Many, but not all, Students and Child students can work. This depends on the type of student sponsor you have. Go to the register of Student sponsors and look at the Sponsor type and Status columns. When you have found your college or university, select the relevant option below to find out if you can work.
Working hours in term time must not exceed 10 or 20 a week, and you can work full time outside term time.
"Week" means any 7-day period starting on a Monday. Keep detailed records of your working hours. This is especially important if you work irregular hours and/or if you have more than one employer.
"Term time" means the period when your student sponsor expects you to be studying. "Outside term time" means any other time. For example, the period before your course starts and after it ends, and holidays (vacation). You can usually find term dates on your college's website or in your course information. You must provide this information to your employer.
Always check the information on your immigration document. If it says "No work", you must not work. If you think this is a mistake, you must get it corrected before you take any employment. See how to do this in Errors on 90-day vignette and Errors on BRP.
You can find full details in these Home Office publications:
An employer's guide to right to work checks
Home Office Student and Child student caseworker guidance
You may work if:
- you are on a study abroad programme, and
- your sponsor is an overseas higher education institution
Go to the register of Student sponsors. Then look for "overseas higher education institution" in the Sponsor type column.
Your working hours are:
- up to 20 hours a week in term time
- full time outside term time, which includes
Child students who are under 16 years old are not allowed to work.
You can work if you are a Child student aged 16 or older and your sponsor is an independent school.
You can work:
- up to 10 hours a week in term time
- full time
The situation is different if you have Student (not Child student) permission. You can work only if your independent school is a "Sponsor with a track record". Check the Status column of the register of Student sponsors. For details of your permitted hours of work, see Student sponsor with a track record.
If your school does not have a track record, you are not allowed to work in or outside term time. But you might be able to take a work placement as part of your course - see Work placements and internships.
