Working as a student in the UK: How to find your job?

If you are an international student and your study program will last six months or more, you will require a Tier 4 General Student Visa to work. This visa can enable you to work up to 20 hours part-time during the semester. During semester break, you are allowed to work full-time. If your programme is either bachelor’s or Masters, you will have to finish up to 10 hours of work during the semester and breaks.

As a student, you will typically be allowed to pick a job of your choice with certain conditions. For instance, you cannot run a business of your own or be self-employed. Plus, you may not pick up a permanent career vacancy that has you sign contracts. Moreover, you may not work as a professional entertainer or sportsperson on a student visa.

For students in the UK, there are a number of options in retail and hospitality. You can also look for jobs like receptionist, babysitter, bookkeeper, bank teller, tax preparer, tutor, office clerk, beside others.

The average part-time weekly wage across the UK is £112.20 a week, but the top 15% of students take home more than £200.

Check out here some of the popular jobs for international students in the UK:

Some international students who are speakers of other languages go for the tutoring option. By giving in-college tuitions to those who need it, they can make a quick buck while staying in the academia professionally.

If you have mastered the art of a specialist skill, you may pick different freelance projects to foot your bills. Not only will this allow you to gain relevant experience in your field, you will also be able to test your skills in the big bad world.

These positions can be found on online boards, such as studentgems.com, or they may be advertised within university premises by employers seeking interns. The best part about freelancing is that you can work whenever you want, and there are a bunch of different kinds of projects to choose from!

If we may reiterate for those who need it: manual labour is a noble profession! If you are an international student in the UK, you will have an opportunity to capitalise on your physical and practical skills.

For instance, you could sign up as a painter, carpenter, cleaner, gardener, or a heavy goods mover. These jobs typically pay a bit better than the service sector at around £7.50. One catch may be that these jobs are demanding and usually located far from the city. If you’re willing to do as much, you will find hundreds of employment options at your fingertips.

Some students who aren’t pressed for money can go for unpaid work such as work experience programmes and internships. Some even dedicate their time to various causes with volunteer work. These work hours may be counted as unpaid employment or they may be considered volunteer work based on the requirements of the job and other particulars.

During the summer break, many students complete 6-week internships that count towards their work experience in the future. Make sure you ask your employer exactly what category your job would count towards. Depending on the fine print, the employment hours may or may not count towards your maximum weekly work allowance.

Finding work may seem like a daunting process, but it will be easy as pie once you sit down and start looking! There are a number of online resources available for international students that can connect them with the right jobs, such as jobsite.co.uk and studentjob.com.

You can also check local recruitment agencies, newspapers, social media, and private adverts to find something worth your while. If you’re really willing to be bold, you can even walk into organisations with a copy of your CV and ask them if they have a position vacant!

Now that we have explained to you the ins and outs of your working options in the UK, why not start looking at viable courses and universities now? Browse now and plan your next big adventure!