Working during your studies
As a Student Visa holder, working part-time alongside your studies can be a great way to build skills and earn some extra income. Just make sure to check that your visa allows you to work in the UK before getting started.
What are the rules around working during your studies?
If you have a Student Visa, the following rules will apply for working during your studies.
- Degree-level students may work up to 20 hours per week during term time.
- Students below degree level (e.g. foundation courses) are limited to 10 hours per week during term time.
- Full-time work is permitted outside term-time, for example during official university holiday periods.
What type of work is not allowed?
- Self-employment e.g. freelance writing, freelance photography, private tutoring or selling goods or services directly to an end customer.
- Engaging in a business activity e.g. setting up a business as a sole trader or under a partnership, holding 10% or more share in a company.
- Permanent full-time jobs.
- Being a professional sportsperson including as a sports coach.
- Being employed as an entertainer.
- Working as a doctor or dentist in training, unless you are on the foundation programme.
Term time refers to periods when you are expected to undertake academic work, such as attending lectures and tutorials, completing assignments, sitting exams (including re-sits), and working on coursework, dissertations, or theses.
University holidays
- University holidays typically include the Christmas, Easter, and summer breaks. Weekends and bank holidays are not considered official university holidays.
- Summer holiday dates may vary depending on your course and subject area.
Please be aware that the specific dates may depend on your academic schedule. For example, nursing students do not have a standard summer break, as their holidays are scheduled at different times throughout the year.
You may work full-time during official vacation periods as per the allowances listed below.
Undergraduate Students
| Holiday period | Permitted work |
|---|---|
| Christmas and Easter break | You may work full-time. |
| Summer break | You may work full-time, provided you are not required to complete any re-sits. |
Postgraduate Taught (Masters) Students
| Holiday period | Permitted work |
|---|---|
| Christmas and Easter break | You may work full-time. |
| Summer period | You may only work up to 20 hours per week, as you will be expected to work on your dissertation, course-related projects, |
Postgraduate Research (MRes/PhD) Students
| Holiday period | Permitted work |
|---|---|
| Christmas / New Year | You may work full-time. |
| Easter break | You may only work up to 20 hours per week. |
| Summer period | You may only work up to 20 hours per week. |
| Writing-up or undertaking corrections | You may only work up to 20 hours per week. |
| 35-days PGR annual leave | You may work full-time. |
Working after completing your course
As an undergraduate or postgraduate taught student, once you have reached the official end date of your course and have submitted all coursework and completed all assessments, you are permitted under Student Vissa regulations to work full-time during the 'wrap-up period' at the end of your visa. See the wrap-up dates in the drop down below.
For postgraduate research students (PhD/MRes), the official end date is typically the date when the award is conferred, usually following the submission of your final corrections. If the award is conferred before the end date stated on your CAS, you may be classified as having completed your course earlier than expected. Find details on what this means in the drop down below.
Please be aware that you cannot switch to full-time work before the expected course end date stated on your CAS.
Find more information about what happens after your studies on our dedicated page.
Your Student Visa is issued for the full duration of your course, plus an additional period (typically 2 or 4 months), known as the ‘wrap-up period’. Please refer to the table below for further details regarding visa lengths.
| Course length | Wrap up period |
|---|---|
| 12 months or longer | 4 months after course end date |
| 6 - 12 months | 2 months after course end date |
| Less than 6 months | 7 days after course end date |
| Pre-sessional course (less than 6 months) | 1 month after course date |
If you finish your course earlier than expected (before the expected end date on your CAS), the Immigration and Compliance team will inform the Home Office of your early completion date at which point you will receive a formal email confirming the same. Following the University’s report, the Home Office will curtail or shorten your Student Visa.
The Home Office usually notifies individuals via email or letter to inform them of their visa curtailment that is done as per the standard wrap up period. For example, for courses lasting 12 months or longer, the revised visa expiry date will be 4 months after your early completion date. This means you may work full-time for 4 months following your early completion date.
Get in touch for support
Our Immigration and Compliance Team provides expert guidance to help you with immigration related issues during your studies. From extending or renewing your Student Visa to applying for routes after graduation, the team are here to support and advise you.
Contact the team today to get personalised advice through a 121 appointment or join one of their Immigration drop-in sessions and keep your application on track.