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Information on Working During Your Studies as a Student Visa Holder
Working part-time during your studies or in vacation periods can be a great way to get to know other people and boost your skills, as well as earn extra money. However, before you take any employment, you should always check if you have permission to work in the UK.
The following information is relevant for Ulster University students who hold a Student Visa.
If you are in the UK with a different type of visa (not a Student Visa), check carefully which work conditions apply to you.
The guidance below provides a comprehensive answer to most work-related questions for Student Visa holders.
Does Your Visa Allow You to Work in the UK?
You can check if you are permitted to work in the UK by first looking at what is written on your Student Visa.
- If you are studying at degree level and your CAS was issued by Ulster University, you should find that your visa permits you to work up to 20 hours per week during term time.
- If you are studying below degree level (for example, a foundation programme), you may, in some instances, be restricted to working a maximum of 10 hours per week during term time.
- If your visa states the phrases 'no work' or 'work prohibited' this means that you are not permitted to work in the UK.
If your visa does permit you to work in the UK, you must not work more than the number of hours per week you are allowed, as this would be a breach of your immigration conditions and a criminal offence.
UKVI define a week as a period of 7 days starting on a Monday. During this period, you must not work more than the maximum hours per week allowed by your visa. This weekly limit includes paid work and unpaid work.
It is very important that you check your permission to work and the permitted hours before you do any work in the UK. If you breach the working conditions of your visa, even by accident, both you and your employer could be subject to a substantial fine and prosecution.
If you have doubts about your right to work in the UK, the permitted hours, or if your visa says something unusual or something that you don't understand, please contact the International Student Advisory Service.
Frequently Asked Questions
The International Student Advisory Service has compiled a list of FAQs to guide you through working and staying compliant with your Student Visa.
Please read through the information carefully and contact the team if you have any further queries.
Understanding the Academic Calendar and Your Working Rights
Information about semester dates, vacation periods, and University closure dates is available in the Academic Calendar.
Yes. During an official University vacation period, you are not subject to your term-time working hour restrictions and may work full-time, provided you have no academic commitments during that period.
Always refer to the Academic Calendar to confirm official vacation dates.
You can download a Registered Student Letter (Confirmation of Attendance) that confirms your student status, includes term dates, and provides a link to the Academic Calendar. This can be used by your employer to verify your academic schedule.
Understanding Summer Working Rights
No. If you are due to start a dissertation module during the summer, you are not considered to be on an official vacation period, even if your taught classes have ended.
You must continue to comply with the working hour restrictions attached to your Student visa.
No. Until all resits, resubmissions, and other academic requirements have been completed, you must continue to follow the working hour restrictions stated on your Student visa.
No. If you are enrolled on Semester 3 modules, you have ongoing academic commitments and must continue to follow your term-time working hour restrictions.
Yes. If you have no Semester 3 modules, resits, resubmissions, or dissertation requirements, you may work full-time from the day after the Spring Semester ends because you are considered to be on an official vacation period.
You must return to your term-time working hour limit when the Autumn Semester begins.
Please refer to the Academic Calendar for official semester dates.
Understanding Working After Your Final Submissions
No.
According to official guidance, your term-time working restrictions only end when:
- Your course has been completed;
- The course end date on your CAS has passed;
- You are no longer in term time.
Until these conditions are met, you must continue to comply with your term-time working hour restrictions.
The wrap-up period is the period between your course completion date and the expiry date of your Student visa.
For most students, this is approximately 3–4 months after the course end date stated on their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
This period is intended to give you time to:
- Prepare to leave the UK
- Apply for the Graduate Route visa
- Apply for another type of immigration permission
- Make other arrangements for your future plans
Yes, provided you have no outstanding academic commitments, such as:
- Repeat modules
- Deferred modules
- Outstanding coursework submissions
- Examinations
Only once you are eligible to work beyond your term-time hours can you contact the Student Operations Team to request a Course Completion Letter.
Please note that this letter confirms your course completion only. It does not state that you can work full-time, as permission to work is determined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), not the University.
What Happens After Your Course Completion
No. Submitting your dissertation does not mean that you have successfully completed your course. You are only considered to have successfully completed your studies once:
Your results have been officially published; and
- You have passed all required elements of your course.
- This usually happens after your Faculty Exam Board has met and confirmed your results.
You can view your results through the Student Portal under the Progress/Award Decisions tile.
If you have not passed all parts of your course, you must continue to follow your term-time working hour restrictions and contact us for further advice if required.
Once you have successfully completed your course, you can download your official results from the Student Portal or request a Course Completion Letter from the Student Operations Team. Please allow time for processing.
Once your student record shows that you are a Successful Leaver – Eligible to Graduate, you can contact the Student Operations Team to request a Course Completion Letter.
Further information is available from UKCISA.
Once your results have been officially published, the Student Visa and Immigration Support Service will email you to confirm that they have reported your successful course completion to UKVI.
You can then apply for the Graduate Route visa, provided you meet the eligibility requirements.
Employability & Graduate Futures
As an international student, you can benefit from personalised support from Employability & Graduate Futures.
This includes expert 1-1 advice, tailored online resources and networking events.
It’s important that you engage with the team early on in your studies to develop your career plan and gain an understanding of the UK job market and recruitment timelines.
