How many hours a student can work in the UK? Complete guide for Nepali students.

Working while studying in the UK is a great way to understand culture, gain workplace experience, and earn pocket money. In this blog, we will take a deep dive into studying and working in the UK, how long a student can work, work restrictions, and more.

Yes, international students can study and work in the UK on a student visa. Generally, any student aged 16 and above can work in the UK. Some work restrictions apply. More on that later.

Generally, international students pursuing a course at or above degree level can study and work in the UK up to 20 hours per week.

Students pursuing courses below degree level can study and work in the UK up to 10 hours per week.

Students can study and work full-time if they are on a break or have completed their course (more on that later).

What is a degree level in the UK? Generally, a degree level is a Level 6 qualification, which is a standard Bachelor's degree.

What does “week” mean in the context of a student visa? In the context of a student visa, a week means seven days starting from Monday. So, bear that in mind while studying and working in the UK.

Pro tip: keep a detailed record of the hours worked, as students must submit details to the UK government.

Generally, students can work in the types of jobs listed below:

• Paid employment.
• Volunteering (work for the community) and voluntary work (work for any charity organisation).

Students should be aware that voluntary work counts toward the weekly hours, even if it is unpaid.

Note:

• Check if the student visa has any work restrictions.
• Volunteers do not have a contract and must not be a substitute for an employee.

Students are not allowed to work in the types of jobs listed below:

1) Full-time/permanent work in the UK.

2) Self-employed in the UK.

Where self-employed, according to the UK government, means:

• Selling regularly to make a profit,
• Making items to sell for profit,
• Selling items regularly, either online,
• At car boot sales or through classified adverts,
• Earning commission from selling goods for other people,
• Being paid for a service provided.

Pro tip: Don’t agree if an employer suggests that you work for them as a 'contractor' or on a 'freelance' basis, as you may end up violating work conditions.

3) Business activity.

4) Professional sports or entertainer.

If students, while studying, work over the limit set for a student visa, the UK government may take any or all of the following actions:

• Revoke the student visa.
• Permanently bar the student from applying/entering the UK.
• Revoke the employer’s license.

There are other consequences too. For example, it may become a black mark on the student’s passport. So, if a student applies for a visa for another country, they (the country in question) may see that revocation or permanent bar and reject the student visa application.

Pro tip: Do not work over the limit allowed for student visa holders.

We recommend:

• Auditing working hours every week
• Keep buffer hours
• Write/document everything, etc.

Yes, students can work in the UK after graduating from an eligible course.

Students can work full-time in the UK after completing an eligible course. According to the UK government, students can apply for a Graduate visa if they meet all of the following conditions:

• You must be in the UK.
• Your current visa is a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa.
• You studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course for a minimum period on your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa.
• Your education provider (such as your university or college) has told the Home Office you’ve completed your course.

Note: Check with your education provider if you are unsure whether the Home Office knows about the course completion.

Students who have completed their course can apply for a Graduate visa. If they get it, they can stay and work in the UK for:

• 2 years if applied for on or before 31 December 2026.
• 18 months if applied for on or after 1 January 2027.
• PhD or other doctoral qualification: 3 years.

Graduate visa starts the day the application is approved.

Note: Individuals cannot extend their Graduate visa. However, they may be able to switch to a different visa, for example, a Skilled Worker visa.

Applying to study in the UK can be daunting. Students need to understand the application process for different courses and universities, their entry requirements, costs, scholarships (if any), visa application and more. That is why students should seek professional help, and one of the best experts for UK study is Search Education.

We have over 10 years of experience helping students toward their dream of studying in the UK. We are an ethical educational consultancy with a long track record of integrity and honesty. We provide complete services for studying in the UK, including career counselling, program and university selection, scholarship guidance, visa application lodgement, visa interview prep and more. Our CELTA- and PGCTE-certified instructors with 20+ years of experience teach English language classes (IELTS and PTE) and mock tests (both IELTS and PTE) to go alongside them. So, feel free to reach out to us.

Don’t just take our word for it; read what our alumni say.

• https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student-advice/working/student-work/
• https://www.gov.uk/student-visa
• https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student-advice/working/working-after-studies/
• https://www.gov.uk/working-for-yourself
• https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa