If you hold a Student visa or Tier 4 visa that permits you to work in the UK, strict rules govern the total number of hours you may work during any given week throughout official University of Strathclyde term dates.
Only students studying at the University of Strathclyde should refer to the following information; we, as a sponsor, are a Higher Education Provide maintaining a track record of compliance.
If you have a Student visa or Tier 4 visa, you can check the following for information about your visa work conditions:
Students can work in the UK if:
The hours you are permitted to work during term-time will depend on the level of your course. See "What hours can I work?" for more information.
If you are a student studying on a Standard Visitor Visa, you cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company and you cannot be self-employed.
If you have Settled or Pre-Settled Status through the EU Settlement Scheme, you can work in the UK.
International students with a Student visa will be allowed to work the hours below:
You can check your CAS for your course level.
During official University holiday periods, students may work unlimited full-time hours. Holidays will vary according to your course of study - please see "When can I work full-time?" for more information.
You should not attempt to work an average number of hours if the average puts you above 20 or 10 hours at any time. For example, if you are permitted to work 20 hours per week, you cannot work 24 hours one week and then 16 hours the following week.
If the University becomes aware that you have worked more than 20 or 10 hours in any one week, you will be breaking the conditions of your visa and the University will take action to report this breach of conditions to UKVI. This can have serious implications on your immigration status and ability to continue with your studies.
The Home Office defines a week as a period of seven days beginning with a Monday.
This means that you should not work more than your permitted hours, whether this is 20 or 10 hours, between any Monday and the following Sunday.
|
Course level |
Periods when full-time work is permitted |
Additional information |
|
Pre-sessional |
Between end of pre-sessional and beginning of main course of study check University Key Dates page for details of start of Academic Session |
Please note that if you have resits you cannot work unlimited full-time hours until you have undertaken the resit exam/assessment. |
|
Undergraduate (inc integrated masters courses) |
During all official University vacation periods as per University Key Dates page |
You can work unlimited full-time hours during the holidays noted in the column on the left. If you have August resits, you cannot work unlimited full-time hours until you have undertaken the resit exam/assessment. The period between your last exam in each year and the official end of term date is still considered to be in term-time and you should adhere to 20 hours per week work limit. You can work unlimited full-time hours when you have *successfully completed your course and until your visa expires. Your course is not complete until you have your final results - i.e. Registration Status on PEGASUS = COMPLETED. |
|
PG (MSc etc) |
During official Spring and Christmas vacation as per University Key Dates page. This applies to both January and September starts with no exceptions.
|
The period between submission of dissertation and receiving official exam board results is still considered to be in term-time and you should adhere to 20 hours per week work limit even if this is after the course end date on your CAS. You can work unlimited full-time hours when you have *successfully completed your course and until your visa expires. Your course is not complete until you have your final results - i.e. Registration Status on PEGASUS = COMPLETED. |
|
PGR (PhD and MPhil) |
During the University's closure as per University Key Dates page |
The period between submission of soft-bound thesis and viva is still considered to be in term-time and you should adhere to 20 hours per week work limit even if this is after the course end date on your CAS. You can work unlimited full-time hours when you have *successfully completed your course and until your visa expires. Your course is not complete until you have your final results - i.e. Registration Status on PEGASUS = COMPLETED. |
Student visa holders and Tier 4 visa holders can do most kinds of work. However, you are not permitted to:
More information is in the Immigration Rules Appendix Student, paragraphs ST 26.5 and 26.6 and the Student route caseworker guidance.
Please note that as the Immigration Rules were updated 17 July 2023, most students will have been expected to complete their course before switching to most work visa routes, such as the Skilled Worker visa. The International Student Support Team are unable to advise on applying to switch from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa.
While volunteering with organisations such as a charity, voluntary organisation or public sector organisation is permitted, it is important that you check the type of opportunity. There is a difference between volunteering and unpaid employment (voluntary work).
Volunteers are not paid and will not have a contract. However, organisations may sometimes contribute to travel costs.
Voluntary work is different from volunteering. You will often have a contract. While voluntary work is permitted on a Student visa, remember that any voluntary work hours can be counted toward your permitted work hours.
Checking your BRP or online digital status will help show your Student visa work conditions. However, some employers may ask for further information from you.
We would suggest that you provide the following:
Please note that the University cannot provide you with a personalised letter confirming your right to work; it is the statutory responsibility of the employer to check that you are eligible to work.
You can download a Holiday Work Letter to give to your employer along with your student status letter.
You can direct your employer to our official University statement in regard to providing letters.
You are allowed to use government Jobcentres when searching for a job.
Students can also use the Careers Service online vacancy platform to search for degree-related part-time jobs, MyCareerHub, to search for work experience opportunities and graduate jobs. The Careers Service provides reliable information and advice on all aspects of preparing for and searching for jobs in the UK and abroad. Adverts for general part-time opportunities can be found in the Students' Union JobShop.
The Careers Consultants can also advise you on preparing your CV, your search for jobs and preparing for different stages of the application process.
Once you have found a job or have been offered a job, you need to obtain a National Insurance Number. The Careers Service can assist you with this.
The UK Government issues details on the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates in the UK.
Please visit our Working after your studies page for information.