Student work in UK

This post for those who planning to do some job during their study abroad.. Need money, money, money! Many of us not so lucky the family can not support all the way during the year. Some of us need the money pay tuition, pay the bills, pocket money  etc. Many of my friends tried to collect money to pay back student loan. In this post I will explain if you want to work in UK as a student what are the possibilities and reality. Maybe not all of you know but the regulations recently changed. The UK Border Agency applied stricter rules. Before that, students could work 20 hours a week and could do full time during holidays.

First I would like to clarify the new regulations. This is useful before you apply for a huge loan hoping will be able to pay back from the work in UK.

Regarding the UK Border Agency if you are student:

Students taking courses below degree level will be allowed to work for only 10 hours a week, instead of 20 as at past. It means if you just come for English course you not allowed to work at all. Even you are eligible to work just 10 hours instead of 20.

Those on courses that last under six months will not be allowed to bring dependants into the country, while the dependants of students on courses below degree level will not be allowed to work.

Additionally, visas for courses below degree level will also be granted only if the institutions they attend are on a new register, the Highly Trusted Sponsors List.

More info:

• Milestone Education Advisor Information Resources
• UK Border Agency Official Website
• UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs)

General Questions and Answers from UKCISA:

Can I work while I study in the UK?

Check what your passport sticker (entry clearance or residence permit) or identity card says. If you are in the UK with student immigration permission and your ID card says “Restricted work, p/t term time, f/t vacations” or your passport sticker says “Work (and any changes) must be authorised” or “Able to work as authorised by the Secretary of State” or “Restricted work in term-time”, you are allowed to work.

What kind of work can I do during my studies?

If you have student immigration permission that allows you to take employment, you can work up to 20 hours (in some cases, up to 10 hours) a week during term-time. You can work full-time during your holidays and on work placements.

Can I work an average of 10 or 20 hours a week?

No. If you work more than 10 or 20 hours in any week in term-time (and you are not doing a work placement for your course or an internship), you are in breach of your immigration conditions, even if you work fewer than 10 or 20 hours in other weeks.

Can I work full-time while I write my dissertation or thesis?

If you are still studying, even if you are not attending classes, this is not a holiday period for you. This means that you should not work full-time until you have submitted your dissertation or thesis and finished your studies, unless you are doing a work placement which is part of your course.

Can I pay for my studies through work?

You should be able to pay your tuition fees and living costs without having to work in the UK. However, if you need to make an immigration application in the UK, and you are working lawfully within the restrictions described above, you can use your UK earnings to show that you can meet the maintenance requirements. You should not rely on money from work in the UK because:

• it can be difficult to find work
• it is unlikely that you will earn enough to cover all your costs
• you might lose your job
• you might have problems with your studies if you spend too much time working.

Can I take a gap year and work full-time?

No. If you want to defer your studies for a year, you should leave the UK and come back when your studies start again. You can work full-time only in your holidays, or when you have finished your studies, or if you are doing a work placement or an internship.

My employer says I must prove I can work during my studies

If you have a passport sticker or identity card that does not prohibit work, you are allowed to take employment as described above without getting any further approval or permission.

What obligations does my employer have towards me?

UK employers have a number of legal duties towards their employees. These include anti-discrimination measures, health and safety requirements, the obligation to pay the minimum wage, comply with laws relating to maximum working hours and breaks, pay National Insurance contributions, and provide wage slips.

Directgov – UK Government information for employees.

Do I have to pay tax if I work while I study?

If you earn more than a specified personal allowance in any tax year, you will have to pay income tax. HM Revenue & Customs and the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group provide detailed information about how the tax system in the UK applies to students.

What is a National Insurance number and how do I get one?

Your National Insurance number (NINo) is a unique personal number which is used to record your National Insurance (NI) contributions. Employees and employers both pay NI contributions, which help to fund contributory benefits, for example, the state pension and jobseeker’s allowance. You do not need to have a NINo before starting work, but you must obtain one when you get a job.

HM Revenue & Customs – information about how to apply for a NINo

Can I apply for tax credits?

If the entry clearance or residence permit in your passport states that you are subject to the condition “No recourse to public funds”, or if your identity card says “No public funds”, you must not apply for tax credits. This would be a breach of your immigration conditions.

Welfare benefits

Can my family members (dependants) work while I study in the UK?

If your dependants made their immigration applications before 3 March 2010, they should be allowed to work if you had permission to be in the UK for 12 months or more.

If they make their immigration applications on or after 3 March 2010, your dependants will be given permission to work if:

• you have permission to be in the UK for 12 months or more, and
• your course is at degree level or is a “foundation degree”.

The UK Border Agency’s definition of “foundation degree” is a course which

• leads to a qualification at level 5 or above of the National Qualifications Framework or level 8 or above of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework or equivalent in Wales and Northern Ireland, and
• is awarded by a UK higher education institution which has degree awarding powers.

Some courses called foundation degrees will not meet this definition, but other courses which are not called foundation degrees, for example some HNDs, do meet this definition. You will have to check with the college or university where you are studying whether your course meets this description and, if it does, ask that the words “foundation degree” appear on your confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) if you are applying at the same time as your family members, or any documents your family members submit with their applications if they are applying separately from you.

What should you expect?

Funny thing is when you looking for the first job everyone expect you to have some kind of previous experience. But if you looking for the “first” job how can you have it? You might face many refuses because of this. So there are two options:

1. If you have work experience from your home country, ask reference and recommendation letter. In English with stamp etc. Could help a lot.

2. If you don’t have any experience then fake some in your CV.. . Sounds silly but believe 99% of the jobs available  for you is the kind of job you can learn in half an hour. I never got it what is the hype for the experience from the agencies. Mostly you will do catering job such as waiter, kitchen assistant, bar staff, cleaning, serving, collecting glasses etc. Sometimes delivering leaflets, papers etc. Nothing difficult right? So don’t worry.

Student Unions also can help you find a job, they have many job fair etc. I never worked with them so have no this experience.

Holidays:

During summer holiday or others like Christmas you can work full time, means 40 hours/week. Now you can stick with the agency that might able to give occasional job or you can apply agencies specialized in factory/warehouse jobs. It’s harder work of course but most of the times pay much better. I think worth to try. If you want work as a waiter, bar staff etc. Christmas time you can earn decent money. This is the busiest time for catering business. Everyone going out party, eat and drink. If you are lucky might get some tip as well.

Where to work?

In my opinion the agencies the easiest for start. Probably you can find all the agencies in the high streets of your city. Try to apply as much as possible. Probably never, hear about half of them back. When you apply, they will ask your details, copy your passport/visa and ask you to fill an application form. If they serious, will ask you to come back for an interview or  test. No need to worry they probably want to check your English (if its not your mother tongue) and want to know do you have any clue of the job or not. If you have friend there who can give a reference for you even better (could be senior student or friend who already in UK for a while and have work history).

You might want to try apply jobs directly but as a student the chances are very low to even get answer. Also you have to keep your eyes in the agency, they very often “miscalculate” hours and money so better keep in record your working hours. Probably the most likely to get job directly are fast food chains and restaurants, bars for weekend job only etc.

How to get paid?

Your institution will help you to set up a student account. So when you apply to the agency just give them your bank details. They might able to pay you in check but it is a pain in the ass and some of them deduct some money for it.

Alternatively, you can ask the money transfer to a friend account you trust. Don’t expect cash in UK nobody and nowhere pay in cash.

How much can you earn per  hour?

At the moment the national minimum wage set by the law is £5.80. This is the minimum amount they have to pay you.

How about working illegally?

We are talking about working without work permit, or do full time job during your semester right? It is an open secret in UK many restaurant use to employ (or still do) students and pay in cash, from pocket to pocket. Better avoid them because the UK Border Agency and the Police check them very often and more and more strict. You don’t want them to catch you and in worst case deport you right?

Online work?

Well if you have some specific skill like graphic designer, programmer, translator you might find a freelance job. It’s a bit of a grey zone because nobody really can check how many hours you spend working and if you agreed in the money for the job regardless the hours you are OK.

If you don’t have any special skill still can make some money. Not a lot of course but some pocket money. I tested and tried this one got pay from them couple of times so I dare to recommend. It’s an online survay  company, they ask you about your buying behaviour , what do you buy when and  why. What do you watch in the TV or the Internet. Don’t expect big amount, you can make 30-50 pounds a month but only take 5-10 minutes a day.  So you still  can have some extra to spend on stuff or party .

If you want to be like this skeleton then:

Or:

Apply here.

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I think I covered everything. If you have any specific question just write  a comment and I will answer as soon as I can. Best luck to find a job!

ps: All this information  also useful for those who are not students but want to move to UK and work there. Just ignore the student visa part and all the rest can apply to you. Good luck!

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Category: student life, tips and tricks