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International Student Office

“Working part-time while I was a student helped me so much with my English language and made it much easier to find a job after I graduated. It is so important to hear and use English in a practical as well as an academic context.” Kailing, China

Working During Study

Working During Study

Doing part-time paid and voluntary work is a great way to get to know British people, gain an insight into UK workplace culture and gain valuable work experience for your future career. However before you take a job think about whether the hours involved are compatible with your studies as working too many hours can seriously affect your academic progress.

Before you apply for a job, check whether you have permission to work or volunteer in the UK and any restrictions on working/volunteering which apply to you. Please remember that if you are applying for a visa to come to the UK to study you cannot use potential earnings from work to satisfy the funds requirements of the immigration rules.

EEA Nationals

Most nationals from the European Economic Area (EEA) are free to work in the UK without restriction. EEA nationals from Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Slovenia may need to register with the UK Border Agency under the Workers’ Registration Scheme when they find work.

Nationals of Bulgaria and Romania may need to apply for worker authorisation or a registration certificate. Find out more here. If you are not sure, please come to see an adviser at the International Student Office.

Nationals from outside the EEA

Check the terms of your visa to see whether you are allowed to work or volunteer in the UK. If you have any questions, please come and see an adviser in the International Student Office before starting work. If you work when you do not have permission to do so or you take employment that is not covered by the rules (for example working freelance), you will be committing a criminal offence. If found, you could be taken to court, fined up to £5,000 and up to six months in prison and you would be liable to be removed (deported). You would also face automatic refusal of any application to return to the UK from between one and ten years. You can find more information on the rules for nationals from outside the EEA here