Most international students in the UK are allowed to work for up to 20 hours a week in term-time (more during vacations). Read on for resources and support from Careers and Placements about looking for part-time work.
* Note: Course requirements for Masters and PhD students are different; if you are a postgraduate the 20 hours per week maximum is likely to apply throughout the year.
Be careful when looking for jobs - unfortunately we have heard about some scams targeting international students. It is best to look on reputable jobs sites rather than social media. If in doubt, please ask us!
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 of York's Placement Year programme - but you will need to contact the Immigration Advice Team to check first 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 or Tier 4 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 on our work experience page.
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.
Who to contact
Careers and Placements
Opening hours
- Harewood Way, University of York, York, YO10 5DD
- Students and York graduates can contact us or book an appointment via Handshake
- Tel: +44 (0)1904 332685
- Term time: Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm
- Vacation opening times vary - please check the opening times page