Careers for international students

If you want to work in the UK during your studies or after graduation, you need to check your visa regulations. We can't give you immigration advice personalised to your circumstances, but the information below can point you in the right direction.

What we can do is support your ambitions, whether that be finding experience opportunities whilst you study or if you are looking for work in the UK after you graduate. For information on what the Careers and Employability Service can do for you, check out the video below:

Working in the UK during your studies

If you're an international student on a Tier 4 student visa/Student route visa, you can do paid, unpaid or voluntary work up to 20 hours a week during term-time and your vacation restrictions will depend on your course structure.

For more information on your Tier 4 visa/Student route visa working restrictions for term-time and vacations, please see the MyPort article: Working hours guidance – International/EU/EEA/Swiss students.

Tips for non-UK students working part-time at uni

• You'll need to wait until you arrive in the UK to secure a job, so use the time before you arrive at university to prepare and research what you'll need when you get here
• Once you're registered at the University, you can search for part-time jobs on our online jobs board, MyCareer
• You may need to apply for a National Insurance number – find out how to do this in our guide to finding part-time work
• The Careers and Employability Service run careers workshops specifically for international students looking for work in the UK – find our events listing online at MyCareer
• TargetJobs offers useful pathways specifically designed to support international students with their UK job search. 

For more information on finding part-time work in the UK whilst you study, check out the video below:

There are lots of other ways to build skills and experience whilst you study, to find out more see the video below:

Working in the UK after graduation

If you're an international student looking to work in the UK after graduation, it's important you research the options and check the visa regulations.

Use the following websites to get advice on working in the UK after you graduate:

• Targetjobs – international students guide to job hunting in the UK, plus advice and tips about gaining work experience in the UK
• Targetjobs – international student visa and permits for working in the UK
• UKCISA – the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) is the UK's national advisory body serving the interests of international students and this link provides a useful summary of visa routes for international students
• UK Visas and Immigration – the UK Government's official visa and immigration information for working in the UK
• List of accredited immigration advisers – search by region to find immigration advice near you and immigration advisers specialising in particular types of immigration, asylum or nationality cases

Current Graduate Route Visa

The Graduate Route visa was introduced in 2021 and allows those who have graduated from a UK university from the summer of 2021 to live in the UK for a further two years in order to work without the need to have already been offered a job. It is important to note that there remains a sponsored route - the Skilled Worker visa, which has replaced the old Tier 2 visa. Understanding the visa rules for working in the UK after graduation are key to your chances of success, but there are many other factors to consider when planning your approach. It is also important to remember that visa rules are subject to change at any time.

For more information on finding graduate jobs in the UK, including how to market yourself and the skills you have as an international student, check out the video below:

Business startup advice

The Careers and Employability Service can also support you if you wish to explore options regarding business startup and enterprise. Our Student Startup team can offer a range of support. For more information see below.

Student Startup