Looking for work as an international student

Most international students in the UK are allowed to work for up to 20 hours a week (you can only work more hours during vacations). The Immigration Advice team at the University have put together information abut work regulations and rights:

Find out more about your right to work in the UK

We have information for employers about employing students on a Student visa, which you might find useful to read too. Please note: self-employment or freelance work (working for yourself rather than being on an employer's payroll) is not permitted on a Student visa.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website is also an excellent resource.

This page provides advice from Careers and Placements about looking for part-time work, and information about the support we provide.

Finding a job

Look for part-time jobs in Handshake, and find more suggestions on our Work while you study page.

Be careful when looking for jobs - there are scams targeting international students. It is best to look on reputable jobs sites rather than social media. If in doubt, please ask us.

Looking for part-time work in York - presentation slides (November 2023) 

Placements and internships

Some international students look for a placement or an internship in the UK.

A placement (placement year or year in industry) usually lasts between 9 and 12 months, and is accredited as part of your degree. A placement year gives you valuable experience and could improve your chances of getting a graduate job at the end of your course. If your course does not include an integrated placement year, you may be able to join the University Placement Year programme - but you will need to contact the Immigration Advice Team to check that you can extend your Student visa. 

An internship is a shorter period of paid work experience, lasting from a few weeks to a few months. Employers often recruit students to do an internship in the summer vacation before their final year at university, but York Internships have paid internships available to all year groups. Postgraduate students please note: you may be able to apply for part-time internships (maximum 20 hours per week) but not for full-time internships while you are studying on your Student visa; this includes the summer vacation period before you have completed your course.

Internships are not available to PhD students on a Student visa, as this would necessitate a break in your studies. There may be a possible exception where the internship is a required part of your studies. For further information, please contact the Immigration Advice Team. 

Find out more about placements and internships

Applying for jobs

Get a National Insurance number

  • Your National Insurance (NI) number is a unique personal reference number for your tax/employment affairs - everyone working in the UK needs to have one, and they're issued free of charge.
  • When you begin job hunting, apply for a National Insurance Number (see Your employment rights). Your employer will expect you to have your National Insurance Number either when you start work or shortly afterwards. 
  • If you begin work and your employer has not asked for your National Insurance Number, you should check that you are on their payroll, otherwise you risk breaking the visa rules.

Be realistic

You may be hoping to get a job related to your course of study, or based on your previous work experience in your home country (particularly if you are a postgraduate student). This may not be easy to find when you need part-time work to fit round your timetable.

A lot of part-time jobs are advertised in hospitality (cafes and bars), retail (shops and supermarkets), or care work, and you may not get your perfect job immediately. But remember, all opportunities can help you develop skills, and understand more about British culture and business - which should benefit you in the future.

Alternatives to paid work

  • In the UK, volunteering is an important way of gaining skills and work experience to add to your CV - and it's a good way to have fun and make new friends too.
  • Find out about our volunteering projects which include supporting local charities, placements in schools and community projects.
  • You might also find volunteering opportunities through the Students' Union or your college.
  • If you are interested in volunteering, we recommend that you obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct from your home country to comply with the suitability checks we have to carry out for volunteers. Information on checks for overseas applicants.
  • You could also get involved in a student society and take on extra responsibility by joining their committee.

Improving your English

  • Use every opportunity you can to improve your confidence in written and spoken English if necessary.
  • The Academic Skills Community offers workshops in various areas, including communication and collaboration.
  • Look out for Language support opportunities like the Language cafes to help you improve your speaking and listening skills (and meet new people from other cultures)

Further help