Work during studies in UK

The UK has over 160 universities, with 84 having high global rankings, unlimited opportunities of work during studies in Uk. 

Above all, the Graduate Route, which permits international students to stay in the UK after getting the degree, encourages them to seek higher education on board and bank on the growth opportunities it offers afterwards.

Study in UK

There are many options for you to make your education in British universities an easy mission to accomplish which wouldn’t be the case in most popular study destinations. A well-developed and easily accessible student loan system, plus many scholarship schemes will offer you enough financial assistance to study in UK.

Moreover, in the UK, similar to most of the top international study destinations, foreign students are allowed to work part-time. In the UK as an international student, you’re allowed to work up to 20 hours at maximum per week during term-time and full-time during holiday breaks. But there are many restrictions and conditions you must stay in line with in order to be allowed to work.

In the UK, particularly in big cities like London, international students can easily find a part-time job. Some universities may only allow you to work inside the campus, but there is no need to worry because there are still many options available to you. However, before getting out to hunt part-time jobs you must check if you’re eligible for such work. It all starts with your Tier 4 visa, the official student visa in the UK. The first criteria you must check is your age. If you’re under 16 and don’t have a Tier 4 (General 4) you’re not qualified to work in the UK.

How to find a job in the UK?

Hunting for jobs in local area of Uk

Major Uk cities offer many business opportunities to work in the UK for international students. They are often used to working with students and are going to be understanding, so there is no need to be nervous. We would advise you to:

1. Take a walk around the city and look for shops/companies that are looking for part-time employees; go in and offer your services.
2. Talk to your university’s senior students; they will have more insight into the jobs and the employers as well.

Applying for jobs through networking sites 

Using job networking sites is an excellent choice if you like variety. You can look for all sorts of jobs through professional networking sites. Create your profile, search for jobs that interest you and apply. Here we have listed a few websites that you can use:

• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Totaljobs
• Monster

Working hours during studies in UK:

If you are pursuing a full-time graduate or undergraduate degree in the UK, you can work for 20 hours a week during your term time. If you are pursuing any course below the degree level like a diploma or a foundational course, you can work for 10 hours a week during term time.

You will also be permitted to work full time during work placements and vacations. It is important to note that these are just the guidelines of the student visa. Universities can restrict the number of work hours for students. 

You will have many opportunities and many jobs to pick from and pursue. We can generally put them under the following categories. 

Part-time jobs

While it is preferable to take a part-time job that is related to your core studies, you have other options to explore as well. Many places, like fast-food restaurants and retail stores, will happily employ students on a part-time basis. 

On-campus jobs

Surprisingly there are a lot of non-academic jobs that you can take up in your University campus. Assisting the IT department, university daycare, working in the cafeteria are just a few examples.

Some universities even offer academic jobs on campus – Teacher’s Assistant (TA) and Research Assistant (RA). TAs and RAs are picked after the first semester based on grades and class performance. So if you have your eyes set on these jobs, you need to perform well in class. TAs help out the teachers and sometimes even teach some of their basic classes. RAs helps out teachers and scholars by researching topics assigned to them.

Paid internships

During your semester breaks, universities will encourage you to take up internships in your field of studies. Most of 0these internships will pay and give you a look into the job space you are aiming to occupy after graduation. 

Pros of work during studies in UK 

• You can start earning money.
• Expand your professional network and develop new skills
• You can gain knowledge and experience from different cultural people. 
• You can gain insight into the workings of a real workplace.
• You can learn to work with other people.
• You can gain work experience; this will stand out on your CV.
• You can develop contacts by networking with the people you meet through your part-time jobs. Such networking will come in handy when you start to look for employment after graduation.

Who is eligible for a UK Post-Study Work Visa?

• Any international student on a Tier 4 visa who enrols at a UK institution from September 2020 is eligible to stay within the UK after graduation looking for employment opportunities. Once you know you can work in the UK while studying, you can apply for a post-study work visa too.
• This is an extension of rule changes that allowed PhDs to stay within the UK after graduation. The United Kingdom says this is because it wants to grow its STEM industry fields. From 2020 onwards the choice is open to all graduates.