University of St Mark & St John

Overseas students studying in this country for six months or more can normally work up to 20 hours per week in term-time, and full-time in vacations. There are restrictions on the type of work you can do. Vacation and part-time work is difficult to find, so you should not expect to fund your studies in this way. You are prohibited from claiming welfare benefits. The International Office can provide more information about employment if you need it or you can log on to the following  UKCISA links:

Working During your Studies

Working After your Studies 

Find out more about Voluntary Work.

Before you look for work, you need to check the stamp in your passport. It will probably say that you require the "consent of the Secretary of State for Employment, or that work (and any changes) must be authorised". This means that you can work, but only part-time (full time in the holidays) and only while you are a student.

(If the stamp in your passport just says: "Employment prohibited", then you cannot work - it would be illegal - but it may be possible to apply for the stamp to be changed).

Students from EEA countries have no restrictions at all and can work during and after their course of studies.

There are some procedures that you must keep to in order to make sure that you are within the law:

1)  Check your passport to make sure you have the correct stamp.

2)  Remember the number of hours that you are allowed to work is restricted.

3)  You must apply for a National Insurance Number before starting to work.

IMPORTANT: YOU RISK YOUR REGISTRATION IF YOU WORK ILLEGALLY