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If you are studying a full-time course in the UK on a Student Visa then you will likely be entitled to undertake work while you study.
Please note that the below guidance is written specifically for Student Visa (formerly Tier 4) holders. If you are in the UK on a different form of immigration permission you will need to check the working conditions your visa affords you.
For a full list of the types of work you cannot undertake while in the UK on a Student Visa, please visit the UKCISA working in the UK pages.
The amount of hours that you are limited to work during term-time will be written on either your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or if you don’t have one of them, then it will be stated on your Entry Clearance Vignette (the sticker in your passport) or your digital immigration permission.
Most students on a full-time course will be entitled to work a maximum of 20 hours a week during term-time. If you are studying on a Child Student Visa or you are studying a short course like Pre-Sessional English then you may find that you are restricted to working 10 hours a week. If you are studying a part-time course but hold a Student Visa then you will not be able to undertake any work in the UK.
The Home Office have informed us that they consider “a week” to be any seven-day period starting from a Monday.
It's important that you never exceed the maximum number of hours that you are entitled to work as doing so will put your visa status at risk.
The working hour restrictions on your Student Visa only applies to term-time meaning that in periods of non-term time (vacations and official university closures), you will be able to exceed the maximum number of hours. What times of the year are considered non-term time depends on the level, length and type of course you are studying at the University of Surrey. See below for the specific dates during the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic year that is considered non-term time for your course.
Undergraduate students (BA, BSc, BEng, BMus)
Undergraduate students on a Student Visa are able to work a maximum of 20 hours in term-time.
During non-term time they may work beyond this.
For the 2023/24 academic year, non-term time will occur between the following dates:
11 December 2023 to 29 December 2023
29 January 2024 to 2 February 2024
25 March 2024 to 12 April 2024
10 June 2024 to 15 September 2024.
For the 2024/25 academic year, non-term time will occur between the following dates:
9 December 2024 to 27 December 2024
27 January 2025 to 31 January 2025
14 April 2025 to 2 May 2025.
Where they hold a valid Student Visa, undergraduate students are also permitted to work beyond the 20-hour limit before their official course start date and after their expected course end date as defined on their confirmation of registration letter available via Surrey-Self Service.
Postgraduate students studying 12 or 15 month courses (MA, MSc)
Postgraduate students studying a 12 or 15 month course on a Student Visa are able to work a maximum of 20 hours in term-time.
During non-term time they may work beyond this.
For the 2023/24 academic year, non-term time will occur between the following dates:
11 December 2023 to 29 December 2023
29 January 2024 to 2 February 2024
25 March 2024 to 12 April 2024.
For the 2024/25 academic year, non-term time will occur between the following dates:
9 December 2024 to 27 December 2024
27 January 2025 to 31 January 2025
14 April 2025 to 2 May 2025.
Where they hold a valid Student Visa, postgraduate students are also permitted to work beyond the 20-hour limit before their official course start date and after their expected course end date as defined on their confirmation of registration letter available via Surrey-Self Service.
Postgraduate students studying 24 month courses with the Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences (MA, MSc)
Outside of term-time, they may be able to work beyond this restriction depending on whether they are studying their first or second year.
While in their first academic year, students may work beyond the 20 hour limit during non-term.
For the 2023/24 academic year, non-term time will occur between the following dates:
11 December 2023 to 29 December 2023
29 January 2024 to 2 February 2024
25 March 2024 to 12 April 2024.
For the 2024/25 academic year, non-term time will occur between the following dates:
9 December 2024 to 27 December 2024
27 January 2025 to 31 January 2025
14 April 2025 to 2 May 2025.
While in their second academic year, students have no non-term time.
Where they hold a valid Student Visa, postgraduate students are also permitted to work beyond the 20-hour limit before their official course start date and after their expected course end date as defined on their confirmation of registration letter available via Surrey-Self Service.
Postgraduate students studying 24 month courses with the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences (MSc)
For the 2023/24 academic year, non-term time will occur between the following dates:
11 December 2023 to 29 December 2023
29 January 2024 to 2 February 2024
25 March 2024 to 12 April 2024.
For the 2024/25 academic year, non-term time will occur between the following dates:
9 December 2024 to 27 December 2024
27 January 2025 to 31 January 2025
14 April 2025 to 2 May 2025.
Where they hold a valid Student Visa, postgraduate students are also permitted to work beyond the 20-hour limit before their official course start date and after their expected course end date as defined on their confirmation of registration letter available available via Surrey-Self Service.
Postgraduate students studying 24 month courses that include a Placement Year with the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences (MSc)
Postgraduate students studying 24 month courses that include a Placement Year with the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences on a Student Visa are able to work a maximum of 20 hours in term-time.
Outside of term-time, they may be able to work beyond this restriction depending on whether they are studying their first or second year.
While in their first academic year
Students may work beyond the 20 hour restriction during non-term.
For the 2023/24 academic year, non-term time will occur between the following dates:
11 December 2023 to 29 December 2023
29 January 2024 to 2 February 2024
25 March 2024 to 12 April 2024
10 June 2024 to 15 September 2024.
For the 2024/25 academic year, non-term time will occur between the following dates:
9 December 2024 to 27 December 2024
27 January 2025 to 31 January 2025
14 April 2025 to 2 May 2025.
While in their second academic year, students have no non-term time.
Where they hold a valid Student Visa, postgraduate students are also permitted to work beyond the 20-hour limit before their official course start date and after their expected course end date as defined on their confirmation of registration letter available via Surrey-Self Service.
Postgraduate research students (PhD/MPhil)
Postgraduate research students have no vacation periods and may work full-time only during University closure days, or during time booked using their 25 days holiday allowance.
Where they hold a valid Student Visa, postgraduate research students are also permitted to work beyond the 20-hour limit before their official course start date and after they have submitted their final thesis (post-corrections).
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How can I prove my right to work to an employer?
Employers have a legal obligation to check that you are allowed to work in the UK, so you must be able to provide evidence of this, usually by showing them your current passport and/or your current biometric residence permit or by sharing your digital status code.
Because all Student Visa holders also have a limited right to work during term-time, you will also need to provide evidence of when your term and non-term times occur.
Printing a copy of this page with the information relevant to your course.
Please note that shortly after your course end date, your enrolment status will change. This is usually a few days before your results are released and you can obtain your award letter and/or transcript. Therefore, we recommend that you obtain the above confirmation of registration letter in advance of your course end date.
My expected course end date has passed and I have begun to work full-time but have since discovered I need to retake assessments, what should I do?
If after your expected course end date passes, you are required to retake any of your assessments then you must immediately revert back to working only the maximum number of hours allowed during term-time.
I submitted an application either to extend or switch my visa but I’ve not yet received a decision on the application and my current BRP card has expired, can I still work?
Yes, you can continue to work under the conditions of your previous visa.
If your employer has any concerns about this or requires you to prove that you still have a right to work then they should use the Employer Checking Service to contact the Home Office directly who will be able to confirm your right to work while the application is pending.
