Part time Work Options in UK for International Students

Part-time Jobs in the UK for International Students: Do you wish to work while you study in the UK? Part-time jobs can help international students supplement their income and the cost of living in the UK, including accommodation, food, and transportation. In this article, we will cover all aspects of part-time jobs in the UK for international students.

Managing the cost of living in the UK can be really tough at times for international students especially when the city they are living in is too pricier than their home country. For this reason, many international students opt to work on their weekends and post-study hours during the weekdays. While a part-time job helps international students be self-dependent, the certifications received after the completion of these help students get good work opportunities in the future. The experience gained also helps students to assimilate better into the British work culture and acquire new skills.

Before taking any part-time job, work placement, internship, unpaid, or volunteer work, check that your Tier 4 (general) UK student visa allows you to work in the UK. Working for too many hours can make you feel tired and stressed, which will directly affect your studies. That is why many universities and colleges recommend international students work for a maximum of 15 hours per week. The rationale behind this is maintaining a study-life balance. You need to think about how a job will affect your daily life, and seek help from your tutor or international student support officer if you have any concerns.

The new relaxed post-study work visa (graduate route visa) rules for international students in the UK allow international students (including Indian students as well) to stay in the UK for work after finishing their studies. However, there are certain rules regarding part-time work permissions in the UK for international students who go on a student visa. In case any international student does not comply with the rules laid down by the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), they risk facing deportation. Candidates can work part-time on-campus or off-campus - whatever opportunities they get. Following are the restrictions on working part-time in the UK while on a UK student visa.

• Maximum of 20 hours per week of paid/unpaid work for those studying at a full-time degree level or more only during the university term time. 
• Maximum of 10 hours per week of paid/unpaid work during course term for language centre students.
• The student visa must be valid and issued for a full-time course.
• Full-time work is allowed only during vacations or on a work placement that is an assessed integral part of the course, given that it does not exceed more than 50% of the entire course's length. 
• Students pursuing part-time courses are not allowed to work on any part-time or full-time job in the UK.
• International students cannot work full-time/permanently until they have received a work permit (Tier 2 visa).
• Self-employment, freelance, and contract work are not permitted on a student visa in the UK.

Related Read: Highest Paying Jobs in the World

Also check out:

• Living costs for International Students in UK

• Top 10 Reasons to Study in the UK

Types of Part-time Jobs in the UK for International Students

Depending on their nature, there are mainly three types of part-time jobs for students in the UK.

1. On-campus Part-time Jobs for Students: The on-campus jobs include the jobs that a student can do while remaining in their campus during and post their study hours. These jobs may not pay as per the expectations of the students but provide a good experience. Some of the on-campus part-time jobs for international students include the post of library assistant, teaching assistant, lab assistant, campus guides for new students and campus ambassadors. 
2. Off-campus Part-time Jobs for Students: For off-campus part-time jobs, students will have to necessarily move outside of the campus. This may provide a good scope of funding for students but can be time-consuming on the other hand. the part-time off-campus that can be picked up by students include customer service representatives, sales specialists, restaurant service assistants, delivery assistants, etc.
3. Online Part-time Jobs for Students: With the growing popularity of online work culture, many companies are willing to hire students to work on their projects on a part-time basis, online. This also helps students to learn to work on several projects that come with a deadline and require them to learn new company trends. Often these projects are handed over to the students after the company's training in the subject. Students can choose the number of projects and their working hours based on their personal studying schedule and financial needs. Make sure to fix the compensation and ask about the experience certificate before starting your online work as a good agreement made in the earlier stage will not harm your bond and expectations with the company later. Some examples of online part-time jobs include social media marketing (just learn some marketing skills and maintain a good engaging public profile to show your skills to the recruiters), content creation, web design, team handling, training experts, etc. 

Also Read: Top 10 Part-time Jobs for Students Abroad

Top 10 Part-Time Jobs in the UK for International Students

Let us look at some of the best part-time jobs in the UK for international students in the table given below.

Note: There might be variations in the salary amount depending on the employer or organisation norms.

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Best Job Sectors for Students Studying in the UK

Finding a part-time job in the UK that also pays well is not so easy. So, here is a list of high-paying job sectors in the UK that pay more than any regular part-time jobs to international students.

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How to Find Part Time Jobs in UK for International Students?

To find good part-time jobs in UK for international students, you can follow these steps:

• University resources: Start by looking through the employment site or career services at your university. They frequently have areas set aside for postings of part-time jobs targeted at students. These sources could include career fairs, employment boards, or listings.
• Alumni Association: You can get in touch with the alumni of your university to ask for the roadmap through the semester. And if you have a good bond with your alumni, you can ask them to refer your profile to their companies. 
• Online job portals: Investigate websites that provide part-time employment options in the UK. Part-time employment for students is frequently included in a separate area of websites like Indeed, Reed, etc.
• Networking: Ask your instructors, peers, or the personnel at the university if there are any part-time work openings. Sometimes hidden career opportunities that are not necessarily listed publicly can be found through networking.
• Local businesses: Visit nearby establishments, such as cafes, restaurants, shops, or supermarkets, and ask if there are any part-time work openings. Some companies may post employment openings on their website or storefronts.
• Social media: Observe social media forums or pages where employers in the UK advertise employment openings for students. Finding part-time job listings can be done using Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook groups.
• Career fairs and events: Attend employment fairs and activities that your university or neighbourhood groups host. Employers seeking to hire students for part-time jobs frequently attend these gatherings.
• Volunteer work: Think about giving your time to local charities or organisations. Giving back to the community can open doors for networking and important experiences that could result in offers of part-time, salaried employment.

Benefits of Part-Time Work

Aside from the obvious financial advantages, engaging in part-time work offers numerous benefits for international students. These include:

1. Skill Development: Part-time work allows students to develop valuable skills such as time management, communication, and teamwork.
2. Cultural Integration: Working in the UK provides international students with the chance to integrate into the local culture, meet new people, and enhance their language skills.
3. Resume Enhancement: Employers appreciate candidates with work experience. Part-time work, internships, and placements can significantly boost a student's resume.
4. Networking Opportunities: Working part-time introduces students to professionals in their field, creating networking opportunities that may prove beneficial in the future.

Students can work both on-campus and off-campus. Some of the on-campus jobs include library assistant, bookshop assistant, university health centre trainer, tutor, etc. Some of the off-campus jobs include data entry, delivery services, reception jobs, etc. Students need to strike a balance between their part-time jobs and academics. Make sure to focus on your academics even if you have to work part-time. For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.

Read More: Popular Job Sectors in UK in 2023