Working and building experience in the UK during your studies

Working and building experience while studying is a great way to build the skills that graduate employers want. The Careers and Employability Service can support you with finding part-time work, volunteering and internships.

Don't forget to work through the "Find and apply for work experience in the UK" Target pathway

Visa information for working during your studies

To understand what is permitted within the terms of your visa, visit our Visa Options and Considerations page.

Visa Options and Considerations

What you need to start working in the UK

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

When your visa is approved, you will receive a BRP. You will need this to apply for a National Insurance number and to open a bank account (see below).

From 31 December 2024, the BRP will be replaced by an eVisa. Learn more about creating an eVisa account on our Visa Advice webpage.

National Insurance (NI) number

Everyone who works in the UK is required to have a National Insurance (NI) number. The NI number ensures that National Insurance contributions and income tax are properly recorded against your name.

As an international student, you will need to apply for a National Insurance number through the UK government website. It can take up to 4 weeks to receive your number after you apply. You can start work before it arrives, but employers may want to wait until you receive it.

Bank account

If you are looking for paid work, you will need to have a bank account. You can learn more about opening a bank account in the UK from our Global team.

Evidence of your permission to work

To ensure your employer remains compliant with UKVI rules on working hours restrictions, you will need to be able to evidence that you are a current student. Your Confirmation of Studies Letter will show your employer your course start and end dates and is available from the Student View Portal. Your employer will also need to check your Right to Work.

An updated CV

A CV (also known as a resume) in the UK maybe slightly different to those you use in your home country. In the UK, CVs are no more than 2-pages long, and we recommend they are tailored for each job you apply to. Don't worry - this isn't as much work as you'd expect! Learn more about building a UK CV in our CV Writing Guide. To get further support with all elements of you applications, visit the Career Essentials section.

Part-time jobs

Many students choose to take up part-time work alongside their studies. When your job is well balanced alongside your university work, a part-time role is a great opportunity to earn extra cash while building a valuable skillset and gaining good experience for your CV.

In the UK, it may be difficult to find part-time work that directly relates to your studies or previous professional experience. However, you can still develop fantastic skills that employers are looking for.

When it comes to the types of roles available alongside your studies, you’re likely to find jobs such as:

A person in a uniform working at a cafe. They are making coffee using a coffee machine.

Administration Assistant
Cashier
Cleaner
Games Tester
IT Support
Lifeguard
Private Tutor

Retail Sales Assistant
Student Ambassador
Student Development Assistant
Temp staff
Tour Guide
Transcriptionist
Waiting staff

Learn more about how to find part-time work in Portsmouth through our Part-time Jobs Guide.

Work Experience

Building work experience before you graduate is vital to set yourself apart from other candidates. It shows an employer that you know how to apply what you have learned in your degree to a workplace environment. We can support you with securing opportunities like:

Volunteering - unpaid work for third-sector organisations.
Placements - a period of work experience that becomes part of your degree programme.

Applying to work experience opportunities is the same as applying for any job in the UK. Visit our Career Essentials section to learn more about tailoring your CV, making applications and attending interviews.

Employability Events

Throughout the year, we run events that are designed to connect you with employers and build your employability skills. Our dedicated International Student Events are delivered by our specialist advisers and include:

Jobs and working in the UK
CV workshops for international students
UK job search for international students

You can learn more about the events hosted by the Careers and Employability search through our Career Events pages.

Where to find opportunities

Once you have registered at the university, you can access our MyCareer platform. Here you can search for jobs, work experience opportunities and upcoming events. You can also find online learning and articles to support you through your career journey.

Visit MyCareer