Can I work on a student visa?
Short answer
Yes — most Student visa holders can work up to 20 hours a week during term time. Your visa conditions set the exact limit, and breaching it can lead to curtailment. After your course, the Graduate Route gives two years of unrestricted work, or three for doctoral graduates.
The Student visa is primarily for study, and work rights are an add-on with firm limits: most holders may work up to 20 hours a week during term time. Check the conditions printed on your own visa or digital status, because they vary by course level and sponsor, and exceeding them is treated as a breach rather than an administrative slip.
The conditions your visa depends on
- A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from an institution on the register of licensed Student sponsors.
- English at B2 CEFR for degree-level study.
- Money to cover the first year’s tuition fees plus living costs of £1,334 a month in London or £1,023 outside London, for up to nine months.
Two events can end the visa early. If your institution loses its sponsor licence, UKVI normally allows 60 days to find another licensed sponsor. If you fail or are withdrawn from the course, the sponsor must report it and your leave is usually curtailed, again with about 60 days to make alternative arrangements. Check a prospective institution is on the sponsor register before you enrol.
Moving on from study
You can extend the Student visa where you are progressing to a further course with a licensed sponsor — the sponsor issues a new CAS and you apply before the current leave expires. Extensions are not available simply to remain in the UK; there must be genuine ongoing study.
The routes onwards are worth planning before your final year:
- Skilled Worker. With a qualifying job offer from a licensed sponsor, you can switch in-country before your Student visa expires, without leaving the UK.
- Graduate Route. After completing your degree you can apply for two years of unsponsored leave — three years for doctoral graduates — with no employer sponsorship and no minimum salary, which is a useful bridge while you look for a sponsored role.
Keep evidence of your attendance and results, and never let leave expire while you decide: an in-time application preserves your status, a late one does not.
Related guides
Student Visa Basics
The UK Student Visa (previously called the Tier 4 student visa) allows people aged 16 and over to study in the UK at a licensed Student sponsor institution. It replaced the Tier 4 (General) visa in October 2020. To apply, you must have an unconditional offer from a licenced UK Student sponsor and meet financial, English language, and other requirements.
7 min
Graduate Route After Study
The Graduate Route allows international students who have completed a degree or other qualifying qualification in the UK to stay for up to two years after graduation (or three years for doctoral graduates) to work, look for work, or do other activities. It was launched in July 2021 and has been used by hundreds of thousands of graduates.
6 min
Skilled Worker Visa Overview
The Skilled Worker visa is the main route for people from outside the UK to work in the country. It replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa in December 2020 as part of the post-Brexit points-based immigration system. To be eligible, you generally need a job offer from a UK employer with a valid Skilled Worker sponsor licence, and your role and salary must meet the required thresholds.
9 min
Switching Between Visa Categories
Switching visa categories means changing from one type of UK leave to another without leaving the country. Not all switches are permitted — some routes can only be entered from outside the UK. Understanding what is and is not allowed before your current leave expires is critical.
6 min
Disclaimer