Student guide
Student guide to part-time work
Work rules, pay, tax and staying safe when you work while you study in the UK. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
Part 1
Your right to work and work hours
It depends on your immigration status and course.
How many hours can I work?
Choose your status to see the usual rule.
Source GOV.UK (opens in a new tab). General information, not legal advice.
More for Student visa holders
- Prove your right to work with a share code (opens in a new tab) before you start.
- Term and vacation dates are set by your university.
- Self-employment, professional sport, entertainment work and permanent full-time jobs are not allowed.
More for UK, Irish and settled students
- There is no student limit on your hours.
- You still need to prove your right to work (opens in a new tab), for example with your passport.
Check before you agree to extra hours
Working more than your visa allows can lead to it being cancelled. If unsure, ask your university's international student advice team.Part 2
Pay and your contract
You must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage for your age.
Pay checker
Your estimate
- Each week
- Not set
- Each month
- Not set
Before tax, averaged over 52 weeks.
The minimum for your age is £12.71 an hour.
Tax and National Insurance
Rates from 1 April 2026. Source GOV.UK (opens in a new tab). An estimate, not a tax calculation.
Minimum wage
- 21 and over
- £12.71an hour
- 18 to 20
- £10.85an hour
- 16 to 17
- £8.00an hour
- Apprentices
- £8.00an hour
From 1 April 2026. Apprentice rate applies under 19 or in the first year. Source GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
Your contract
- You are entitled to a written statement of your main terms (opens in a new tab) from your first day.
- You should get a payslip every time you are paid. Keep them.
- You build up paid holiday (opens in a new tab), worked out in proportion to the hours you work.
Part 3
Tax and National Insurance
National Insurance number
- You need a National Insurance number to work. Apply on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab) if you do not have one.
- You can start work before it arrives if you can prove your right to work.
Income tax
- Most people can earn up to £12,570 a year before paying income tax (opens in a new tab).
- Your employer takes any tax and National Insurance from your pay through PAYE.
- You may be on an emergency tax code at first. Any tax you overpay can be claimed back.
- Estimate your take-home pay with the HMRC tax calculator (opens in a new tab).
Part 4
Finding and applying for jobs
Your profile and applications
- Use a professional email address
- Include your university and course
- Say clearly when you are available
- Be honest about your schedule and any visa limits
- Check your CV and messages for mistakes before you send them
Choosing the right jobs
- Filter by location to cut travel time
- Look at jobs near your university or home
- Check the hours fit your timetable
- Read the whole job description before applying
- Check the pay is at least the minimum wage for your age
Part 5
Balancing work and study
Plan your week before term starts, with lectures, study time and shifts in one calendar.
Start with fewer hours and add more once you know your studies are on track.
Tell your employer your availability early and update them when it changes.
Reduce or pause your hours around exams and coursework deadlines.
Choose roles that build skills employers value, such as customer service, teamwork and time management.
Part 6
Your rights and staying safe
Every worker in the UK has legal protections. Know yours before you start.
Your rights
- At least the National Minimum Wage
- A 20 minute rest break if you work more than 6 hours in a day
- Paid holiday, in proportion to your hours
- A written statement of your terms from day one
- A safe place to work
- Protection from discrimination
Warning signs
- A job that asks you to pay a fee or deposit
- Requests for your bank details before a formal job offer
- Pay that seems too good to be true for easy work
- Pressure to work more hours than your visa allows or to skip breaks
- Cash in hand with no payslip or written terms
If you see a job like this on PartTime UK, report it so we can review it.
Part 7
Staying safe if you are 16 or 17
Most employers on PartTime UK are genuine, but a few people use job adverts to take advantage of young people. These six steps keep you safe.
Never pay to get a job
A real employer never asks you for money for training, a uniform, a DBS check or anything else. Never buy gift cards or share your bank details before you have a written job offer.
Meet in public or at the workplace
Go to interviews and trial shifts at the shop, café or office where the job is, in the daytime. Never meet at someone's home, in a car or at a hotel, and never go somewhere you have been asked to come alone.
Tell someone you trust
Before an interview or a first shift, tell a parent, carer or friend where you are going, who you are meeting and when you will be back.
Check the employer
Look the business up online and check the address is real and matches the advert. A trial shift should be short, and if it turns into real work you should be paid for it.
Keep chats on PartTime UK
Keep talking in PartTime UK Messages until you have started the job. A genuine employer won't ask you to keep things secret, send photos of yourself or move to Snapchat, Instagram or WhatsApp.
Report and block
In Messages, open the menu in the conversation and choose Report user, which also blocks them, or Block user. On a job page, use Report this job. We review every report.
If something feels wrong
If something feels wrong, stop replying and talk to someone you trust. You can call Childline free on 0800 1111, any time. In an emergency call 999.
Ready to start working?
Find employers offering flexible hours that fit around your studies.