Working whilst studying at Aberystwyth University
Check your passport sticker (entry clearance or residence permit) or your biometric card, as this will confirm if you are allowed to take any part-time work whilst in the UK. If you have a 'student visitor' visa you will not be allowed to take paid or unpaid employment.
As an adult student under Tier 4 (General), you are allowed to:
- do part-time work during term time (see below);
- do full-time work during vacations;
- do a work placement as part of your course;
- work as a postgraduate doctor or dentist on a recognised Foundation Programme; and
- work as a student union sabbatical officer for up to 2 years.
You can do this work without needing to seek approval from the UKBA.
The work you do must not fill a full-time permanent vacancy (other than on a recognised Foundation Programme), and you must not be self-employed, employed as a doctor in training (except on a recognised Foundation Programme) or as a professional sportsperson, coach or entertainer.
The maximum amount of part-time work you can do during term time is:
- 20 hours per week if you are studying a course at or above UK degree level; or
- 10 hours per week if you are studying a course that is below UK degree level.
You can work full-time during vacations, within the above limits. If you have completed your course and you apply to remain in the UK under the points-based system before your existing permission to stay expires, you can work full-time (within the above limits) until your application is decided. (Postgraduate students should note that any period when you are writing up or preparing for exams is viewed as term-time.)
Please discuss with your academic department / personal tutor, to ensure that any employment that you may wish to take up does not affect your studies.