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Who Can Work on a Student Visa in the UK?
Generally, if you’re a full-time degree-level student or above, you can work in the UK on a student visa (formerly Tier 4 visa). But it also varies depending on individual visa conditions per the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) authority.
Your work status is clearly written on your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or Visa Vignette.
Be sure to check your student visa first.
- If it says, “No work” or “work prohibited,” then you must not take any paid or unpaid employment (including work placements).
- If it states, “Work limited to 20 hours per week during the term” or “Restricted work—part-time work (during term) or full-time (during vacations),” then you are permitted to work.
UK Student Visa Work Rules
In most cases,
- Degree-level students can work for 20 hours per week.
- Below degree-level students can take up to 10 hours of work during term time.
- You may be allowed to work full-time during vacation periods or official university breaks (including the period before your course starts, after it ends, or during scheduled holidays).
As per UK regulations, Tier 4 visa work hours are counted in a seven-day period starting from Monday to Sunday. As a student, you can work for a specific number of hours each week. You must follow the rules, as breaching immigration rules is considered a criminal offense.
How Much Can You Earn on a Student Visa?
As per the government’s criteria, the minimum wage in the UK varies depending on age and employment status.
If you are an international student aged 21 and over, you can earn £12.21 per hour, which is the current National Living Wage rate. If you are aged 18 to 20, the current minimum wage rate is £10.
Tax, National Insurance, and Legal Requirements
Keep these legal requirements in mind:
- Apply for a National Insurance Number (NIN)
- Pay income tax if income exceeds the personal allowance (£12,570 for the current tax year)
National Insurance Number (NIN) is a unique identifier used to track your tax and security contributions. This ensures your employer deducts the correct amount of tax from your salary. You may be taxed more if you do not have a NIN.
If you are legally allowed to work, you can start working without this reference number, but your employer will ask you to apply for one as soon as possible.
What Type of Work Is Allowed on a UK Student Visa?
As a student visa holder, you can take up almost any type of position, including:
- Work in retail, hospitality, or administrative sectors
- Customer service roles in any industry
- Course-related internships or work placements
- Voluntary work at registered charities
- University-based positions such as library assistant or campus ambassador
What Are the Employment Restrictions for a Student Visa?
You cannot
- Be ‘self-employed’ (includes freelance or gig economy work)
- Start a company or own a significant share of any business
- Work in the entertainment or sports industries (as an athlete or entertainer)
- Take full-time permanent positions
What Are Term Dates and How to Track Them?
Every university’s academic calendar shows specific terms and vacation periods. It differs by institute. Checking and tracking your work hours before undertaking any full-time work is important.
Can I Work After Degree Completion?
After completing your degree program, you may be eligible for full-time work until your visa expires. You can use this period to prepare for future visa applications, such as the Graduate Route, or gain professional experience. Before taking up any full-time work opportunity, make sure:
- To check your course end date
- You should no longer be in term time
What Is the Graduate Route?
The Graduate visa, formerly called a post-study work visa, allows eligible students to stay and work in the UK for 2 years (24 months) after completing an undergraduate or graduate degree, and for 3 years if they have completed a PhD or other doctoral qualification.
The UK government released a white paper proposal to change the total allowable stay from 24 months to 18 months, still subject to Parliament for review and approval.
This allows them to gain professional work experience, explore career opportunities, and execute other post-study work plans before transitioning to a full-time work visa (if applicable).
You can work more than 20 hours per week during vacations. But if you work more than 20 hours during term time, you are breaching visa regulations and can face serious consequences, including visa cancellation, deportation, and future visa bans.
Yes, you can take multiple jobs as a student, but the cumulative work hours should not exceed 20 hours per week during term time.
Yes, you can switch your student visa to a skilled worker visa after completing your degree from a recognised institute in the UK. You must fulfil the skilled worker criteria and get a sponsored job to switch.
To get Permanent Residency (PR) in the UK, you need to follow a step-by-step process. It is not easy or quick, but it is certainly doable.
After completing your degree
- Apply for the post-study work visa (Graduate route)
- Transition to a skilled worker visa
- Apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR)
This can lead to PR under certain conditions.
Understand Your Student Visa Work Rights Better
Changing visa regulations and specific conditions in individual visa statuses complicates working on a student visa UK. That’s why expert guidance and advice are essential for compliance and avoiding confusion.
Legend Consults is a team of UK immigration advisors who have been in the industry for years. Our team offers personalised advice on your UK student visa, especially how to stay compliant with UKVI rules.
FAQs
Can you work on a student visa in the UK? You can if you are enrolled in a full-time degree program at a recognised institute. And just as you have rights, you also have limitations, which you need to prove you will be compliant with before beginning employment.
In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know about working on a student visa in the UK.
