If you are studying your course full-time you should have permission to work in the UK both during and after your studies until the formal end date of your visa.
Working during your studies
Students on full time degree-level courses holding a Student visa are permitted to work in the UK. The requirements and rules are as follows:
- Up to 20 hours per week during University term time. The Home Office has defined a "week" as "a seven day period starting on a Monday and ending on a Sunday"
- Full-time during vacation periods
- Full-time during term time if on a work placement that is an integral and assessed part of the course - any work placement must not be longer than 50% of the total course length (unless there is a UK statutory requirement for the course to contain a specific period of work placement which exceeds this limit)
- As a student union sabbatical officer for up to two years
- If you hold a Student visa for a part time course you will not have the right to undertake any work, paid or unpaid, in the UK.
Student visa holders can only work on a temporary basis - they cannot be employed full-time on a permanent contract. They cannot be self-employed or set up a business, or be employed as a professional sportsperson or as an entertainer.
If you have another type of visa, you should check if you can work during your studies with the International Student Advice team. The Home Office provides some examples of what they consider "engaging in business" (so you would not be allowed to do this) in their visa guidance. This includes:
- Setting up a business as a sole trader or under a partnership arrangement and that business is either trading or establishing a trading presence
- Being employed by a company in which you hold shares of 10% or more (including where the shares are held in a trust for you), or
- Working for a company where you also hold a statutory role, such as a director.
Even if you are working for a company or client outside of the UK if you are physically in the UK while you are doing the work then this counts towards your 20 hour weekly limit.
It also means that if you are doing any freelance work for someone outside the UK (e.g. editing journal articles) this would count as self-employment and is therefore not allowed.
UKCISA provide further information about working during your studies. They have also produced a very useful blog covering some of the common issues around working during your studies and looking at different types of work that would not be permitted.
After your course has finished
Once your course has officially finished, you will be classed as on 'vacation' and can work for up to 4 months or until your Student visa expires (whichever is sooner). If you wish to take a permanent full-time job in the UK after your course ends, you will need to apply to change your visa status.
Graduate route
Most City St George's students are eligible to apply for a two year (or three year for PhDs or other Doctorates) Graduate route working visa before their Student Visa expires.
Graduate route applications made from 1st January 2027 onwards however will qualify for immigration permission to remain in the UK for 18 months only except for those with PhDs or other Doctorates who will still remain eligible to apply for three years.
Successful applicants will be able to work, or look for work in any sector, at any level and will be able to switch into another immigration category including skilled work once they find a suitable job and meet the requirements.
Both an immigration application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge will be payable, but no sponsorship will be needed from the University.
Further guidance about this route can be found at; Graduate Immigration Route | Student Hub | City St George's, University of London
Applying from the UK
For applications made inside the UK, your application timeline will vary based on your circumstances.
If you are studying for a UK bachelor's/UK master's/PGCE/PGDE you can apply when:
- Your course of study is complete; OR
- You are studying a full-time course at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance and your CoS start date is no earlier than your course completion date
If you are studying full-time for a PhD you can apply when:
- Your course of study is complete; OR
- You are studying a full-time course at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance and your CoS start date is no earlier than your course completion date; OR
- You are studying a full-time course of study at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance leading to a PhD, and the start date of your CoS is no earlier than 24 months after the start date of your PhD