Financing your studies in the UK and maintaining a decent standard of living there can be tough for many international students. However, the good news for students is that they have plenty of options available to them to not only help finance their studies but also maintain a decent standard of living in the UK. The UK government has made it possible for international students to work while studying in the country. However, international students must follow certain guidelines and obtain a valid post-study work visa to start working while studying. The benefits of working while studying in the UK are plenty. For example, students can earn extra money, make new friends and improve their network, gain valuable work experience, and become familiar with UK's culture, lifestyle, and trends.
What Are The Advantages For Working While Studying In UK?
There are plenty of benefits of working while studying in the UK for international students.
Given below are some of them:
- Gain Work Experience: International students looking forward to gaining professional experience while studying in the UK should consider working part-time. After your studies, employers will check your grades, degree, and work experience. Even part-time work experience provides a headstart when you start working full-time after your studies.
- Earn while you learn: Working while learning in the UK is also a great option for international students who are financially constrained. No doubt, working part-time will pay you lower than a regular full-time job, but the amount can still help pay your fees and contribute in a small way towards your living costs.
- Develop your Skills: Whichever part-time job you're engaged in, you can expect to hone your skills and gain professional experience. Skills gained need not be related to what you're already learning at your college; they can also be soft skills that can prove beneficial in different contexts, like problem-solving, communication, leadership, adaptability, analytical thinking, etc.
- Experience Local Culture: International students will hone not only linguistic skills by working in the UK but also gain valuable knowledge of the local culture. Students get an opportunity to observe relationships, society's values, and types of communication closely. Experiencing local culture also lets students embrace cultural changes and have an open mindset.
- Improve English: International students can improve their English language proficiency by choosing to work while studying. Listening to the language daily and getting accustomed to various English accents will help improve your listening skills. After a while, you'll be able to start a conversation with others using the local language.
- Collect Work References: We all know the importance of references in the workplace. When you get an opportunity to work part-time in the UK, you can use the opportunity to collect references that can later be used for applying for graduate jobs. When you're dealing with studies and work, you'll have the chance to bolster your references compared to your friends who are not working while studying in college. You can collect references from your professional team members, managers at work, and professors while you're working with them.
- Practice what you have Studied: When you start working in an industry related to what you've studied in college, you can use the concepts you have learned in practice. For example, if you have chosen English as the course for your major studies, working as an English-language tutor or part-time blogger requires you to apply concepts you've studied during the course term to real-life and work situations.
- Understanding your Career Choice: When you get the opportunity to work while you're studying in the UK, you can figure out if the chosen industry you're working in fascinates you or not. The whole experience of working while studying will help you determine the pros and cons of working in the industry you've chosen. In a way, students can consider the experience as a test run.
- Stand Apart from the Competition: You can easily start apart from the Competition if you've made significant contributions at your workplace while you're there working part-time. Also, you can note down your skills and qualifications on your resume, which will help you stand apart from the Competition and attract employers to land a job for you.
Working While Studying In UK Eligibility
Any international student can start working in the UK during their studies, provided the student meets certain criteria. Students must watch out for two types of restrictions, one imposed by the state-run official organization and the university. Students should check with the university if they have any restrictions on international students working while studying before meeting with the state officials.
The eligibility factors are as follows:
- Students below 16 years of age are not allowed to work while studying in the UK unless an independent school sponsors them.
- If your visa grants permission to work in the UK, you cannot work for more than the authorized hours per week.
- Suppose the student's sponsor is a private provider, an embedded college offering pathway courses or a public-funded college. In that case, the student is not allowed to work in the UK while studying.
How Many Hours You're Allowed To Work Per Week?
International students can work a stipulated number of hours, depending on the course they've enrolled in.
For example, students whom a sponsor aids to work full-time can work:
- Up to 10 hours per week if they're enrolled in a program or course below degree level
- Up to 20 hours per week during the college term if studying for a degree or higher
- Full-time for all study levels if you're working outside of the term (before your course begins and during vacations)
Students who are on sponsorship for a study abroad program for overseas study:
- Can work up to 20 hours a week during the school year
- Outside the term time, students can work full-time. This could include vacations, post-graduation, on-job placements, and before the beginning of the course.
Students who are 16 years of age or older and are sponsored by an independent school can work as follows:
- Up to 10 hours a week during the term time
- Full-time during vacations
Types Of Jobs You're Allowed Work While Studying In UK
There are a variety of jobs international students can take up while they're studying in the UK. Most of these jobs offer students lots of flexibility and good amounts to help them sustain a decent standard of living while in the country. However, the jobs students can take up are usually not specialized and, therefore, need not require hard talents for one to make through. These job roles are suitable for international students to recoup their costs while studying in the UK. However, students must understand that they cannot work for more than the stipulated hours during the term. International students can take up popular on-campus job roles: IT support, teaching assistantship, student content creator, student ambassador, admission officer, sports facilities worker, finance assistant, research assistant, waiter at the university cafeteria, etc. Some of the off-campus job roles international students can target are pharmacy delivery driver, receptionist, promotional worker, newspaper distributor, photographer, ice cream scooper, bartender, software developer intern, bookseller, house cleaner, babysitter, security guard, fitness instructor, clerk, social media assistant, etc.
Types Of Jobs You're Not Allowed Work While Studying In UK
International students find freelance jobs attractive as they provide flexibility and quick money. However, in the UK, students are not allowed to be self-employed while in the country on a Tier 4 visa. Self-employment may include private tutoring, publishing or freelance writing or selling services or goods directly to the customer. International students are also prohibited from working as private entertainers or in professional sports (like professional athletes or as a coach). You're also not permitted to engage in any business activity. For example, you cannot set up a business with a trading presence or be employed by an organization where your stake is 10% or more. Voluntary work also cannot be undertaken by international students while they're studying in the UK. It is recommended that students check with the organization to find out if the work they're allowed to do will be considered unpaid employment or paid one.
AECC is there with you at every step of your journey to be a successful individual. We understand your passion for studying in the UK and making it big in your professional career. At AECC , we believe nothing should come between you and your goals. This is why we strive to not just help you study your favourite courses in the UK but also help you fund the same. If you love working in the UK while studying, then AECC can help. Our expert advisors are here to guide and motivate you at every step. Contact our experienced counsellor today and find out how we can help you find work legally while you're studying in the UK.
AECC is one of the world's leading educational consultancies with versatile expert professionals who are ready to help you with any queries you may have. Contact us so we can be of assistance to you in your journey of fulfilling your dream.
