International Students
Many students can work in the UK without needing a special work permit, for as long as you are registered as a student. Depending on your situation, there could also be restrictions to the type and amount of work you can do.
Students from European Economic Area and Switzerland can work in the UK without any restrictions on the type or amount of work you undertake.
If you’re from another country, you can check whether you can work or not by looking at the Visa stamp in your passport. If your Visa stamp states ‘prohibited,’ you cannot work in the UK.
However if you have a ‘restricted’ stamp, you can work subject to certain restrictions:
- You need to be on a full-time course of more than 6 months duration
- You can only work a maximum of 20 hours work per week in term time (though you can work full-time during vacations).
- Work during a placement year of a sandwich course is allowed if you don’t set up your own business, work as self-employed, work as a professional sports person or entertainer, or pursue a career by filling a permanent full-time vacancy.
If an individual exceeds the restrictions imposed on their Visa, without reasonable grounds or excuse, then the individual concern may be subject to deportation. This will subsequently prohibit the individual from completing the course. On another note any subsequent deportations or breaches of a Visa, may inhibit re-entry into the UK on different grounds.
International students need to pay tax and National Insurance at the same rate as a UK citizen. This means that, in order to be employed in the UK, you will need to register for National Insurance.