The UK government allows international students to study in the UK to work part-time, they can work up to 20 hours per week during sessions and 40 hours per week during vacations.

Most international students take up part-time work in restaurants, retail outlets, café’s, etc., there are part-time job opportunities available during major events; these could be sporting events, concerts, fairs etc. There are student jobs that are also available at the university itself, these job listings can usually be found on the university notice board. A lot of international students who are studying in the UK manage their daily expenses by working part-time. But it is important to note that the key aspect is to be able to successfully manage both studying full-time and part-time work.

Students need to understand the terms of the job before they start working, in the UK the minimum wage that all employers need to pay is £5.30 per hour if you are aged between 18 – 20 and £6.70 if you are 21 years or more.

The employer will make a direct deposit to the student’s bank account, the frequency of the payment could be weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on the terms of the employment.

Voluntary Work

A lot of students undertake voluntary work or unpaid internships, these can be found on university notice boards, newspapers, classifieds or websites. When studying abroad, one of the most important things is to gain experience not just within the university but also outside it. A lot of international students undertake part-time work that is not paid for many reasons, it could be for gaining work experience, build networks, understanding the job market and even meeting people who can offer future career advice.

Other Important Information

The ideal time to work part-time is during vacations such as Christmas or Easter and even right after the final exams of the term.

It is also important to note that despite the fact that the Tier 4 visa grants a student permission to work 20 hours a week during the active study, some universities also have further restrictions, that only allows students to work for 10 hours. It is advisable for international students to check the same with the university.

If the duration of the study is less than 6 months, then the student will not get permission to work part-time.

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