Working during your studies

This information is relevant to you if you have immigration permission as a:

• student, including as a Tier 4 student
• student nurse and you made your immigration application on or after 31 March 2009.

If you have immigration permission as a student nurse and you applied before 31 March 2009, see information for Student nurses below.

Check what your passport sticker (entry clearance or residence permit) or biometric residence permit (identity card) says. You can work in the UK if your passport sticker or identity card says one of the following:

• Work (and any changes) must be authorised
• Able to work as authorised by the Secretary of State
• Work as in Tier 4 Rules
• Restricted Work. P/T term time. F/T vacations
• Restricted work term time
• Work limited to max 20 hrs per week during term-time
• Work limited to max 10 hrs per week during term-time.

Your passport sticker or identity card might say something a bit different from these examples, but you can work if it does not say:

• No work, or
• Work prohibited.

You must not work if your passport sticker or identity card says "No work" or "Work prohibited" because this would be a breach of your immigration conditions and a criminal offence.

You can see examples of passport stamps that allow and prohibit work at:

www.ukcisa.org.uk/files/pdf/working/work_during_stamps.pdf.

If you are in the UK as a student visitor, your passport sticker or the stamp in your passport will say "No work" or "Work prohibited". This means that you are not allowed to:

• take paid employment
• take unpaid employment
• do a work placement, even if it is part of your course.

If you want to be able to work, you must check that you meet all the requirements of the Tier 4 student Immigration Rules. If you do meet these requirements and you want to apply as a student, you must return to the country where you usually live and make an entry clearance application there.

For information about applying to come to the UK, as a student, see our Information Sheet

Making a Tier 4 (General) application.

This information is relevant to you if:

• you are in the UK as a student nurse, and
• you made your most recent immigration application before 31 March 2009.

If you are in the UK as a student nurse and you made your immigration application on or after 31 March 2009, see information for Students above.

Check that your passport sticker or identity card allows you to work. Check that it does not say "No work" or "Work prohibited". If you are allowed to work, your work must be in connection with your training course. The Immigration Directorates' Instructions are guidance for UK Border Agency caseworkers. They say, at Chapter 3 Section 5 paragraph 5.6, that "persons admitted to the United Kingdom as student nurses and midwives are permitted to take employment for a maximum of 8 weeks prior to the commencement of their courses, at the hospitals where they are to be trained. Once their course has commenced, student nurses may take employment in excess of the 20 hours per week normally permitted during term time if such employment is a necessary part of the course and has the agreement of the education institution concerned. In these circumstances no further approval is required".

Immigration Directorates' Instructions

If you are in the UK with some other immigration status, check what your passport sticker or any other documents issued by the UK Border Agency say about employment. You can usually work without restriction if the only condition in your passport is "No recourse to public funds". If it says "No employment as a dr in training", you can do any kind of work except employment as a doctor in training, which would usually be on the Foundation Programme.

During term-time you can work for

• up to 20 hours a week if you are studying at degree level or above at a higher education institution
• up to 20 hours a week if you are on a study abroad programme at an "overseas higher education institution" in the UK
• up to 10 hours a week if you are studying a course that is below degree level at a "higher education institution"
• up to 10 hours a week if you are studying a course at any level at publicly-funded further education college
• up to 10 hours a week if you have immigration permission as a Tier 4 (Child) Student.

The UK Border Agency defines a higher education institution as a Recognised Body or as an organisation that receives public funding for specific funding bodies. You should check with your college or university if it meets this definition, or the UK Border Agency's definition of an "overseas higher education institution" if you are on a study abroad programme.

If you are not covered by any of these provisions, you will not be able to work in the UK unless you are doing a work placement, you have been elected as a Sabbatical Officer or you are on the Foundation Programme for postgraduate doctors and dentists. This is likely to affect you if you are studying at a college in the private sector.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' list of recognised bodies
www.bis.gov.uk/policies/higher-education/recognised-uk-degrees/recognised-bodies

UK Border Agency's list of education providers in receipt of public funding as a higher education institution (scroll down to the bottom of the page and select What is a higher education institution?
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/can-you-apply/english-language

Association of Colleges' list of publicly-funded further education colleges
www.aoc.co.uk/en/about_colleges/index.cfm

Always check what the sticker in your passport or your biometric residence permit (identity card) says and make sure that you do not work more hours a week than it allows. It should specify whether you are allowed to work 10 hours or 20 hours a week in term-time. It will say if you are not allowed to work.

If you have permission to work, you should not work more than the maximum number of hours (20 or 10) in any one week in term-time, even if you sometimes work under the maximum number of hours a week in other weeks.

If you have permission to work, you can work full-time during your holidays.

Work placements

Even if you are not allowed to work, you might still be able do a work placement as part of your course. Work placements can be full-time, but you can do them only if

• your Tier 4 sponsor has Highly Trusted Sponsor status, or
• your course is at degree level or above, or
• you have immigration permission as a Tier 4 (Child) Student and you are at least 16 years old.

If you can do work placements, the time you spend doing them depends on the level of your course and your education provider. You will be able to spend up to half of your course doing work placements, or longer if there is a legal requirement for this, only if you have Tier 4 (Child) immigration permission or:

• you have Tier 4 (General) immigration permission and
• your course is at degree level and
• your education provider meets the UK Border Agency's definition of a higher education institution.

If you do not meet all of these requirements, your work placements can take up a maximum of 33% of your total course.

Check with your Tier 4 sponsor if it has Highly Trusted Sponsor status or if it meets the definition of a higher education institution. If you do not know whether your course is at the right level for doing work placements, ask your Tier 4 sponsor.

Now go to What is term-time?

During term-time you can work for

• up to 20 hours a week if you are studying at degree level or above at a higher education institution
• up to 20 hours a week if you are on a study abroad programme at an "overseas higher education institution" in the UK
• up to 10 hours a week if you are studying a course that is below degree level at a "higher education institution"
• up to 10 hours a week if you are studying a course at any level at publicly-funded further education college
• up to 10 hours a week if you have immigration permission as a Tier 4 (Child) Student.

The UK Border Agency defines a higher education institution as a Recognised Body or as an organisation that receives public funding for specific funding bodies. You should check with your college or university if it meets this definition, or the UK Border Agency's definition of an "overseas higher education institution" if you are on a study abroad programme.

If you are not covered by any of these provisions, you will not be able to work in the UK unless you are doing a work placement, you have been elected as a Sabbatical Officer or you are on the Foundation Programme for postgraduate doctors and dentists. This is likely to affect you if you are studying at a college in the private sector.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' list of recognised bodies
www.bis.gov.uk/policies/higher-education/recognised-uk-degrees/recognised-bodies

UK Border Agency's list of education providers in receipt of public funding as a higher education institution (scroll down to the bottom of the page and select What is a higher education institution?
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/can-you-apply/english-language

Association of Colleges' list of publicly-funded further education colleges
www.aoc.co.uk/en/about_colleges/index.cfm

Always check what the sticker in your passport or your biometric residence permit (identity card) says and make sure that you do not work more hours a week than it allows. It should specify whether you are allowed to work 10 hours or 20 hours a week in term-time. It will say if you are not allowed to work.

If you have permission to work, you should not work more than the maximum number of hours (20 or 10) in any one week in term-time, even if you sometimes work under the maximum number of hours a week in other weeks.

If you have permission to work, you can work full-time during your holidays.

Work placements

Even if you are not allowed to work, you might still be able do a work placement as part of your course. Work placements can be full-time, but you can do them only if

• your Tier 4 sponsor has Highly Trusted Sponsor status, or
• your course is at degree level or above, or
• you are studying a foundation degree course, or
• you have immigration permission as a Tier 4 (Child) Student and you are at least 16 years old.

If you can do work placements, they must:

• take up 50% or less of your course, unless the law says that you must spend more than half of your course doing work placements, for example, you are studying a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or, in Scotland, a PGDE course, and
• be an assessed part of your course

The UK Border Agency's definition of foundation degree is a course which

• leads to a qualification at level 5 or above of the National Qualifications Framework (see www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/QualificationsExplained for details), and
• is awarded by an English higher education institution which has degree awarding powers (see www.bis.gov.uk/policies/higher-education/recognised-uk-degrees for details), or
• the devolved equivalent, if you are studying in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Some courses called foundation degrees will not meet this definition, but other courses which are not called foundation degrees, for example some HNDs, do meet this definition. It covers all Scottish HND courses.

Check with your Tier 4 sponsor if it has Highly Trusted Sponsor status or if it meets the definition of a higher education institution. If you do not know whether your course is at the right level for doing work placements, ask your Tier 4 sponsor.

Now go to What is term-time?

During term-time you can work for

• up to 20 hours a week if you are studying at degree level or above
• up to 20 hours a week if you are studying a foundation degree course
• up to 10 hours a week if you are studying any other type of course
• up to 10 hours a week if you have immigration permission as a Tier 4 (Child) Student.

The UK Border Agency's definition of foundation degree is a course which

• leads to a qualification at level 5 or above of the National Qualifications Framework (see www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/QualificationsExplained for details), and
• is awarded by an English higher education institution which has degree awarding powers (see www.bis.gov.uk/policies/higher-education/recognised-uk-degrees for details), or
• the devolved equivalent, if you are studying in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Some courses called foundation degrees will not meet this definition, but other courses which are not called foundation degrees, for example some HNDs, do meet this definition. It covers all Scottish HND courses.

Always check what the sticker in your passport or your biometric residence permit (identity card) says and make sure that you do not work more hours a week than it allows. It should specify whether you are allowed to work 10 hours or 20 hours a week in term-time.

You should not work more than the maximum number of hours (20 or 10) in any one week in term-time, even if you sometimes work under the maximum number of hours a week in other weeks.

You can work full-time during your holidays.

Work placements

You can do full-time work placements only if

• your Tier 4 sponsor has Highly Trusted Sponsor status, or
• your course is at degree level or above, or
• you are studying a foundation degree course, or
• you have immigration permission as a Tier 4 (Child) Student and you are at least 16 years old.

If you can do work placements, they must:

• take up 50% or less of your course, unless the law says that you must spend more than half of your course doing work placements, for example, you are studying a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or, in Scotland, a PGDE course, and
• be an assessed part of your course

Check with your Tier 4 sponsor if it has Highly Trusted Sponsor status. If you do not know whether your course is at the right level for doing work placements, ask your Tier 4 sponsor.

UK Border Agency information about Highly Trusted Sponsors:

www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/business-sponsors/points/sponsoringmigrants/highly-trusted

Now go to What is term-time?

During term-time you can work for

• up to 20 hours a week if you are studying at degree level or above
• up to 20 hours a week if you are studying a foundation degree course
• up to 10 hours a week if you are studying any other type of course
• up to 10 hours a week if you have immigration permission as a Tier 4 (Child) Student.

The UK Border Agency's definition of foundation degree is a course which

• leads to a qualification at level 5 or above of the National Qualifications Framework (see www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/QualificationsExplained for details), and
• is awarded by an English higher education institution which has degree awarding powers (see www.bis.gov.uk/policies/higher-education/recognised-uk-degrees for details), or
• the devolved equivalent, if you are studying in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Some courses called foundation degrees will not meet this definition, but other courses which are not called foundation degrees, for example some HNDs, do meet this definition. It covers all Scottish HND courses.

Always check what the sticker in your passport or your biometric residence permit (identity card) says and make sure that you do not work more hours a week than it allows. It should specify whether you are allowed to work 10 hours or 20 hours a week in term-time.

You should not work more than the maximum number of hours (20 or 10) in any one week in term-time, even if you sometimes work under the maximum number of hours a week in other weeks.

You can work full-time during your holidays.

Work placements

You can work full-time on work placements which

• take up 50% or less of your course, unless the law says that you must spend more than half of your course doing work placements, for example, you are studying a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or, in Scotland, a PGDE course, and
• are an assessed part of your course

Now go to What is term-time?

You can work up to 20 hours a week during term-time.

You can work full-time in your holidays.

Work placements

You can work full-time on work placements which

• take up 50% or less of your course, unless the law says that you must spend more than half of your course doing work placements, for example, you are studying a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or, in Scotland, a PGDE course, and
• are an assessed part of your course

The sticker in your passport or your biometric residence permit (identity card) will not specify the number of hours you can work in term-time. This is because all Tier 4 students who have immigration permission which they applied for during this period are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week in term-time.

You should not work more than 20 hours a week in any one week in term-time, even if you sometimes work under the maximum number of hours a week in other weeks.

Now go to What is term-time?

You can work up to 20 hours a week during term-time. The sticker in your passport or your biometric residence permit (identity card) will not specify the number of hours you can work in term-time. This is because all students who have immigration permission which they applied for during this period, and which does not prohibit work, are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week in term-time. You should not work more than 20 hours in any one week in term-time, even if you sometimes work under the maximum number of hours a week in other weeks.

You can work full-time during your holidays.

You can work full-time on a work placement which is part of a sandwich course.

You can work full-time on an internship.

Sandwich courses and work placements

You can work full-time on work placements if your course leads to a degree or another qualification at any level which is awarded by a nationally recognised examining body.

In addition, the work placement part of the course must meet all the following requirements:

• it must be clearly defined
• it must be approved by the university or college providing your course
• it must not extend beyond the end of your course, which means that you must be undertaking more study, for example, attending lectures or writing up a dissertation, after you finish your work placement.

Internships

You can work full-time on an internship if the internship meets all the following requirements:

• you must have immigration permission to be in the UK as a student
• you must be studying on a first (undergraduate) or higher (postgraduate) degree course in the UK
• your employer must regard you as a potential employee, whether your future employment would be in or outside the UK
• internships must be an established part of your employer's recruitment procedure
• you must not have previously undertaken an internship with the same employer
• the internship will last three months at most
• you must be paid for doing the internship, and the pay and conditions must be comparable to those for a resident worker doing the same kind of work
• you must complete the internship within the period of your current student immigration permission.

Your National Insurance number (NINo) is a unique personal number which is used to record your National Insurance contributions. You do not need to have a NINo before starting work, but you must obtain one when you get a job.

The government website Directgov at: www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/BeginnersGuideToTax/DG_4015904 confirms that you will need to apply for a NINo as soon as you start work.

You apply for a NINo by calling 0845 600 0643 to make an appointment. Ask what documents you will need to bring to the appointment. You usually need to take your passport, payslips or a letter from your employer confirming that you will be working for them. Your appointment will take place at your nearest Jobcentre Plus office, or Social Security office in Northern Ireland.

You can find more information about National Insurance numbers and how to obtain one from HM Revenue & Customs at: www.hmrc.gov.uk/ni/intro/number.htm and from its National Insurance registration helpline on 0845 915 7006.

Your family members will be able to work if you are either:

• a government-sponsored student taking a course that is over six months long, or
• taking a postgraduate course that is at least 12 months long and you are studying at an institution that meets the UK Border Agency's definition of a higher education institution.

The UK Border Agency defines a higher education institution as a Recognised Body or as an organisation that receives public funding for specific funding bodies. You should check with your college or university if it meets this definition, or the UK Border Agency's definition of an "overseas higher education institution" if you are on a study abroad programme.

If your family members are able to join you or stay with in the UK even though you do not fall into one of the categories described above, they will be able to work only if you are applying for leave for 12 months or more and your course is at degree level.

Family members who are allowed to work can take any type of employment, except as a doctor or dentist in training if their passport or biometric residence permit states that they are subject to this prohibition, and they can be self-employed.

For more information, see our Information Sheet

Your family's immigration

Your family members will have permission to work if:

• you have permission to be in the UK for 12 months or more, and
• your course is at degree level or meets the UK Border Agency's definition of a foundation degree.

The UK Border Agency's definition of foundation degree is a course which

• leads to a qualification at level 5 or above of the National Qualifications Framework (see www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/QualificationsExplained for details), and
• is awarded by an English higher education institution which has degree awarding powers (see www.bis.gov.uk/policies/higher-education/recognised-uk-degrees for details), or
• the devolved equivalent, if you are studying in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Some courses called foundation degrees will not meet this definition, but other courses which are not called foundation degrees, for example some HNDs, do meet this definition. All Scottish HNDs meet this definition. You will have to check with the college or university where you are studying whether your course meets this description and, if it does, ask that the words "foundation degree" appear on your confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) if you are applying at the same time as your family members, or any documents your family members submit with their applications if they are applying separately from you.

Your family members should be allowed to work if you had permission to be in the UK for 12 months or more. The sticker in their passport or their biometric residence permit (identity card) should say nothing about work or just "No employment as a doctor in training".