Working during your studies
**These notes are not a full-statement of the law and are intended for guidance onlyMany international students are allowed to do some work whilst they study in the UK. However, this is not true for every international student, and even if you are allowed to work, there are certain restrictions on the type of work that you can take.
To be allowed to work, the condition that you have about employment needs to be a 'restriction', rather than a 'prohibition' on work. If you are coming for a course of more than 6 months, you can expect to be given a 'restriction' on work.
However, if you are on a course of 6 months or less, the situation is more complicated, therefore it would be best if you called into the Advice Centre for further information.
WHAT DOES A 'RESTRICTION' ON WORKING LOOK LIKE?
A 'restriction' on working can be worded in two different ways:
No recourse to public funds
Work (and any changes) must be authorised
or
Leave to enter/remain in the United Kingdom on condition that the holder maintains and
accommodates himself and any dependants without recourse to public funds and does not enter or change employment paid or unpaid without the consent of the Secretary of State for Employment and does not engage in business or profession without the consent of the Secretary of State for the Home Department is hereby given for/until (specified time)
WHAT DOES A 'PROHIBITION' ON WORKING LOOK LIKE?
A 'prohibition' on working can be worded in two different ways:
No work or recourse to public funds
or
Leave to enter/remain in the United Kingdom on condition that the holder maintains and accommodates himself and any dependants without recourse to public funds, does not enter employment paid or unpaid and does not engage in any business or profession, is hereby given for/until (specified time).
WHAT WORK AM I ALLOWED TO DO DURING MY STUDIES?
Providing your most recent conditions include a 'restriction' (rather than a 'prohibition') on working, you are allowed to:
1. work for up to 20 hours a week during term-time, and any number of hours during vacations
2. take a placement which is part of a 'sandwich course'
To be a work placement which is part of a 'sandwich course':
• the work placement must be clearly defined; and
• the work placement must be approved by the institution providing the course; and
• the course must lead to degree / qualification awarded by a nationally recognised examining body; and
• the work placement must not extend beyond the end of the course.
3. if you are on a degree course, take a 3 month internship, if it meets the following definition:
To be an 'internship':
• the student must be on a first or higher degree course in the UK; and
• it must be offered by an employer to a potential employee, whether that future employment is in or outside the UK; and
• internships must be an established part of the employer's recruitment procedure; and
• the student must not previously have undertaken an internship with the employer; and
• it must not be for longer than 3 months ; and
• it must be paid; and
• pay and conditions of employment must be comparable to those for a 'resident worker' doing the same kind of work; and
• it must be completed within the current period of permission to be in the UK as a student.
However, you must not:
• engage in business, self-employment or provide services as a professional sportsperson or entertainer
• pursue a career by filling a permanent full-time vacancy
IS MY HUSBAND OR WIFE ALLOWED TO WORK?
When the UK immigration authorities give your husband or wife permission to be in the UK, they put a sticker or stamp in their passport telling them what conditions apply to their stay.
If a 'restriction' is given your husband or wife will be allowed to work. If a 'prohibition' is given your husband or wife will not be allowed to work.
Information courtesy of UKCOSA
