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Working as a Student
Term-time - 20 hours a week maximum
As part of your student visa conditions you are allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours a week during term-time as an International Student.
What is Term-Time?
If any of the following apply to you, you are considered as being in term-time and cannot work full-time:
- You are doing any academic work or attending classes and/or lectures
- Preparing for exams/re-sits
- Doing coursework
- Writing essays or a dissertation/thesis/project
Even if there is a specified RGU vacation (such as summer/Christmas), you can only work up to 20 hrs a week if you are doing any of the above (reading week/s do not count as vacation time).
Can I Work Full-Time?
As an international student you can ONLY work full-time (maximum 40 hours per week) if you do not fall into any of the above categories, and it is a scheduled vacation period as listed in the Academic Calendar eg Christmas.
Thesis/Dissertation/Re-sits
If you are writing up your thesis/dissertation or undertaking re-sits or any other University work you should only work a maximum of 20 hours a week. Once you have submitted your thesis/dissertation you can work full-time for up to four months (see 4 month rule).
Working after your studies on a student visa - 4 month rule
If your immigration permission (student visa) extends for up to four months beyond the end of your studies, you can work full-time (maximum 40 hrs per week) for that extra period once you have completed all your studies. Please remember that if you have more than four months left on your student visa after you have finished your studies then that does not give you the right to stay in the UK and/or work in the UK after the four month discretionary period.
EEA Students
Please note that if you are a student from within the EEA (European Economic Area) you are allowed to work up to 40hrs a week, in both term-time and outside of term-time.
Latest Information
It is important that you get up to date information regarding this to ensure you do not breach your conditions to work in the UK. Please visit the following information pages via the UK Council for International Student Affairs website:
