This information is for orientation only. Working beyond the hours allowed on your visa is an immigration breach with risk of revocation and future bans. Check conditions on your eVisa and with the international office.

Student work roadmap

  1. Valid visa
  2. NINO
  3. Contract
  4. PAYE payslip
  5. P60 end of year
  6. After graduation (Graduate / Skilled Worker)

Student checklist — before accepting a job

  • Active Student visa with work permission (almost always yes, with limits).
  • Hour limit: typically 20 hours/week during term time; full-time in official holidays.
  • No work as self-employed or freelancer without adequate permission.
  • NINO required before or immediately after starting.
  • Written contract respecting National Minimum Wage.
  • Red flag: cash in hand without payslip, «NINO not needed».

Student visa rules (work)

PeriodTypical limitExceptions
Term timeMax 20 hours/weekMandatory curricular placement — check CAS
Official holidaysFull-time (any legal hours)Dates from university/sponsor
After graduationStudent visa expiresSwitch to Graduate or Skilled Worker
ProhibitedSelf-employment, business owner, professional entertainerFull list on GOV.UK

Last updated: May 2026 — GOV.UK — Student visa work conditions

NINO and first job

  1. Job offer (even campus part-time).
  2. NINO application — Online/phone via GOV.UK; appointment if required.
  3. Contract — Permanent, fixed-term or zero-hours (know your rights).
  4. Starter checklist — Complete for employer (first UK job).
  5. First payslip — Check tax code and deductions.

Contract types in the UK

  • Permanent (full/part-time): paid holiday, notice period.
  • Fixed-term: end date; useful for defined internships.
  • Zero-hours: no guaranteed hours — flexible but unstable.
  • Agency: agency is legal employer; check fees.

Minimum wage (NMW/NLW)

BandNote
National Living Wage (23+)Highest rate — updated every April
21–22, 18–20, under 18, apprenticeDifferent rates — GOV.UK table
London living wage (voluntary)Not legally required but used by some employers

Last updated: May 2026 — National Minimum Wage rates

Payslip, PAYE and contributions

  • Gross pay — Contractual amount before deductions.
  • Income tax — Withheld via PAYE according to tax code.
  • National Insurance (NIC) — Contributions above threshold.
  • Pension auto-enrolment — Automatic enrolment if eligible (can opt out temporarily).
  • Student loan — Plan 1/2/4/5 deduction if applicable above income threshold.

Tax: Self Assessment and extra income

  • If freelance or complex foreign income, you may need Self Assessment.
  • Return deadline: usually 31 January online for the previous tax year.
  • Keep P60 (year end) and P45 (end of employment).

Basic rights and dismissal

  • ACAS — Free advice on dismissal, discrimination, pay.
  • Unfair dismissal — Full protection often after 2 years of service.
  • Holiday pay — Right to paid leave even part-time (pro-rata).

After graduation

  1. Graduate visa — Work without sponsor for a limited period (check eligible UK degree).
  2. Skilled Worker — Employer with sponsor licence + skilled salary threshold.
  3. Switch before expiry — Apply from inside the UK if your permission allows.

What NOT to do

  • Work over 20 hours/week in term time.
  • Start freelance activity without a visa that permits it.
  • Accept «cash in hand» with no tax record.
  • Ignore letters from HMRC or the Home Office.
Visa compliance

University reports prolonged absences to Home Office — maintain attendance.

Quick reference

Generally safe; watch out for phone thefts in London, rental scams and night security in isolated areas. 999 unique emergency number.

  • 999: emergency
  • 101: non-urgent police
  • Knife crime media ≠ average student risk if you use common sense
  • Drinking water from the tap

Day-to-day safety

Newspaper

  • Phone not on the pub table
  • Uber/taxis fired after midnight
  • Crossings on the left — look twice

Common scams

Fake landlords on Gumtree, HMRC phishing, "UK home office" call scam.

  • Never share bank OTPs
  • Verify agent registration

Emergencies

  • 999 for ambulance/police/fire
  • 111 NHS
  • Consulate for Lost Passport

If something goes wrong

Rights

National rule

Citizens Advice for landlord disputes. Work beyond visa hours = serious immigration risk.

Deep dive (optional)

Go deeper

Operational detail and official links—amounts and deadlines change; always confirm on the competent portal before filing or paying.

Rights & contracts (summary)

TopicNote
National Living Wage / NMWAge bands and rates change each April—check your payslip against GOV.UK tables
PayslipsMust be provided with lawful deductions and holiday accrual shown
Zero-hours & agency workDifferent rights vs fixed hours—read contracts and holiday entitlement rules
ApprenticeshipsMinimum apprentice rates and off-the-job training rules apply

ACAS & claims

Free advice

ACAS helpline, codes of practice, and early conciliation before employment tribunal claims.

Employment Tribunal

Strict time limits—keep evidence of hours and emails.

Students working

Follow your visa work caps (weekly limits on the Student route)—breaches can affect future immigration.

Note

This block complements the guide with institutional entry points—not legal or tax advice.

Sources · Last verified: 2026-05

  • GOV.UK — international students (official link being updated)
Trusted sources we used for this content

UK government and EU statistics: Eurostat, GOV.UK, the NHS, HMRC, and UK Visas and Immigration. Post-Brexit rules evolve—confirm on GOV.UK.