Students' union sabbatical officers

Some students might have immigration permission that is not Tier 4 leave. They might be permitted to work as well as study without having to apply for Tier 4 leave. They will probably have no work conditions on their entry clearance sticker or on their biometric residence permit, or they might be subject solely to a prohibition on working as a postgraduate doctor or dentist. For example, those with refugee status, Humanitarian Protection, dependant leave, Tier 5 (Youth Mobility) or UK ancestry leave are not tied to a sponsor or employer.

Not all dependants are permitted to work; some will have a condition that states "No work" or "Employment prohibited".

Those who have work-related leave might be "tied" to a particular employer which would prevent them from starting work with you. For example, those with Tier 2 leave can study as long they carry out the employment for which they were given Tier 2 leave, but they can not work for you if you are not the Tier 2 employer. Such a person would probably need to apply for Tier 4 leave in order to work as a sabbatical officer, but should seek immigration advice in order to explore all options.

The endorsement on students' BRPs or passports might not state the type of leave they have, but always check with them and, if in doubt, ask to see any Home Office leaflets or letters they received with their leave, as these usually set out the details of work and other conditions.

It is very important that students do not stay in the UK beyond the expiry of their immigration permission (leave). For Tier 4 students, it can result in refused applications, whether in or outside the UK. No one who is in the UK without immigration permission is allowed to work.

European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals and their family members are in most cases permitted to work in the UK without restriction. However, Croatian nationals usually need a registration certificate before they can start work.. We provide details of what EEA national students need to do and the evidence they should be able to produce in our information for EEA nationals and for their family members.

If you are not sure whether a student or recent graduate has immigration permission that allows them to work for you as a sabbatical officer, you can find out about most immigration categories on the Home Office website, and use their guidance for employers before the post starts.