Guide
Can You Work on a UK Student Visa?
Last updated: September 2026
In general, yes — most degree-level Student Route holders can work part-time during term and full-time during scheduled vacations. But your exact permitted hours are set individually per visa, not a single fixed number for everyone, so always confirm your own conditions rather than relying on a general rule.
The general pattern
Full-time degree-level students on the Student Route are commonly permitted to work a limited number of hours per week during term time, and full-time during official vacation periods and after your course ends (up to your visa's expiry). Students on below-degree-level courses typically have a lower weekly cap. These are general patterns, not universal numbers — your specific limit is set on your visa.
Where your actual number lives
Your permitted weekly hours are printed on your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or visible in your UKVI/eVisa account, alongside any other conditions attached to your specific visa. This is the authoritative source for your situation — not a third-party guide, including this one.
Work placements are a separate category
A mandatory work placement or sandwich year built into your course (common in engineering and business degrees) is generally treated differently from casual part-time work, and your university's international student office is the right place to confirm how it interacts with your visa conditions before you start one.
For what happens after you graduate, see how this compares to studying in Canada's work rules for international students, which are structured quite differently (on-campus, off-campus, and co-op are separate categories there).
Frequently asked questions
Can I work while studying in the UK on a Student Route visa?
Most degree-level (higher education) Student Route holders are permitted to work part-time during term time and full-time during scheduled vacations, but your exact permitted hours are set individually and printed on your visa conditions or BRP — not assumed from a general rule.
Where do I find my exact permitted work hours?
On your visa conditions, your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), or your eVisa/UKVI account — not from a general online guide, since permitted hours can differ by course level and institution type.
Can I do an internship or placement on a Student Route visa?
Often yes, if it's a genuine part of your course (a sandwich year or mandatory placement), but the rules for a work placement differ from casual part-time work. Check with your university's international student office before starting one.
What happens if I work more than my permitted hours?
Breaching your visa's work condition is a serious violation that can affect your current visa status and future UK immigration applications — it isn't a minor technicality. If you're unsure of your limit, confirm it before taking on more hours, not after.
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