Working in the UK

Information about working in the UK both during and after completion of study.

A work placement must be an assessed part of your course and usually must not take up more than one third of your course. The University of Roehampton, as your sponsor, must monitor you during your work placement and we must communicate to the Home Office the details of your placement. Work placements can be paid or unpaid and can be full-time or part-time. If you are permitted to take employment (up to 20 hours per week during term time) then you can do this in addition to your placement.

Before you start your work placement, you, or your department, will need to provide the UKVI Compliance Team with the following details:

  1. Company name
  2. Address
  3. Telephone number
  4. Supervisor
  5. Supervisor’s email address
  6. Start date of placement
  7. End date of placement
  8. Number of hours per week
  9. Copy of the learning agreement 

You will then need to complete a weekly timesheet at the end of each week and email it to the UKVI Compliance Team at the end of each week.

What type of work can I do on a Student visa?

You can do most kinds of work, but you must not:

  • be self-employed or work on a freelance basis (A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term, often working on a project basis)
  • be employed as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
  • be employed as an entertainer
  • take a permanent full-time job

How many hours a week can I work?

If you are studying an undergraduate degree or above your Student visa should say 'WORK 20 HRS MAX IN TERM-TIME'. During term-time you can work for a maximum of 20 hours a week. Hours of work during term-time must be limited to those allowed each week and can't be averaged out over a longer period.

If you need to provide your employer with information about the term and vacation dates for your course you can either:

Please note that the 20 hours per week maximum limit is defined by the Home Office as Monday to Sunday.

Your hours limit includes any paid work, unpaid work voluntary or otherwise and internships. If you think you have the incorrect working rights on your visa please contact immigration@roehampton.ac.uk for further assistance

Student visa students are permitted to work full-time as follows:

During your holidays – your holiday dates are decided by the university.

When you have completed your studies and you still have current immigration permission – the date on which your studies end is decided by your university and you should not work full-time before that date

This has been interpreted as follows for Roehampton students.

Undergraduate (UG) Students

UG students are permitted to work full time outside of term times, as they are not expected to be studying during those periods.

In the final year, UG students are permitted to work full time at the end of the summer term.

Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Students

Whilst registered, PGT students are permitted to work full time during the Winter and Spring breaks but are not permitted to work during the Summer break as you are expected to be studying during this period. The date on which PGT students officially complete their studies is as stated on your CAS (This is the point by which all summative assessments must be completed). Consequently, for the purposes of entitlement to work letter, that is the date the University must state for official purposes. After this date, PGT students are free to work full-time until the end date of their visa.

Postgraduate Research Students (PGR)

PGR students can't start working more than 20 hours until they have no further academic commitments.

While you are registered, you are not permitted to work more than 20 hours during the normal ‘vacation’ periods as you are expected to be working on your research full time, including during the summer.

Once the viva takes place:

  • If you pass unconditionally, you have no further study commitments. You are permitted to work over the 20 hours per week permitted and you can carry on working until your visa expires, or you leave the UK for any reason (there may be complications re-entering the UK on your Student visa after your studies have ended);
  • If you have corrections, you are not permitted to work over the 20 hours per week permitted until the corrections are submitted, normally within 3 months. After corrections have been submitted you can work over 20 hours until your visa expires, or you leave the UK for any reason (there may be complications re- entering the UK on your Student visa after your studies have ended, please email immigration@roehampton.ac.uk for additional advice);
  • If you are required to revise and resubmit your thesis, you will be registered for another year and you must not work over the 20 hours per week permitted until you have resubmitted your thesis and the Research Student Administration Office have confirmed that you have no further academic commitments. In some cases, a second viva will be necessary, and you should then follow the advice above for passing unconditionally or

Studying below degree level

Please note if the programme of study is below degree level you will be permitted to work 10 hours per week during term time and full-time during vacations. Please check your Student visa for your permitted working hours.

What is a National Insurance number and how do I get one?

After you have an offer of employment, you must obtain a National Insurance number from the  Department for Work and Pensions. This is an unique number which you will need to give your employer in order for them to be able to pay you and record your National Insurance contributions. For an appointment call 0800 141 2075. They will tell you what documentation you will need to bring to your appointment. There is more information available at: www.hmrc.gov.uk/ni/intro/number.htm

Finding work in the UK

London has more part-time work opportunities than anywhere else in the country, whether you are looking for paid or voluntary work, the Roehampton Career Services website is a good place to start your search.

There are several options for Student visa students to apply to work in the UK after their studies:

  1. Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES) visa

This route is open to PhD students who wish to extend their Student visa in order to work in the UK for 12 months after their studies. As a Student visa sponsor and recognised higher education body, the University of Roehampton can sponsor its doctoral students under this route. Further details can be found on the UKCISA DES webpage. If you wish to apply for this visa, please contact the UKVI Compliance Team: immigration@roehampton.ac.uk

  1. Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa

This route is open to graduates who possess a genuine and credible business idea and entrepreneurial skills. The University of Roehampton is an endorsing body for this scheme for Roehampton students only. If successful, you will be granted a Tier 1 (GE) visa for 12 months. Further details can be found on the UKCISA TIER 1 (GE) webpage. If you wish to apply for this visa, please contact the UKVI Compliance Team: immigration@roehampton.ac.uk

  1. Tier 2 (General) Visa

All graduates can apply to switch into this work visa route if they meet the eligibility criteria. You will need to have completed your course and obtain a Graduate Level job with an employer that has a Tier 2 Sponsor Licence. More information about this visa and a list of licensed employers can be found on the Gov.uk website

  1. Tier 5 (Youth Mobility)

Under the Youth Mobility Scheme, nationals of the following countries can apply to come and work in the UK for 2 years:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Japan
  • Monaco
  • New Zealand
  • Republic of Korea
  • Taiwan
  • Hong Kong (SAR)
  • British Overseas Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens and British Nationals (Overseas)

More information about this visa can be found here.