Earning while you learn: your guide to part-time jobs for international students in the UK 

Why bother working part-time while you're hitting the books? Beyond the obvious financial boost, there's a whole host of perks waiting for you. Part-time work is a game-changer that helps you: 

Gain a competitive edge

Practical work experience is a goldmine for your CV. You'll be building a professional profile that makes you stand out to future employers, giving you a head start on your career. 

Develop in-demand skills

From problem-solving and teamwork to communication and customer service, you'll be developing transferable skills that are highly valued in any industry. 

Expand your network

Meet new people and build professional contacts who could open doors for you after graduation. Who knows? Your part-time manager could become a future mentor or a valuable reference! 

Become financially savvy

Take control of your finances. You'll learn to budget, save, and manage your money like a pro, increasing your independence and confidence. We even have a dedicated student guide to financial wellbeing to help you get started. 

Master the art of time management

Juggling lectures, assignments, social life, and work shifts will teach you how to prioritise, schedule, and stay on top of your responsibilities. You'll become a master scheduler! 

If you're in the UK on a Student visa, you must stick to your visa regulations. It's crucial that you understand your working limits to avoid any issues. 

Here's what you need to know: 

✅ During term time: You can work up to 20 hours per week if you're studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. 

✅ Outside of term time: During official university holidays, you can work full-time hours. Check your academic calendar to find out your exact term dates. 

Important things you can't do on a Student visa: 

❌ Start your own business or be self-employed. 

❌ Work as a professional sportsperson or entertainer. 

❌ Take on any permanent, full-time employment. 

Top Tip:
Unpaid work, including internships, counts towards your weekly working limits during term time. Make sure you track all your hours, especially if you have more than one employer or non-fixed shifts! 

Ready to find a job that fits your schedule and helps you grow? You have plenty of resources available. 

The UWS Careers Service 

This is your first and best stop! Our team of careers professionals is dedicated to helping you succeed. We offer: 

• Personalised 1:1 advice and guidance 
• Workshops on career planning, CVs, and interview skills 
• Employer networking events 
• Extensive digital resources and mentoring programs 

Build the career you've always wanted. Find out how. 

Online Job Boards 

Many job sites are designed for students, offering flexible roles that fit around your studies. 

For All Students 

• UWS Student and Graduate Vacancies: Open to current students as well as alumni, this board is a great place to start. 
• Student Circus: Specifically designed for international students, this platform lists visa-sponsored jobs in the UK. 
• Indeed: A massive general job site with a wide variety of part-time roles. 
• StudentJob UK: A site with part-time jobs, internships, and summer roles specifically for students. 
• Higherin: Features student jobs, career advice, and reviews. 
• Give a Grad a Go: Focuses on graduate and startup jobs. 
• Prospects: A comprehensive site for graduate jobs and internships.

For Internships

• 10,000 Interns Foundation: Internships across different sectors. 
• Milkround: A popular site for internships and graduate roles. 
• Targetjobs: Find internships specifically for 2026. 

For Startup Jobs 

• WorkinStartups: The number one startup job site. 
• Welcome to the Jungle UK (formerly Otta): A modern job board that makes it easy to find roles at innovative companies. 

For Hospitality & Retail Jobs 

• Leisurejobs: The go-to site for jobs in hospitality, sports, and retail. 
• Hospitality Jobs UK: Specialises in roles across the hospitality sector. 
• Caterer.com: Find hotel, restaurant, and bar jobs. 
• Switch Roles: A job board for retail positions. 

For Virtual Work 

• Forage: Offers free virtual job simulations and career prep to help you get hands-on experience with companies. 
• Bright Network: Focuses on graduate careers for students. 

General Job Boards 

• Escape the City: For jobs and opportunities with purpose. 
• SimplyHired: A powerful job search engine. 
• Guardian Jobs: Find roles from a wide range of employers. 

LinkedIn is far more than just a job board—it's your digital professional network and a powerful tool for building your personal brand. By leveraging it while you study, you can position yourself for success long before you graduate. 

Create a Polished Profile

Think of your LinkedIn profile as an online CV. Use a professional headshot, write a compelling headline that highlights your goals (e.g., "Aspiring Data Analyst | MSc student at UWS London"), and a summary that tells your unique story. Add your education, any relevant projects, part-time jobs, and volunteer work. 

Expand Your Network Strategically

Start by connecting with your classmates, professors, and university alumni. They are your immediate community and can offer valuable advice. Next, look for professionals and recruiters in fields that interest you. When you send a connection request, always add a personalised note explaining why you'd like to connect. 

Engage with the Community

Don't just lurk! Comment on posts from industry leaders, share articles that interest you, and celebrate the achievements of your network. This shows you're engaged and knowledgeable, helping you get noticed. 

By actively building your personal brand, you'll not only discover new opportunities but also demonstrate your passion and commitment to potential employers. 

Many of you are interested in earning money through digital platforms like YouTube, TikTok, or by becoming a freelance content creator. However, for international students on a Student visa, this is a very high-risk area. The UK government's visa regulations are very clear: you cannot be self-employed or engage in business activity while on a student visa.

Earning money from ad revenue, brand partnerships, or selling digital products is often classified as self-employment by the Home Office. This applies even if the companies you work with are based outside the UK.

Why this is a risk

• Visa breach: If you are found to be self-employed, you could be in breach of your visa conditions. 
• Potential consequences: This could lead to your visa being curtailed, meaning you would have to leave the country and would be unable to finish your studies. It could also impact future visa applications. 

What you can do

• Focus on a paid employee role: Instead of seeking self-employment, look for part-time jobs in digital marketing, social media management, or content creation where you are a paid employee with a contract and a fixed salary. This is a safe and legal way to gain experience in this field. 
• Treat it as a hobby: You can create content for fun, but do not monetise it. As long as you are not earning an income, you are not breaching your visa conditions. 
• Seek expert advice: Before you engage in any form of digital work, it is crucial to check with your university's International Student Support team or a qualified immigration advisor. They can give you the most up-to-date and specific guidance on your situation. 

• On-Campus Roles: Check for jobs at the university library, student union, or as a campus ambassador. These are often the most flexible and convenient options. 
• Hospitality & Retail: These sectors are always hiring! Think cafes, restaurants, bars, and retail stores. They often offer flexible hours and are a great way to meet people. Sometimes it's better to go old-school and pop in with your CV in hand. This way, you'll be more likely to meet your future colleagues or the hiring manager and make a good first impression. You can also check some job boards like Leisurejobs or Caterer.com. 
• Tutoring: If you excel in a particular subject, tutoring is a high-paying and rewarding option. Use platforms like MyTutor or Tutorful to find clients. 
• Seasonal & Events Work: Get paid to work at festivals, concerts, or events during peak seasons and holidays. It's a great way to earn a lump sum of money and have a unique experience. 
• Volunteering: While it's unpaid, volunteering can provide invaluable experience and networking opportunities. Check out sites like  Simply Volunteer to find causes you're passionate about. If you're looking to build your portfolio and gain real-world experience, you can also check out platforms like Skilled Up Life which help you contribute to tech startups. 
• Work-Based Learning: At UWS London, our Work-based Learning program allows you to gain hands-on experience by collaborating with UK businesses on real-world projects. It’s an amazing opportunity to apply your academic knowledge and build your career portfolio.

Your CV and cover letter are your first chance to make a great impression. Think of them as your personal marketing tools, designed to showcase why you're the perfect fit for the job. 

Your UK-Style CV 

Your CV is a summary of your professional life. Recruiters spend only a few seconds scanning a CV, so make every word count. 

• Keep it to a maximum of two pages. 
• Use a professional, clean font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. 
• Start with a strong personal statement—a short introduction about yourself and what you're looking for. 
• Highlight your most relevant experience and skills first. Read the job description and use keywords from it.
• List your work experience in reverse chronological order, using bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements. 

Your Cover Letter 

A cover letter is your introduction to an employer. It's a chance to explain why you're applying for the job and why your skills and experience make you the right candidate. 

• Keep it concise: aim for one page. 
• Tailor it for each job: always customise your letter to reflect the job description. 
• Address it to a specific person: if possible, find the hiring manager's name and address them directly. 
• Sign off correctly: Use 'Yours sincerely' if you addressed a specific person, and 'Yours faithfully' if you used a general greeting like 'Dear Sir/Madam'. 

In a fast-paced job market, AI tools can be your secret weapon. Think of them as a personal assistant that can help you with the more time-consuming parts of your job search. When used correctly, they can help you draft applications, find jobs, and make your CV stand out. 

How can AI help you? 

Drafting Your CV & Cover Letter 

AI tools can help you write a powerful first draft. By feeding them the job description and your previous experience, they can generate tailored content that includes keywords recruiters look for. 

Tools to try

Many online CV builders now have integrated AI, such as MyPerfectCV and CV Genius. You can also use general AI tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini to generate bullet points for your experience or to rephrase sentences to sound more professional. Other popular AI resume builders include: 

• Teal: An all-in-one platform for job seekers with a free AI resume builder. 
• Rezi: A builder specifically designed to optimise your resume to pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). 
• Kickresume: Combines sleek design with AI-driven features for resumes and cover letters. 
• Resume Worded: Provides instant feedback on your CV and LinkedIn profile. 
• Hiration: An AI-powered platform that provides real-time feedback and helps you optimise ATS-friendly CVs, cover letters, and even your LinkedIn profile.  

Optimising Your Application

AI can analyse your CV against a job description to see how well you match. This is particularly useful for passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which are automated tools that filter applications before a human even sees them. 

Tools to try

Services like Jobscan and Careerflow offer AI-powered tools that scan your CV and provide a match score, telling you what you need to add or change. 

Finding Jobs & Automating Applications 

Some advanced platforms can search for jobs that fit your criteria and even fill out applications for you, saving you a massive amount of time. 

Tools to try

Platforms like LazyApply and Loopcv are designed to automate the application process by searching and applying to hundreds of jobs on your behalf. Other useful tools include: 

• JobCopilot: An AI sidekick that helps take the grind out of the application process. 
• Autojobs: A straightforward tool that automates repetitive application tasks. 
• BulkApply: Connects with job portals to let you apply to jobs in bulk with a single click. 

While AI is a powerful tool, it's not a replacement for your own effort. Always remember to: 

Personalise everything

AI can generate a great starting point, but you must add your unique experiences and voice. Recruiters can often spot generic, AI-generated content. 

Fact-check

AI can sometimes "hallucinate" or provide inaccurate information. Always double-check any details it provides. 

Use it ethically

Some companies have policies on the use of AI in applications. Always check the job description and the company's guidelines. 

Our Careers Service offers workshops on how to write a UK-style CV.

Book a session to get personalised feedback and perfect your application!

Working while you study is a great way to earn money and gain new skills, but it’s crucial to find the right balance. Too much work can lead to stress and negatively impact your academic performance. 

Here are some tips to help you manage your time like a pro: 

Create a master schedule

Use a planner, calendar, or an app to block out time for lectures, study sessions, work shifts, and social activities. Apps like Google Calendar, MyStudyLife, Trello or Notion are great for visual planning, while Todoist is perfect for creating and tracking to-do lists. Sticking to a routine is key!

Break down your tasks

Don't let big projects overwhelm you. Break them down into smaller, manageable chunks and tackle them one by one. You can use the Pomodoro Technique for this: set a timer for 25 minutes of focused work, followed by a short 5-minute break. After four cycles, take a longer break. This helps you stay focused and prevents burnout. 

Set realistic goals

Be honest with yourself about what you can achieve. It's better to do a few things well than to overcommit and burn out. 

Disconnect to focus

When it's study time, turn off notifications on your phone and put it on 'do not disturb'. Create a dedicated, focused space for your academic work. 

You're not alone!

If you're feeling overwhelmed, remember that support is always available. We understand that juggling work and studies can be tough, and our International Student Services & Support team is here to listen and help you find a solution. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need to talk about your workload or anything else. We're here to support you every step of the way.

We know it can feel like a lot to handle, but finding a part-time job doesn’t have to be a source of stress. The key is to be smart about your search, stay on top of your time, and remember that your well-being comes first.

You’re already making a huge commitment to your education and a part-time job is a fantastic way to add on top of it with real-world experience. Take it one step at a time, use the resources available to you and don’t forget to reach out if you need any help.