The International Office
Online Handbook
Working
Working and studying
EU/EEA/Swiss Students
You are allowed to work in the UK without permission.
Nationals of 'A8' Countries
Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia. You can begin a job but you must register within one month of beginning. There is a fee of £90. If you change employer in the first 12 months you must register again, but this is free. Once you have been working legally for 12 months and without breaks totalling more than 30 days, you will have full rights of free movement as a worker. You can then apply to the Home Office for an EEA residence permit. If your job is fewer than 10 hours a week for little pay, your application to register may be refused. For further details about A8 workers see: http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/
Nationals of Romania and Bulgaria
Romanian and Bulgarian students are entitled to work for 20 hours per week in term time and full-time during vacations and on work placements that are part of their course. Before you start work you must have a Registration Certificate. These are free. Application forms and further details from: http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/
All other Students
Detailed information can be found here from the UKCISA website.
Check the entry clearance / visa in your passport. You will have one of the following:
- A restriction on employment: 20 hours a week.
Most students on courses of more than six months will have a restriction on employment. Look for these words:
- Work (and any changes) must be authorised or
- Able to work as authorised by The Secretary of State
A restriction means that you can work without obtaining permission for up to 20 hours a week. You can do most kinds of work but you must not engage in business, be self-employed, provide services as a professional sports person or entertainer or pursue a career by filling a permanent vacancy.
If an employer wants to be sure of your status ask them to contact the local Job Centre or the International Office for confirmation. You can also find more information at the UK Council For International Student Affairs' website (UKCISA) here.
- A prohibition on taking employment: no work
This means that you cannot work in the UK. The stamp in your passport will read:
- No work or recourse to public funds' or
- Leave to enter/remain in the United Kingdom on condition that the holder maintains and accommodates himself and any dependants without recourse to public funds, does not enter employment paid or unpaid and does not engage in any business or profession, is hereby given for/until (date)
Sandwich course work placements
You do not need permission to work if the work is a placement - work organised as an essential part of your course.
Working after you've finished studying
EU/EEA/Swiss Nationals
You can stay and work in the UK.
A8 Nationals
You may need to register for work. Visit: http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/ for more details.
Nationals of Romania and Bulgaria
You can work with a Registration Card for 4 months after the end of your course. You may then need to apply for an Accession Worker Card. Visit: http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/ for more details.
All other students
You can work 4 months full-time after the end of your course, if you have a valid visa. You must then change to a working visa if you wish to continue working in the UK. There are different types of working visa including:
- Post Study Work Scheme
Any overseas student who has completed a bachelors degree or a postgraduate qualification at Bath after 1 May 2007 can apply for leave to remain in the UK to work for 24 months maximum, through the new points based system. Find out more...» - Shortage occupations and Work Permits
An employer can apply for a work permit which will allow the company to employ someone who, without a permit, is not allowed to work. Work permits are usually granted for shortage occupations. For a list of shortage occupations see: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/ - Training and Work Experience Scheme (TWES) Permits
An employer can apply for a TWES permit which will allow the company to offer training or work experience to someone who, without a permit, is not allowed to work. Once the TWES permit ends, you must leave the UK for at least 12 months before applying for any other work permit. - Students' Union Sabbatical Officer
If you have been elected to a full-time salaried post as a sabbatical officer at BUSU you can apply for a work permit to let you do the job. The permit runs from 12 months up to 2 years. At the end of this time you must return to your studies or leave the UK. - Voluntary Workers
You can apply to remain in the UK for up to 12 months as a voluntary worker. This means that you are not paid for the work you do and the work must be for a registered charity or recognised body. There is a list of charities offering voluntary work at: http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/