Part Time Jobs for International Students in UK 2026

Do you wish to work while you study in the UK? Part-time jobs in UK can help international students supplement their income and the cost of living in the UK, including accommodation, food and transportation. This article covers all aspects of part-time jobs for international students in the UK.

Managing the living costs in UK can be tough for students, especially Indian students - when the city they are living in is multiple times more expensive than the one in their home country.  For this reason, many Indian students opt to work part-time on the weekends and after classes during the weekdays. However, as a norm, international students with a UK student visa can work part-time for only up to 20 hours per week. This amount of working hours can help students manage the living costs in the UK but can also make them feel tired and stressed and can directly affect their studies. That is why many universities and colleges in the UK recommend that international students work for a maximum of 15 hours per week. The rationale behind this is maintaining a study-life balance. 

Before taking any part-time job, work placement, internship, unpaid, or volunteer work, check that your UK student visa allows you to work in the UK. Read this article for all the part-time work options in UK for international students. You may also check the top 10 reasons to study in the UK

UK Student Visa Part-time Work Rules

The 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. There is no minimum skills set or job requirement for this visa, you just need to be a recent gradaute of one of the universities in the UK. 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, whichever opportunities they get. The 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. 
• A maximum of 10 hours per week of paid/unpaid work during the 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.

You may also like to check the highest Paying Jobs in the World to plan a course and career traectory.

How to Know If Your UK Student Visa Allows You to Work Part-time During Studies?

To know if your UK Student Visa allows part-time work, check your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card or eVisa for conditions that state you can work. The conditions of allowed number of working hours, however, remain the same for all students. Students pursuing a degree-level course can work for up to 20 hours a week and students pursuing a below-degree-level course can work for up to 10 hours per week only.

Remember, if your student visa for UK contains any of the following phrases, be aware that you're not allowed to work as per your visa - 

• "work prohibited"
• "no work" 

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. And also, students do not need to get additional approval for work on their existing visa. The part-time work hours for the on-campus jobs are fixed and tailored as per the class schedules of the students. Some of these jobs can be in close harmony with the core subjects that the students are studying. 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. You may talk with your faculties, professors or the university's helpdesk to get info on the part-time jobs available at your campus. 
2. Off-campus Part-time Jobs for Students: For off-campus part-time jobs, students will have to move outside of the campus. Students might also have to work on tight work-study schedules as these jobs might not be aligned flexibly according to your study/class schedules. These off-campus part-time jobs may provide a good scope of funding for students but can be time-consuming on the other hand. The off-campus part-time jobs in UK that can be picked up by students include customer service representatives, sales specialists, restaurant service assistants, delivery assistants, etc. For getting one of these jobs, international students might have to walk up to a retail store, local businesses or restaurants and ask for vacancies for students. 
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. 

You may also check the Top 10 Part-time Jobs for Students Abroad

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

Part time jobs help students gain relevant skills while also earning some extra income to support their monthly expenditures. 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.

Check out the Top 10 Libraries in London for when you seek a silent space to study with dedication.  

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 UK that pay more than any regular part-time jobs to international students.

You may also like to read the following related topics:  

• Freelance Jobs for International Students
• How to find the perfect part-time student job abroad?
• How much do students earn in part time job while studying abroad?

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: Start by looking through the employment site/career services at your university. They frequently have areas set aside for postings of part-time jobs targeted at students. These sources could include employment boards, career fairs or listings.
• Alumni Association: You can get in touch with the alumni of your university to ask for the roadmap for 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 posting 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 Reed, Indeed, 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 aren't necessarily listed publicly can be found through networking.
• Local businesses: Visit nearby establishments like cafes, restaurants, shops, or supermarkets, & ask if there are any part-time work openings. Some companies may post employment opening listings on their website or storefronts.
• Social media: Observe social media forums/pages where employers in the UK advertise employment openings for students. Finding part-time jobs can be done using Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook groups.
• Career fairs & events: Attend employment fairs & activities that your university or neighbourhood groups host. Employers seeking to hire students for part-time jobs frequently attend such gatherings.
• Volunteer work: Think about giving your time to local charities/organisations. Giving back to community can open doors for important experiences that could result in offers of part-time, salaried employment and networking.

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.

Also check the Skilled Worker Visa UK needed to work full-time in the country after your studies.  

How to get the best part-time jobs in UK?

By applying some tricks into use, international students can easily find part time work options in UK. Some of these tips are:

1. Building Skills: Choose roles that align with your degree or future career.
2. Networking: Meet people in your industry and build professional connections.
3. Starting Early: Look for opportunities as soon as you arrive in the UK. 

While a part-time job in UK helps international students become self-dependent, the certifications received after completion of these help students get good work opportunities in the future too. The experience gained also helps students to assimilate better into the British work culture and acquire new skills. 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.

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.