Thanks to changes in work regulations, international students in the UK can now work up to twenty hours a week when studying and full time during vacations. Because of recent changes, it is now easier than ever for international students to earn extra money while in the UK. New rules have been introduced to make it easier for you to work while you study. Opportunities available to you include part-time or vacation work, as well as course-related work placements. And you can even apply to stay on in the UK at the end of your course through the Training and Work Experience Scheme (TWES).

Can my husband/wife / Son / Daughter work while I study in the UK?

This will depend on the amount of time you are given to study in the UK. If you are given 12 months or more, then your husband/wife/son/daughter joining you in the UK should be given a passport stamp which allows him or her to work. For further information from UKCOSA about this topic, download the Guidance Note, ‘Dependants of international students’.

Can I stay in the UK to work after I I have finished studying?

It may be possible for you to stay on in the UK for practical training or work experience. Under the ‘Training and Work Experience Scheme’, (TWES) employers can apply for permits to employ a person in a particular post. It may also be possible to stay on in the UK under the ‘Innovators Scheme’. For further information from UKCOSA about this topic, download the Guidance Note, ‘Students and employment’.

Finding a job

You can find out what part-time jobs are available by consulting notice boards around your institution, looking in local newspapers and Jobcentres, and visiting your college or university careers office. Many institutions now have their own ‘job shop’, which displays part-time and holiday vacancies and, sometimes, issues job vacancy bulletins. The careers service can also provide you with extensive information and advice about employment, training and further study (including opportunities after graduation, work permits, and work experience opportunities), and practical help with job-hunting and making applications.

Following the Rules

As you can see, there are many employment opportunities for international students in the UK. But there are a few conditions you should keep in mind: You cannot run your own business, be self-employed, provide services as a professional sportsperson or entertainer. With the exception of work organized by your university or college, money that you hope to make while doing part-time or vacation work cannot form part of your visa application. You must show that you can meet the cost of studying and living in the UK without employment or financial assistance from the state.