UK guide · Part-time work · 3 min read
Working while you study in the UK: the 20-hour rule, the pay and the jobs.
On a UK Student visa at degree level you can work up to 20 hours a week in term and full-time in your university's official vacations. The National Living Wage is £12.71 an hour from April 2026 for workers aged 21 and over. At 20 hours a week that's about £1,100 a month before tax: enough for a shared room and food outside London once you find a job. You can't be self-employed or fill a permanent full-time role.
The short version
- 20 hours a week in term at degree level (10 below degree level). Full-time only in your university's official vacations.
- £12.71 an hour National Living Wage from April 2026 (age 21+). 20 hours a week is about £1,100 a month before tax.
- Not allowed: self-employment, freelancing, gig apps where you're self-employed, and permanent full-time jobs.
- Employers check your right to work with a share code from your eVisa. Apply for a National Insurance number after you arrive.
- Most of our students find a first job in 3 to 6 weeks. Plan the first months from home money.
The rule, exactly
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Degree-level study, during term | Up to 20 hours a week (Monday to Sunday) |
| Below degree level, during term | Up to 10 hours a week |
| Official vacations | Full-time, if your university defines it as a vacation |
| After your course ends | Full-time until your Student visa expires |
| Work placements that are part of the course | Allowed, as set by the course |
| Not allowed | Self-employment, freelance work, professional sport or entertainment, a permanent full-time job |
For one-year master’s students, check the “vacation” rules carefully: many master’s courses have no summer vacation, because you’re writing your dissertation. Your university’s term dates decide it, not the calendar.
What you’ll earn
| Item | From April 2026 |
|---|---|
| National Living Wage (age 21+) | £12.71 an hour |
| 20 hours a week | about £1,100 a month before tax |
| In rupees | about Rs 2.2 lakh a month at Rs 202.99 per GBP (18 Oct 2026) |
| Personal allowance (income tax starts above it) | £12,570 a year for most people |
London jobs often pay a little more, sometimes the voluntary London Living Wage. Rent in London takes most of that difference.
The jobs our students get first
| Job | Typical pay | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Retail and supermarkets | At or just above the minimum | Seasonal rush in November and December, then fewer hours |
| Hospitality: cafes, restaurants, hotels | Minimum, plus tips | Unpaid “trial shifts” and late finishes |
| Care work (care homes, home care) | Often above the minimum | Training and a background check first; suits health students |
| Warehouses and logistics | Often above the minimum, more for nights | Agency contracts; check the hours |
| University jobs (library, events, ambassador) | At or above the minimum | Limited, so apply in week 1 |
Before your first shift
- Share code. Employers check your right to work online with a share code from your UKVI account (your eVisa).
- National Insurance number. Apply online after you arrive. You can usually start work before it comes, if your employer has checked your right to work.
- Bank account. Most employers pay into a UK account.
- Payslips. Keep every one. They show your hours, which protects you if anyone ever asks.
What can break your visa
- More than 20 hours in any single week in term, across all jobs together. It’s per week, not an average.
- Self-employment. Delivery apps, freelancing and online selling where you’re not an employee.
- Working full-time in term because your manager asked.
Breaching your work conditions can lead to your visa being cut short, and it’s recorded for every future application. Keep your own record of hours if you have two jobs.
From our files. The question we hear most in the first month is “my manager wants me to do 25 hours this week, is that fine?” It isn’t. The rule is per week, and your payslips are the evidence. Say no, and if it’s a problem, find another shift pattern or another job.
How long it takes to find work
Most of our UK students find a first job in 3 to 6 weeks, faster in big cities and before Christmas, slower in small towns and in January. What helps: a one-page UK-style CV, your term timetable printed, and asking in person at quieter times.
Your first-month plan
- Arrive with 2 to 3 months of living costs in your account
- Share code and NI number sorted in week 1
- CV ready, with your availability in hours
- A budget that works if the first pay arrives in week 6, not week 2
