Earning some extra money can help with living costs, while gaining experience with a British employer can be useful when applying for graduate jobs later on. However, having a Student visa does not automatically mean you can take any job you like. There are restrictions on how many hours you can work, the types of employment you can undertake and whether you can run your own business.
The rules also depend on your course and university. What is permitted for an undergraduate student may not be permitted for someone studying at a different level or institution.
In this guide, we explain how working on a Student visa in the UK works, what to consider before accepting an internship and which immigration options are available if you want to stay in Britain after graduation.
How Many Hours Can International Students Work in the UK?
Most international students at British universities are allowed to work alongside their studies, although the number of permitted hours varies. Under the current Home Office rules:
- Up to 20 hours per week during term time: Generally permitted for students on full-time degree-level courses or above, including bachelor’s and master’s degrees, at qualifying higher education providers.
- Up to 10 hours per week during term time: Applies to students on certain full-time courses below degree level.
- No permission to work: Applies to students on some other courses, including part-time courses under the Student visa route.
Students who are allowed to work can usually take on full-time employment during official university holidays. The distinction matters because the commonly quoted 20-hour allowance does not apply to everyone with a Student visa. Before accepting a job, check the conditions attached to your immigration permission rather than assuming that the standard university rules apply to you.
How Are Working Hours Calculated?
For immigration purposes, the working week runs from Monday to Sunday. If your visa permits 20 hours of work during term time, you cannot work 25 hours one week and 15 the following week to make up the difference. The limit applies to each week separately.
It also covers all your jobs combined. For example, suppose you work 12 hours a week in a café and another nine hours at your university library. Your total comes to 21 hours, which exceeds the permitted limit even though neither job does so individually.
This is particularly easy to overlook when juggling several part-time jobs or picking up additional shifts at short notice. If you have any doubts about your working conditions, it is worth clarifying them before agreeing to a new schedule.
Can International Students Work Full-Time During University Holidays?
In most cases, students who have permission to work can take on full-time hours during official university holidays. The difficulty is knowing exactly when those holidays begin. A break from lectures does not necessarily count as a university holiday for immigration purposes. Your institution’s academic calendar determines whether you are still in term time.
This can be particularly confusing for postgraduate students. For example, a master’s student might finish lectures and examinations in June but still have a dissertation to complete in September. Depending on how the university defines its academic year, the summer months may still count as term time.
The same issue can arise for PhD students, whose programmes often follow a different academic calendar from undergraduate degrees and may not include a long summer break. Before increasing your working hours, check your university’s official term dates. If the dates are unclear, ask the international student support team for written confirmation. Students who have completed their course can also generally work full-time during the remaining validity of their Student visa, provided they have permission to work. However, restrictions on certain types of employment still apply.
Can You Do an Internship While Studying in the UK?
Internships are often one of the best ways to gain experience in your chosen industry before graduating. Many British employers offer summer internships, shorter placements and opportunities designed specifically for university students. For international students hoping to work in the UK after graduation, these opportunities can be especially valuable.
However, the immigration rules distinguish between an ordinary internship and a work placement that forms part of your degree. If you find an internship independently, the hours will normally count towards your weekly working limit. This may also apply to unpaid internships, depending on the nature of the arrangement. Work placements that are an integral and assessed part of your academic course are treated differently.
Where the relevant requirements are met, students can undertake these placements without being restricted to their usual 20-hour weekly allowance. There are limits on how much of a course can consist of work placements. Generally, a placement cannot account for more than one-third of the total course duration, although this can increase to 50% for qualifying degree-level programmes. What matters is whether the placement is formally recognised as part of your studies.
An internship you find through LinkedIn or a company’s recruitment website does not automatically qualify for these provisions simply because it relates to your degree. If you are considering an internship, check with your university before accepting the offer. It should be able to confirm whether the placement is part of your course and what working conditions apply.
Can You Freelance or Start a Business on a Student Visa?
This is one of the less obvious restrictions on working in the UK as an international student. Student visa holders are generally not allowed to be self-employed or engage in business activities. Even if your visa permits 20 hours of work a week, that does not mean you can use those hours to run a freelance business or work independently for clients.
For example, a student who takes on graphic design, copywriting or consulting projects directly from clients may be considered self-employed. It does not necessarily matter whether the work is done remotely or takes only a few hours each week.
Student visa holders are also generally prohibited from:
- Working as professional sportspeople or sports coaches.
- Working as entertainers.
- Taking permanent full-time positions, unless a specific immigration exception applies.
- Running a business or undertaking other prohibited commercial activities.
There are limited exceptions to the self-employment restriction. For instance, students who have submitted a qualifying Innovator Founder visa application supported by an approved endorsing body may be permitted to undertake business activities while their application is pending. However, this is not a general exemption for students who want to start a business.
If you have a business idea or are considering freelance work, it is worth checking the rules carefully before taking on clients or establishing a company.
What About Volunteering?
International students can volunteer while studying in the UK, but there is a distinction between genuine volunteering and unpaid work. For example, helping a charity with occasional activities, without contractual obligations, would generally be considered volunteering.
However, an arrangement that involves contractual duties, set working hours or other characteristics of employment may be classed as voluntary work. In that case, the hours count towards your permitted weekly limit. Simply being unpaid does not mean that an activity is exempt from immigration restrictions.
Planning an internship, freelance project or your own business? Goldman Solutions can help you establish what is permitted under your current visa and whether switching to another immigration route would be a better option.
How Do Employers Check a Student’s Right to Work?
Before hiring an international student, a UK employer must check that the person has permission to undertake the proposed work. For most students, this is done through the Home Office’s online Right to Work service. You can generate a share code that allows an employer to check your immigration status and any restrictions attached to it.
If you are subject to term-time working limits, your employer must also obtain and retain evidence of your university’s official term and vacation dates. It is therefore useful to have a copy of your academic calendar or a letter confirming your term dates when applying for jobs. If you work for more than one employer, keeping your own record of hours is a sensible precaution. Each employer may know your availability, but they will not necessarily know how many hours you have worked elsewhere.
What Happens if You Work More Hours Than Your Visa Allows?
Exceeding the permitted number of working hours is a breach of your immigration conditions. Depending on the circumstances, this can have serious consequences, including the possibility of having your existing immigration permission cancelled. Previous breaches can also cause problems when applying for another UK visa.
The same applies to work that is prohibited under the Student route, including unauthorised self-employment. It is worth remembering that responsibility does not rest entirely with the employer. Students must also make sure that the work they undertake complies with their visa conditions. If you think you may have breached the rules, seeking professional immigration advice before taking further action is advisable.
Can You Work Full-Time in the UK After Graduation?
For international students who hope to build their careers in Britain, graduation often raises another question: what happens to your right to work once university is over? Students who have completed their course can generally work full-time while their existing Student visa remains valid, provided they have permission to work. However, there is an important difference between working full-time temporarily and accepting a permanent full-time position.
Under the Student visa rules, permanent full-time employment is generally prohibited unless you meet the conditions for a specific exception.
For example, eligible students who have submitted valid applications to switch to the Skilled Worker or Graduate routes may be able to start permanent employment before their new visa is granted. The precise conditions depend on the route and when the application is made. If you have received a job offer close to graduation, it is particularly important to check when you are legally allowed to begin working under the proposed contract.
Which Visas Allow You to Stay and Work in the UK After University?
For international graduates who want to remain in Britain, there are several immigration options worth considering. The most suitable route will depend on whether you intend to find employment, continue developing your career or establish your own business.
Graduate visa
The Graduate visa allows eligible international students to remain in the UK after successfully completing their studies. One of its main advantages is that you do not need an employer to sponsor you. You can work in most jobs, change employers, look for new opportunities or become self-employed.
Under the current rules, a Graduate visa lasts two years for applications made on or before 31 December 2026. For applications submitted from 1 January 2027, the duration is 18 months. Graduates with a PhD or another doctoral qualification can receive three years.
The Graduate visa cannot be extended and does not itself provide a direct route to settlement. For those who hope to remain in the UK longer, it is worth considering what will come next.
Skilled Worker visa
The Skilled Worker visa is another common option for graduates who have secured a suitable job offer. To qualify, you generally need an offer from a Home Office-approved sponsoring employer. Your role must meet the relevant eligibility requirements, including the applicable salary threshold.
Unlike the Graduate route, a Skilled Worker visa requires employer sponsorship, but it can provide a pathway towards permanent residence in the UK. Students can sometimes switch directly from a Student visa to the Skilled Worker route without first applying for a Graduate visa. For graduates who already have an employer willing to sponsor them, this may be worth exploring.
Innovator Founder visa
For graduates interested in entrepreneurship, the Innovator Founder visa offers a different way to remain in the UK. Rather than looking for an employer to sponsor them, applicants can establish and develop their own business. To qualify, they must present an innovative, viable business idea with genuine potential for growth and secure endorsement from an approved endorsing body.
Previous experience running a company is not a formal requirement, so the route can also be suitable for first-time founders with a strong business concept and the ability to deliver it.
Students who have completed their course can apply to switch to the Innovator Founder route from within the UK, provided they meet the other eligibility requirements. Separate provisions apply to certain PhD students.
The visa is granted for three years and allows holders to run their business, as well as take on other employment in qualifying skilled roles. It can also lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after three years, provided the business has achieved the required results and all settlement conditions are met. For graduates with a promising business idea, this route is worth considering alongside traditional employment-based visas.
Working in the UK as an International Student: Planning Ahead
Part-time work during university can be a useful introduction to the British job market. It gives students a chance to gain experience, develop professional contacts and get a better sense of the opportunities available after graduation. The Student visa rules allow many international students to work, but the restrictions need to be taken seriously. Before accepting a job, make sure you understand your permitted working hours.
At Goldman Solutions, we help international students and graduates understand UK immigration rules, explore their employment options and prepare for the transition from a Student visa to other immigration routes. Are you planning to work in the UK during your studies or stay in the country after graduation? Get in touch with Goldman Solutions. Our team can assess your circumstances and help you find the most suitable immigration route for your plans.
