If you are successful in securing a UK Student Visa, you will be permitted to work in the UK, the extent of which will depend on your circumstances.
If you are following a full-time course at degree level or above sponsored by a licenced higher education provider, you will eb permitted to take up to 20 hours of work per week during term time. You will be permitted to take up full-time employment outside of term time. All other studies including part-time studies does not carry the right to work in the UK.
If you are granted leave as a student, you will be permitted to take up employment in the following circumstances:
- Work related to a work placement, assessed as an integral part of your course of study;
- Employment as an elected Student Union Sabbatical Officer or elected National Union of Students (NUS) position is permitted for up to 2 years if the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned for this purpose;
- Where you have successfully completed a PhD at a higher education provider and have been granted permission to stay as a Student on the Doctorate Extension Scheme or have made a valid application for permission to stay as a Student on the Doctorate Extension Scheme but you have not yet received a decision on that application, you will be permitted to work in any role, except for employment as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach).
If you are staying in the UK as a Student, you are not allowed to do any of the following:
- Engage in self-employment or in business activity unless you have been granted permission to stay as a Student on the Doctorate Extension Scheme;
- Work as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach); or
- Work as an entertainer unless ST 26.4. applies; or
- Work in a position which would fill a permanent full-time vacancy unless you have been granted permission to stay as a Student on the Doctorate Extension Scheme;
If you bare staying in the UK as a student and have applied for leave under the Skilled Worker route, supported by a Certificate of Sponsorship assigned by a licensed sponsor, you will be able to start the employment for which the Certificate of Sponsorship was assigned, for up to 3 months prior to the course completion date, provided:
- You are studying a full-time course of study at degree level or above with a higher education provider with a track record of compliance; and
- You applied as a Skilled Worker when you had permission as a Student; and
- a decision has not been made on the Skilled Worker application, or where a decision has been made, any Administrative Review against a refusal has not been finally determined.
As a Student Migrant, you may be employed as a postgraduate doctor or dentist if you are on a recognised Foundation Programme.
As a UK Student may be self-employed, if:
- You have applied for permission on the Start-up route; and
- that application is supported by an endorsement from a Start-up route endorsing body which is a higher education provider with a track record of compliance; and
- the application was made when you had permission as a Student; and
- a decision has not been made on the application, or where the application has been refused, any Administrative Review against a refusal has not been finally determined.