Working alongside your studies

Lots of students take a part-time job during term or a full-time one in the holidays. A job can pay the bills, and it can teach you things a course does not. This page sets out what you are entitled to and what to have ready, so you can start a job with confidence.

Knowing what you should be paid

By law, an employer must pay at least a minimum amount for the hours you work. The rate depends on your age.

From 1 April 2026, the rate is £12.71 an hour at 21 or over. It is £10.85 an hour at 18 to 20, and £8 an hour under 18. The rates change on 1 April every year.

An employer can choose to pay more than this. Keep your payslips, so you can check your pay against your hours.

Taking paid holiday

Almost everyone classed as a worker is entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year. That includes agency workers and people whose hours change from week to week.

If your hours are irregular, your holiday builds up as you work. A part-time job still earns paid holiday, in proportion to the days you work.

Getting your tax right

You pay Income Tax if you earn more than £1,048 a month on average. You pay National Insurance if you earn more than £242 a week. Your employer usually takes both from your wages through the Pay As You Earn system.

If you stop working part way through the tax year, you may have paid too much tax. You may be able to claim a refund, and HMRC has an online checker to help.

If you work for yourself, you fill in a Self Assessment tax return each year instead.

Having your documents ready

You will usually need a National Insurance number when you start a job. If you have not got one, you can apply once you are in the UK and have the right to work. It can take up to four weeks to arrive. You can start work before it comes, as long as you can prove your right to work.

An employer must check your right to work before you start. British and Irish citizens can use a passport, even an expired one. Other people can give the employer a share code, which you get online, or their immigration documents.

Working on a Student visa

Many international students can work too. How much depends on your course and on your college or university.

If your sponsor has a track record of compliance and your course is full-time, you can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time at degree level. Below degree level, the limit is 10 hours a week. Outside term time, you can usually work full time.