Part-time work is one of the first things Indian students ask about before they move to the UK. The rules come from the Home Office and depend on your course level and on whether it is term time. This guide uses UKCISA's student work guidance, the official GOV.UK student visa pages, and what students told our channel, with everything checked on 23 October 2026.
- On a Student visa you can work up to 20 hours a week in term time on a degree-level course and up to 10 hours a week below degree level, and full time outside term time, according to UKCISA
- Part-time postgraduate students may not work
- Self-employment and a permanent full-time job are not allowed, so always check the work conditions on your own visa record.
How Many Hours Can You Work on a UK Student Visa?
If your course is degree level or above and your university holds a track record with the Home Office, you can work up to 20 hours a week in term time. On a course below degree level the limit is 10 hours. Outside term time you can work full time, according to UKCISA.
| UK student work hours 2026 | In term time | Outside term time |
|---|---|---|
| Degree level or above (RQF level 6 or SCQF level 9 and higher) | Up to 20 hours a week | Full time |
| Below degree level, such as a foundation course | Up to 10 hours a week | Full time |
| Part-time postgraduate course | No work | No work |
| Sponsor without a track record, such as many private providers | Generally no work | Generally no work |
Most Indian students on a full-time bachelor's or master's course at a UK university fall in the first row. The second row matters if you start with a foundation or pre-sessional English course, because the limit stays at 10 hours until you begin the degree. The conditions printed on your own visa record are what apply to you, so read them before you accept any job.
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UKCISA defines term time as the period when your university expects you to be studying. Outside term time is any other time, including vacations, the period before your course starts and the period after it ends. Term dates differ by course, so ask your university if they are unclear before you start full-time work.
This matters most for one-year master's students. Many are expected to work on a dissertation through the summer, so that period may count as term time even though there are no classes. Ask your university in writing which dates it treats as term time, and keep that message.
How Is the Weekly Limit Counted?
UKCISA says a week is any seven-day period starting on a Monday, and you are responsible for tracking your own hours. The limit covers all your jobs combined, so a shift for each of two employers adds together. Holiday pay and other extra payments do not count as hours worked.
Hours cannot be averaged across weeks. Working 28 hours one week and 12 the next breaks the 20-hour limit in the first week, even though the two-week average is 20. Irregular shifts are where most students go wrong, so write down your hours each week from Monday.
What Work Is Not Allowed on a Student Visa?
According to UKCISA, you must not be self-employed or run a business, including selling goods or services for profit online or through apps. You also cannot work as a professional sportsperson, including paid coaching, or as an entertainer. A permanent full-time job is not allowed, although a permanent part-time job is.
Unpaid voluntary work counts towards your weekly hours, and if your visa says you must not work, you must not do unpaid employment or voluntary work either. Delivery and driving apps are a common trap, because working through them can count as self-employment. Check with your university's international advice team before you sign up for any platform.
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Students sponsored to study a postgraduate course part time may not work, in term time or in vacations, according to UKCISA. Students at sponsors without a track record, such as some private providers and embedded colleges, generally cannot work either. If your visa says no work, you must not work.
Check your offer documents and your visa before you plan on part-time income. If you are told your course is at a provider that does not allow work, the answer changes how much money you need to show, because you will not be able to count on earnings. UKCISA also notes that child students aged 16 or over can work up to 10 hours a week in term time.
Do Placements and Internships Count Towards Your Hours?
UKCISA says a work placement must be assessed and an integral part of your course. Placements can usually be done even when other employment is not allowed, and may be full time during term time. The placement is usually limited to one third of the course length, or up to half for some degree-level courses.
A placement year or a short assessed internship that your university arranges is different from a job you find yourself. If you are unsure which one you have, ask your course team to confirm in writing that the placement is part of your assessed programme.
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Students on our channel gave two different routes. At Sheffield Hallam, students said warehouse jobs are easy to find nearby, with more than 100 warehouses within 20 miles. At Coventry University London, a student found a hospitality events job after handing his CV to an employer at a university career fair.
These are individual experiences, not guarantees. Job availability depends on the city, the season and your hours. The Coventry student said he applied online first, and it was the career fair that worked. Check your university's careers service early, because many employers recruit students through it.
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Check the work conditions on your visa record, confirm the dates your university counts as term time, and make sure the weekly hours stay inside your limit. Employers must check your right to work. Keep payslips and a simple weekly record of hours, so you can show you stayed within the rules.
If a job offer would take you over the limit, ask for fewer hours or wait until vacation. Breaking work conditions can put your visa at risk, and it can also affect future applications such as the Graduate visa. When in doubt, speak to your university's international student advice team before the first shift.