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Postgrad Life: Working in the UK
Find your PERFECT POSTGRAD PROGRAMYour Student Visa while offering you the opportunity to study in the country also allows you to work in the country if you adhere to the regulations set out by the UK government. Take a look at our tips on working while studying at a UK-based university.
Working as an international student
The rules on international students working in the UK tend to vary on a case-by-case basis, so the best thing to do is to ask the relevant authorities and check the terms of your student visa. As a rule of thumb, however, most postgraduate students studying for longer than six months in the UK have permission to work on a part-time basis. This usually means you cannot work for more than 20 hours a week during term time. While official university term dates determine the 20-hour limit, dissertation periods are typically treated as term time unless your university specifies otherwise – always check your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and university term dates letter for exact boundaries.
You can work full-time during official holiday periods (such as summer, Christmas and Easter breaks) and after your course end date until your visa expires, but you must not exceed the overall weekly limit if holidays overlap with term. But this does not allow you to sign any contract to work full time and can be subject to other conditions. We recommend consulting your university for figuring out the latest details in terms of your visa guidelines outlining your work permits. There are also caveats: you cannot be self-employed and cannot work as a sportsperson, sports coach, or entertainer.
Furthermore, your part-time jobs are subject to British laws on working and taxes. While some employers accept applications based on your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or eVisa via share code that states your right to work in the country, others require you to submit a National Insurance Number. We suggest applying for your National Insurance Number along with your NHS number as soon as you receive your BRP or access your eVisa account. The National Insurance Number can take up to six weeks to be authorised and delivered to you by Royal Mail services.
For applications made from January 2027, the Graduate visa (for post-study work) will be reduced to 18 months for masters and undergraduate graduates (down from two years), though PhD graduates retain three years – plan your job search accordingly if graduating soon.
Working as an EU student
EU/EEA and Swiss students need a Student Visa to study in the UK, just like other international students, with the same 20-hour term-time work limit. EU Students are advised to check their visa requirements. You may be eligible for a Student Visa, Child Student Visa, or a Short-term study Visa based on your course length and enrolled institution.
If you were living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, your work rights align with your immigration permission – check your status online.
Tax on student jobs
Despite the popular misbelief that students don’t need to pay any tax, there are certain criteria that determine whether tax is due. The UK tax system has a personal allowance band that amounts up to £12,570 for 2026/2027which is non-taxable income and is expected to remain at this level until at least April 2028. However, National Insurance is mandatory for those earning more than £242 a week. This means that if your annual income is less than the prescribed amount you will not be taxed and as many students work part-time for less than 20 hours per week, this amount is rarely exceeded. Hence, the chances of being taxed by the UK government are zero to none.
Your Income tax or National Insurance deduction is calculated by your employer through Pay As You Earn (PAYE). Based on these PAYE calculations, if you earn a lot of money in a small amount of time (for example if you worked full-time during the holidays) then your employer may tax your earnings. This may be a little annoying, but you can claim the money back later. If you have earned less than £12,570 by the end of the tax year, then you will need to fill in the relevant HMRC forms and you will be refunded – take a look at www.gov.uk/claim-tax-refund for more details.
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