work limit of 20 hours.
You may need to extend your student visa to cover the additional work placement year. Find out more about work placements and extending your visa.
Working outside of term time
Students can work full time outside of term time. Your student visa does not limit the number of hours you can work outside of term time. However, this differs dependent on your level of study.
See the University of Leeds term dates.
Undergraduate students
You can work 20 hours per week during term time, and can work full time in the Christmas, Easter and Summer holiday periods.
Masters students
You can only work full time during the Christmas and Easter holidays. The summer holiday period is considered as term time for you to study and focus on writing your dissertation.
Postgraduate research students
You can 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.
You may work full-time during your holiday period. Your holiday entitlement is 26 days per year in addition to bank holidays and the days when the University is closed.
Working after your course has ended
If you’re a taught student, you can work full time after:
- fully completing your course (completed all coursework, exams and submitted your dissertation) and
- the official end date of your course has passed
If you’re a postgraduate researcher, you can work full time after fully completing your course, which is after:
- your viva and corrections (if required) and
- depositing your final e-thesis
If your course end date has passed but you still have resits or referrals to complete, you must not work full time during term time but you can continue to work 20 hours per week.
Proving your right to work
Employers in the UK have a legal duty to make sure their employees are allowed to work in the UK.
You will need to provide your employer with your passport and a valid share code proving your right to work in the UK. You can generate a share code from the UKVI website. If you are unable to generate a share code, or your employer will needs further confirmation that you are allowed to work they should contact the Home Office.
The University is not able to produce documents for students confirming they are allowed to work.
Registration status certificate
The University can provide a student registration status certificate which confirms that you are a registered student at the University of Leeds, your course start and end dates, and the University term dates.
You can apply for a certificate through the form available on the student registration status certificate page. When completing the form, select the option ‘showing proof of student status with term dates for employer’.
Your employer will need to keep this as evidence of your term dates, holiday periods and when you have completed your course.
Check the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website for more information on working in the UK on a Student visa.
Work permissions for other visas
Standard Visitor (including ETA)
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 only)
If you are in the UK on a short-term study visa, you are not permitted to work. Short-term students can volunteer but may not do voluntary work.
Nationals from the European Economic Area (EEA)
If you have obtained settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, then you can live, work and study in the UK with this immigration status.
There are lots of ways to find work as a student. See our ‘How to find a job’ page for advice.
If you’ve got any questions about working whilst studying, email the Student Visa Advice team at studentvisaadvice@leeds.ac.uk before starting work.