Working in the UK on a Student Visa
Information about student eligibility to work on a Student or Tier 4 Visa, restrictions on the type of work and how to look for work.
COVID-19 Update
The information on this webpage is affected by new temporary guidance that has been released by UKVI in light of the situation with COVID-19.
See below for a summary of how this affects usual procedures:
Restrictions on type of work
Where you are on a Student or Tier 4 visa, both during and after your studies, you are not permitted to:
- be self-employed or engaged in business activity*
- fill a full-time permanent vacancy/graduate level role (unless it is a post as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer)
- be employed as a doctor/dentist in training (If you submitted the application for the Student visa you currently have on or after 1 December 2020, you will not be subject to this restriction) or
- be employed as a professional sportsperson, coach or entertainer
* The restriction on self-employment or engagement in business activity is removed if you:
- Apply for a Start Up Visa supported by an endorsement from the University; and
- Submit the Start Up Visa application before your Student or Tier 4 Visa expires; and
- You are still waiting for a decision on the Start Up Visa application or for an administrative review to be determined following a refusal of your Start Up visa application.
For information on the application process for a Start Up Visa endorsement, see: Start-up Visa
** If you submitted the application for the Student visa you currently have on or after 1 December 2020, you will not be subject to this restriction.
Professional sportsperson
You are not permitted to work as a professional sportsperson. It is important that you check UKVI's definition (pages 94 & 95 of the Student Guidance of a professional sportsperson before you provide any services or take part in sporting activities.
Provided your visa was issued after 1 October 2019, you are permitted to do the following:
- Play or coach sports as an “amateur” in a charity event
- Play or coach sports as an “amateur” whilst studying at degree level or above at the University
- Play or coach sports as part of a work placement which is part of your course.
Note – “amateur” is defined as ‘a person who engages in a sport or creative activity solely for personal enjoyment and who is not seeking to derive a living from the activity’.
Sports scholarships
This will not be considered to breach your work restrictions where you are:
- Studying at degree level or above; and
- You are required to play or coach sport in exchange for receiving the scholarship; and
- The scholarship is awarded for playing or coaching sport at an amateur level for The University of Sheffield or British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).
If you are unsure how this applies to your situation, contact International Student Support:
Contact International Student Support
Eligibility to work during study
Where you are studying in the UK on a Visitor or Short-Term Student Visa you are not permitted to work at any time, including unpaid/voluntary work.
Where you are on a Student or Tier 4 Student Visa, your eligibility to work will be outlined on your visa vignette or BRP card, and in your visa decision letter.
'Vacation' also includes the periods before your course starts and after your course ends.
English language teaching students
- During vacations you can work full-time.
- During term time you can work up to 10 hours per week.
Undergraduate students
- During vacations you can work full-time.
- During term time you can work up to 20 hours per week.
Taught postgraduate students
- During Christmas and Easter vacations you can work full-time (before doing so you must read the additional guidance below)
- During term time you can work up to 20 hours per week.
- If you are on a 2-year masters course and you have no studies for the summer period between your 1st and 2nd years then this is considered vacation and you can work full-time.
If you have non-standard vacation times or are unsure when your vacation periods occur you must contact us for further advice before working full-time.
Contact International Student Support
Postgraduate research students
- During term time you can work up to 20 hours per week.
- You are considered to be in term time all year unless you have written permission from your supervisor to take a period of annual leave.
- Any annual leave must be agreed by your supervisor. During this time you can work full-time
Proving your right to work
From 6 April 2022, employers can no longer accept biometric residence cards or permits as evidence of your right to work in the UK. Instead, you must obtain a ‘share code’ from UKVI which you can then give to the employer so they can then do their checks online.
If an employer needs evidence of term dates so they know when you may be allowed to work more hours than the restriction stated on your visa, along with your share code, you can provide either:
- a printout from the University's website which confirms term and vacation dates; or
- a Certificate of Student Status that confirms this.
Current and future semester dates
Whether you are considered to be in a vacation period or not is determined by the type of course you are studying. See the ‘Eligibility to work during study’ section of this page for more information on this.
Where your employer requires further confirmation of your entitlement to work, they can contact the Home Office Employers’ Helpline.
Work placements
Many degree courses will offer you the opportunity to do a placement year, eg a ‘year in industry’ or ‘degree with employment experience’, subject to meeting certain visa conditions. For more information, visit:
Doing a work placement on a student visa
Volunteering and voluntary work
You are permitted to volunteer in the UK on a Tier 4 or Student visa. Hours spent volunteering will not be included in your permitted working hours.
As a volunteer you
- do not have a contract of employment
- do not take the place of an employee
- do not receive payment
- usually help a registered charity or voluntary or public sector organisation
You are permitted to undertake voluntary work in the UK. Voluntary work will be counted in your permitted working hours.
As a voluntary worker you
- are usually paid in some form
- often have a contract with an employer
You should check with your organisation whether your work is regarded as unpaid volunteer work or paid voluntary work.
Working on a Student Visa after the end of your course
If your Tier 4 Student Visa remains valid once you’ve completed your course you can work full-time, within the following limits:
- You cannot fill a full-time permanent vacancy (other than on a recognised Foundation Programme)
- You cannot be self-employed
- You cannot be employed as a professional sportsperson, coach or entertainer
- You can work unlimited hours once you’re considered to have completed your course, but not in a permanent role.
Most students will be granted 4 months 'wrap up' time after the end of their course. This is usually the course end date as stated in your last CAS. You’re allowed to work during this time as it’s considered vacation time.
You can get a letter from SSiD which will confirm your official course end date which you can use to prove your right to work full time to employers.
You may be able to start full time work earlier than your official course end date, if you can show that you have completed all exams, coursework and submitted your dissertation (if applicable). Your department would need to confirm this for you, should you need to provide evidence for an employer.
- For PhD students, course completion means you have submitted your final E copy of your thesis after corrections.
- For Masters Students you must have completed all exams, coursework and submitted your dissertation.
- For Undergraduate students you must have completed all coursework and exams.
An employer's guide to right to work checks also confirms your right to work after you have completed your course. This can be useful to refer to if employers are unsure about your right to work. Please note that some Employers may only wish to employ you on a full-time basis after your official course end date.
If you later fail your exams and/or are repeating any modules or coursework during the wrap up period, you will be considered to be a term-time student and you should only work 20 hours per week.
If you complete your course early
If you complete your course early, we must report this to UKVI. This could result in your visa being curtailed to 4 months after the new course end date.
You should work for a maximum of 4 months after the completion of your course or until the end of your student Visa, whichever comes soonest.
Taking a permanent role
You must not take a full-time permanent role unless you obtain alternative immigration status.
If you’re a student and received your Student Visa after 1 October 2019, you can start full-time work in a permanent role for your employer if:
- you’re within 3 months of completing your degree and have made a skilled worker application; or
- you’ve completed your degree and have made a Skilled Worker visa application
If your student visa was granted after 6 April 2022, you can also start work full time in a permanent role if you have:
- successfully completed your course; and
- made a Graduate Immigration Route visa application
If your student visa was granted before 6 April 2022, you must not start full-time work until your Graduate Route visa has been granted.
For more information on post study work visa options, please refer to our Working in the UK after your studies pages.
Tax and National Insurance
Where you are working in the UK, National Insurance will be automatically deducted from your wages.
Before you start your job, you must apply for a National Insurance Number which ensures your tax contributions are recorded against your name.
Where you earn over £12,500 your income may be taxable. Visit the HM Revenue and Customs website for more information.
Finding a job
The Student Jobshop (student login required) can provide advice on working in the UK and help you find a job or voluntary position.
Check if your dependants can work in the UK
Check if your dependants can work in the UK and the types of work they can do on a Student Dependent visa via the page below.