Considering part-time work while studying in the UK? Great choice! International students have ample opportunities to gain valuable experiences and make extra pocket money. Beyond simply earning, part-time jobs offer immersion in the local culture, diverse connections, and skills. If you're feeling lost, come here! Let us tell you since the BACCOM team can be your one-stop guide. We'll cover everything from visa requirements to suitable job options, essential skills, and potential earnings based on real student experiences. This guide equips you with the knowledge you need to embark on your UK work journey. Let's dive in!
Understanding Student Visa Types with Part-time Work Entitlements
Alright, let's begin with the fundamentals. First, we'll examine student visas in the UK and which ones grant you entitlements to a part-time job. Applying for a visa can seem complicated, right? Fortunately, the type of visa you need generally depends on how long your course is. However, not every visa will enable you to work part-time, so double-check yours before you start sending out resumes!
There are four primary types of visas for studying in the UK, depending on your course duration and the university's offer :DD
Standard Visitor Visa
Short-Term Study Visa
Student Visa
Child Student Visa
📌 So, if you're enrolled in a course longer than 11 months and have a Student Visa or Child Student Visa (for those 16 and up), you're good to go for part-time work! 👩🏻💻✨
Just remember, during term time, it's capped at 20 hours a week, but during breaks and holidays, you can crank it up to 40! 💪🏻
Exploring Part-Time Jobs and English Proficiency Requirements 🇬🇧
Language Teaching
As the world becomes more connected, an increasing number of people want to learn second and third languages. This has opened up great opportunities for language teachers, especially in places like the UK that are multicultural hubs. Languages like Spanish, Chinese, and others are becoming more popular. So, if you love teaching, you could discover that teaching your native language to others is a great job. This can be a very rewarding experience for international students. But this job isn't easy, especially when it comes to teaching language nuances that aren't present in English. For instance, your students may not understand certain phonetic sounds, certain grammatical structures, or the idea of tonal variations at all. So, you have to adapt teaching methods to suit the varying proficiency levels of students.
Earnings: £12 per hour (Note: lesson plans are required)
English Skills: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Photo credit: August de Richelieu
Photographer
Are you passionate about photography and looking to enhance your skills? Joining the photography club at your university could be the perfect starting point for you. Whether you're a budding photographer or someone looking to gain confidence in the field, the club offers a unique opportunity to learn, grow, and even find job opportunities. Photography clubs often post job advertisements for events requiring photographers. This is a great way for you to get real-world experiences. Being part of the club allows you to build a network of contacts, which is crucial in the photography industry. Networking with peers and experienced photographers can open doors to new opportunities and valuable learning experiences. Another significant advantage of joining the club is access to photography equipment. For those starting, this can be a huge cost saver and allows you to experiment with different tools to find what works best for your style.
Earnings: £10 per hour, or it could be an all-inclusive price per event.
English skills: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Photo credit: Element5 Digital
Event staff
As an international student, working as an event staff is not just a job; it’s an opportunity to integrate into the community, develop essential skills, and create lasting memories. As event staff, you’ll be involved in a variety of tasks, ensuring no two days are the same. These tasks also hone vital skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving – all highly valued in any career path. Moreover, unlike many part-time jobs, event staffing often allows you to choose your hours, offering a degree of flexibility that can be perfectly suited to a student's schedule. For those interested in pursuing event staffing, websites like Esprit Group and E4S offer a gateway into this vibrant industry.
Earnings: £7-8 per hour
English skills: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Photo credit: Rene Asmussen
User Experience Tester - Reviewing Websites and Applications
If you're someone who enjoys sharing your thoughts and ideas, this job would be perfect for you. Have you ever been surfing the web and thought "This website is hard to navigate, would it be better if it were set up differently?" This is where testing with users comes in. You will be asked to look for certain information on a website or on an app as part of this job. During the testing process, you'll write down your thoughts and describe what you're doing, making notes of any problems you run into and why. One important skill for this job is being able to clearly and coherently express your ideas in English. If you find this interesting, you can apply at UserTesting. Actually, this website is based in the United States, but students in either the United States or Europe can use it.
Earnings: £6-8 per a 20-minute review
English Skills: ★★★★☆ (4/5) (Excellent speaking skills are essential.)
Photo credit: cottonbro studio
University Part-timer
At many universities, students can register to receive email updates about various part-time job opportunities. There are a lot of different roles available in these jobs, both inside and outside of academia.
Work outside the university usually involves short-term jobs, lasting only a few weeks to a few months. Different kinds of work are done, such as typing up documents, calling customers for help, or gathering data from off-site. These jobs typically offer weekly payments, which is beneficial for students needing regular income. But, It's important to note that these jobs are not long-term.
University jobs, on the other hand, could be anything from helping out in the library or doing research to more regular jobs like writing lecture notes or helping students who are disabled. There are also jobs in university facilities like stores and coffee shops that anyone who wants to apply directly can do so.
Earnings: Vary by job, ranging from a minimum of £7-8 per hour for coffee shop work to up to £12 per hour for writing lecture notes.
English skills:
Coffee shops ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Writing lectures ★★★★★ (5/5)
Photo credit: Rafael Gonzales
Restaurant Jobs
One of the common job opportunities is working in restaurants. Given the UK's incredibly diverse culinary landscape , it’s fairly easy as an international student to find a job in restaurants that serve your home country's cuisine. This can be a direct way to make money while you’re there. Many of these places offer extras like free meals during shifts and takeaway lunches or dinners afterwards, which can be a big plus, especially for those who have to work and study at the same time. If you're interested in working in the restaurant industry in the UK, applying directly for a job at a restaurant is an effective approach.
Earnings: Typically between £7-8 per hour. If you're being paid less than this, it's likely you're not receiving a fair wage. Additionally, you should expect to receive tips. Often, tips collected by all the waiters are pooled together and then distributed evenly across the entire restaurant staff.
English skills: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Photo credit: Sonya Livshits
Small Tips
If you're earning an income in the UK, it's important to understand your tax obligations. As of the current tax year, you are not required to pay tax if your annual income is below the personal allowance threshold, which is approximately £12,570. However, you still need to declare this income to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). This means that you usually have to pay tax on your UK income even if you’re not a UK resident. To enter the UK tax system and start working, you'll need to apply for a National Insurance (NI) number, considered as your personal tax account number. It's essential for employment in all jobs from servers to freelance photographers as long as you earn income in the UK. To apply for an NI number, you'll need to contact the National Insurance Service. For detailed guidance on how to apply for an NI number, visit the official government website at Apply for a National Insurance number. Remember, having an NI number is a crucial step to legally working and fulfilling your tax responsibilities in the UK.
The survey from the HR Director reveals that London remains the most popular choice for people to vote for as the best place to work in the world, and one of the reasons for its attractiveness is the diversity of careers and opportunities available. So, don't rule out the possibility of searching for a part-time job in London first! You might discover an unexpected opportunity there in London.
Last but not least, once you decide to stay in London to chase those job opportunities, remember, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at the Baccom Team to lend you a hand about accommodation in London!! We're here to support you every step of the way :DD
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