How many Hours Can a Student do Part time Jobs in UK?

The UK is one of the most expensive and also rewarding study-abroad destinations for international students. Even though various scholarships are available for students, most of them are dedicated towards covering some portion of the tuition fees only. Hence, international students in the UK remain on a constant lookout for part-time jobs to ease their daily expenses. Hence, students must have prior knowledge of the number of hours they can do the part-time job in the UK to avoid any trouble.

Pursuing a course in a foreign country is no child’s play. It takes a lot of deliberation, planning, and arrangement of financial resources to study abroad. The UK is a developed and expensive country, though not as expensive as the US. Cost of living in the UK can average anywhere from £1,000 to £1,300 per month. These figures do not include your tuition fee and the cost of studying.

Keeping in mind the recent inflationary pressures, as per the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, you will require at least £300 in the UK to meet the minimum standard of living. In addition, you will also need to pay the cost of accommodation and its related charges. Under such circumstances, students can apply for scholarships and/ or choose to work part-time to reduce the overall cost of pursuing their academics in the UK.

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Why Work Part-time in the UK?

Let us look at the top 5 reasons for pursuing part-time jobs in the UK as a student:

• Financial stability: Post-COVID almost every major economy in the world was jolted. Economic machinery had come to a halt and this was accompanied by salary cuts. As the world is recovering from the economic impact of COVID, it is important for the students to take their financial stability seriously. A part-time job can provide the necessary financial stability till the time a student gains a full-time job after completing his/ her academics.
• Financial independence: International money transfer from your home country might not be feasible all the time. Part-time jobs help you earn money, which provides you the necessary independence to take care of your expenses.
• Taking care of contingencies: As an international student, it is not possible for you to estimate the cost of living and cost of studying accurately before you enter the UK. You never know what situation you might have to face. In these situations, you need to have a financial backup.
• Work experience: If you happen to land up in a part-time job that is related to your majors, it will be icing on the cake. Not only will you earn extra money, but also gain the necessary experience that you can put in your resume.
• Creditworthiness: Pursuing part-time job increases your creditworthiness. If you apply for a loan at later stages, part-time earning will definitely help you in improving the strength of your loan application.

However, you must understand that your main goal is to perform well on your academics. Make sure that your studies, assignment, and exams do not suffer because of your part-time job. You must learn to strike a good balance between both of them.

Top Part time Jobs in UK

So far, we have discussed the benefits of part time jobs in UK for international students. Let us look at some of the part-time jobs in the UK that you can pursue along with your studies:

• Tutor: Students, who are skilled in some subjects, for e.g. mathematics, can work as part-time tutors in the UK. Besides earning extra, it will help you sharpen your skills in that subject.
• Student Marketeer: Student Marketeers work for a particular product and promote its sales on the campus. These include promotion of sales for energy drinks, stationery items, etc.
• Student Adviser: Students can work as advisers for a particular university department. They are expected to provide guidance to all the students of that department. In addition, they might also have to assist the department in its administrative work.
• Service Delivery Consultant: This job requires you to support the staffing division, assisting in interviews, administration, etc. If a student is considering his/ her career in HR or recruitment, this part-time job will be ideal.
• Catering Assistant: You can work as a catering assistant in your university. This job is ideal for those who are pursuing hospitality management courses.
• Research Assistant: PhD scholars and all those who are interested in pursuing research can benefit immensely from this job. It will allow you to understand how research works, how papers are published, etc. In addition, it will also help you in improving your professional network with your professors.
• Student Administration: You can also work in the administration department of your university or college. Those who are pursuing management courses can gain hands-on experience in administration from this job.
• Library Assistant: You can choose to work as a library assistant in your university library. Those who are fond of reading and love the smell of paper will surely enjoy this job.
• Other jobs: Part time jobs for international students in UK are not limited to the above given jobs only. There are various other part-time jobs that a student can pursue. Some of these include delivery jobs, front desk assistant, media and PR assistant, retail worker, coffee shop barista, healthcare assistant, just to name a few.

How Many Hours Can a Student Work in UK

Students usually have question about the working hours in the UK for international students. Those who are studying on a UK student visa can work on a part-time basis. Students must note the following details:

• Those who are enrolled in a degree program (bachelor’s or higher) at a UK college that is listed on both the official ‘UKBA Sponsor list’ and the list of ‘recognized bodies’, can work for up to 20 hours per week when the classes are in session, and work full-time during vacations or summer holidays.
• If the course is below UK degree level (e.g. foundation or pre-sessional English), students can work for 10 hours per week.
• Students who hold a Short-term Study Visa cannot work.
• You cannot pursue self-employment (freelance/ consultancy/ own business)
• You cannot work as a professional sportsperson or an entertainer

How to Get a Part time Job in UK

Finding a part time job in UK for international students might require some efforts. Make sure that you prepare a good resume and file your certificates and qualifications. Students can look for part time jobs in UK by using the following channels:

• Professors: Professors must be the first point of contact for the students. You can find jobs within the university campus or with the professors. This will help the students in improving their professional network.
• University Career Center: Students can contact their university career center. Part-time jobs obtained through the career center will be authentic. There is a high probability that these jobs will be in the close vicinity of the university campus.
• Online Job Portals and Websites: There are various online job portals and websites such as Indeed that have job postings for the students.
• Newspapers: Local newspapers are an important and common source for finding part-time jobs as well.
• Local Advertisements and Pamphlets: Many organizations give out pamphlets that state the requirement for part-time employees. Students must keep a watch for such advertisements.

Part time Jobs in UK: Salary

Students often have a question that how much will I be paid to work part time in UK. We have compiled a list of part-time jobs and their corresponding salaries. The table given below provides some of the highest paid part time jobs in UK for international students. Students must note that these figures are approximate, and that exact remuneration can be provided only once they come across an actual opportunity.

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