Your employment rights

National Minimum Wage (NMW)

This is a minimum hourly rate of pay, to which most workers in the UK are entitled. This rate is reviewed every year. For the current rate see the UK Government's web page.

If you have any concerns that you are not being paid the correct rate, you can get confidential help and advice about the NMW. Call the Pay and Workers Rights helpline on 0800 9172368 or find out more about the National Minimum Wage and Living Wage.

Statement of terms and conditions 

You should be given a statement of the terms and conditions of your employment within 8 weeks of starting your job. This statement doesn't have to be written - it can also be oral, implied or a mixture of these. It should include information such as your job title, rate of pay, notice period, hours of work, holiday entitlement and  details about pension schemes. Find out more about contracts and statements of employment.

Working Time Regulations (WTR)

The WTR cover many aspects of working hours and help to ensure that employees do not work excessive amounts of time.  The rule most relevant to students is that you are entitled to an uninterrupted break of 20 minutes if your working day is longer than six hours; you should also be entitled to some paid holiday. Read more about your employment rights and the WTR. 

Internships

Your rights as an intern depend on your employment status; you may qualify for at least the National Minimum Wage. There is advice for interns on the Government website.

It is illegal for employers to discriminate against you on the basis of certain characteristics:

• age
• disability
• gender reassignment
• marriage and civil partnership
• pregnancy and maternity
• race
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation

Further details can be found on the Equality and Human Rights Commission website.

Your employer has a legal responsibility to provide a safe working environment for you and must abide by the Health and Safety at Work Act which has specific rules about a number of issues including: cleanliness, lifting and carrying, hours and rests, and machinery.

Workers in the UK make National Insurance (NI) contributions to build up entitlement to certain state benefits.  All workers, including students, are required to have an NI number; how much you pay is calculated on your weekly earnings and is deducted automatically by your employer.

UK citizens are usually issued with a NI number at the age of 16. If you have lost your NI number you should contact the National Insurance Helpline on 0300 200 3500.

Getting a National Insurance number - for non UK students

If you are an international or EEA student and want to work in the UK you will need to apply for an NI number once you are in the UK.

You may have a National Insurance Number on the back of your Biometric Residence Permit (2 letters, 6 numbers, 1 letter).  If so, you do not need to apply for one.  If you are not sure, check with the Immigration Advice Service or the Careers and Placements team.

To get an NI number you will need to apply online. 

You will need your passport and Biometric Residence Permit if you have one. You will need to confirm that you are looking for work in the UK (or that you have a job already).

 You will then be asked for the following information:

• your full name (as in your passport)
• your date of birth
• full address and postcode of where you are currently living (check this before you phone)
• contact telephone and mobile number (this must be a UK mobile number)

You may be invited for an interview at a Jobcentre Plus office.  This is likely to be in York, Leeds or Hull.

The purpose of the interview is to check your identity, your status as a student, and check that you have a legal right to work in the UK. You will be told what documents you need to bring with you to your appointment – these may include:

• Passport and visa (if applicable)/Biometric Residence Permit - EU students can use a national ID card
• If dual nationality, both passports
• Police registration certificate (if applicable)
• Confirmation of your address – bank statement, rental agreement, utility bill, etc.
• Confirmation of study letter/student card
• Evidence that you have been looking for work or have a job offer
• If you are working, name and contact details of employer and other evidence of employment, such as a letter from employer/contract/payslip.

It should take around 4 weeks for National Insurance number to arrive after you have proved your identity. You are allowed to start work before you receive your NI number, provided you can show an employer you have applied for it.

Anyone who works in the UK pays tax if they earn over their personal allowance each year – £12,570 for the period 6 April 2024 – 5 April 2025.

Find out more about how tax is calculated and what to do if you think you need to reclaim overpaid tax. Special rules apply if you work only in official university holiday periods so you should make sure you understand how the tax system works and that you are paying the correct amount. 

Calculate net salary or 'take home pay' with the salary calculator.