Part of the Loomz International Student Guide

This article is part of our practical guide to studying and living in the UK for international students.

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Finding a Part-Time Job in the UK: International Student Guide

You've checked your Student visa.

You've confirmed you're allowed to work.

You know how many hours you're permitted to do.

Now comes the next question:

How do you actually find a part-time job in the UK?

For international students, that first UK job can do much more than add some money to your bank account.

It can give you UK work experience, references, confidence, new friends and something useful to put on your CV.

But finding your first job in a new country can feel confusing.

Where do students look?

What should a UK CV look like?

Do you need a National Insurance number?

How much should you be paid?

And how do you tell a genuine job from a scam?

Here's the practical version.

First: Make Sure You're Allowed to Work

Before applying for anything, check the conditions attached to your own immigration permission.

Many international students studying full-time at degree level can work up to 20 hours per week during term time, but that is not a universal rule.

Some students have a lower limit.

Some cannot work.

Certain types of work — including self-employment and business activity — can also be prohibited.

So don't start with:

"My friend works 20 hours, so I can too."

Start with:

"What does my immigration permission allow me to do?"

Your eVisa and your university's international-student team can help you establish this.

Check the latest Student visa information on GOV.UK

Where Should You Look for Part-Time Jobs?

Don't rely on one job website.

The best approach is to use several different routes at the same time.

Start With Your University

This should be one of your first stops.

Universities employ students for all sorts of roles, including:

• Student ambassadors
• Open-day staff
• Library assistants
• Administrative support
• Events
• Campus cafés and bars
• Student Union roles
• Research support
• and other temporary positions.

Campus jobs can be particularly convenient because the employer understands that you're a student and the work is often close to lectures and accommodation.

Check your:

• University careers portal
• Student Union website
• University jobs page

and departmental noticeboards or newsletters.

Use Your University Careers Service

Don't think the careers service is only for final-year students looking for graduate jobs.

It can often help with:

• Part-time vacancies
• CVs
• Applications
• Interview practice
• Careers fairs

and understanding UK recruitment.

If you're new to the UK job market, that's extremely useful.

And you've already paid a considerable amount of money to attend university.

Use the services that come with it.

Search the Major UK Job Websites

Part-time jobs are advertised across general recruitment websites as well as specialist student platforms.

Useful search terms include:

• Part-time
• Student
• Weekend
• Evening
• Casual
• Temporary
• Seasonal
• Zero-hours

combined with your town, city or postcode.

Don't just search:

"student jobs"

A local shop looking for a Saturday sales assistant might never use the word "student" in its advert.

Where students actually find jobs (and what works best)

There isn’t one magic website. The students who land jobs fastest are the ones who use multiple channels at once.

Start with the easiest wins.

1. Your university’s own job board

Most universities have a careers portal or “job shop” filled with part-time roles.

These are often:

• Flexible
• Student-friendly
• Vetted (less risk of scams)

They’re also where you’ll find roles like:

• Student ambassador
• Library assistant
• Admin support
• Event staff

These are some of the best jobs you can get, and many students overlook them.

2. Student-specific job sites

These platforms are designed specifically for students, so the jobs tend to be more flexible and realistic alongside studies.

Some of the most useful ones in the UK include:

• StudentJob UK → part-time, remote, and flexible roles
• E4S (Employment 4 Students) → seasonal and student-focused work
• JustStudentJobs → local and part-time roles
• Unibeez → flexible and early-career opportunities
• GRB → roles that fit around university schedules

These are a great place to start because employers already expect you to be a student.

3. General job sites (where the volume is)

If you want more options, you need to use the big platforms too.

• Indeed
• Reed
• TotalJobs
• Monster
• Jooble

These have far more listings, but you’ll need to filter carefully for part-time roles.

Look Locally Too

Plenty of student jobs are filled locally.

Walk around the area near:

• Your university.
• Student accommodation.
• Shopping centres.
• High streets.
• Restaurants.
• Cafés.
• Supermarkets.
• Hotels.
• Cinemas.
• Venues.
• And retail parks.

You may see:

STAFF WANTED

or

NOW HIRING

signs in windows.

Check the company's website before walking in with a CV, because many larger employers now require all applications online.

For smaller independent businesses, asking politely whether they're recruiting can still work.

Common Part-Time Jobs for International Students

Depending on your skills, location and immigration conditions, common student roles can include:

Retail

Shops regularly need staff for evenings, weekends and busy periods.

Hospitality

Cafés, restaurants, hotels, pubs and events often offer flexible work.

Supermarkets

Large supermarkets employ significant numbers of part-time staff.

University work

Campus roles can fit particularly well around study.

Customer service

Telephone, online and face-to-face customer-support positions may be available.

Administrative work

Universities and local organisations sometimes need temporary office support.

Warehousing and fulfilment

Part-time and seasonal shifts can be available, particularly around Christmas.

Events

Venues, conferences, festivals and university events can create casual work.

The right job isn't necessarily the most glamorous one.

For a first UK role, a reliable employer, manageable commute and sensible hours can be considerably more valuable than an impressive-sounding job title.

Your First UK Job May Not Be Your Perfect Job

Perhaps you studied engineering.

Or finance.

Or computer science.

Or marketing.

And now you're looking at a Saturday job in a supermarket.

That's fine.

Your first part-time job doesn't have to define your career.

It can demonstrate:

• Reliability
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Customer service
• Time management
• Problem solving

and experience working in a UK environment.

Those are transferable skills.

You can continue looking for career-related internships and experience alongside it.

What Should a UK CV Look Like?

UK CVs are usually concise.

For a student, one or two pages is normally plenty.

A simple structure could be:

Name and contact details

Your name, UK phone number, professional email address and general location.

Short profile

Two or three lines explaining who you are, what you're studying and what you can offer.

Education

Your current UK university and previous relevant education.

Work experience

Include employment, internships, placements, volunteering and relevant responsibilities.

Skills

Languages, software, customer service, communication or other useful skills.

Additional experience

Societies, projects, leadership positions and achievements where relevant.

Keep it clear.

The objective isn't to fit your entire life onto two pages.

It's to make an employer think:

"I'd like to speak to this person."

You Usually Don't Need a Photo on a UK CV

This can be quite different from recruitment practices in some countries.

In the UK, applicants generally do not include a photograph on their CV unless there's a specific reason connected to the role.

You also generally don't need to include personal information such as:

• Your date of birth.
• Marital status.
• Religion.
• Passport number.
• Full immigration history.
• Or a scan of your identity documents.

An employer may legitimately need to check your right to work later.

That's different from putting sensitive personal information all over the CV you send to multiple organisations.

Adapt Your CV to the Job

Don't send exactly the same CV to:

• A café.
• A university office.
• A fashion retailer.
• And an IT helpdesk.

You don't need to rewrite everything.

Just bring the most relevant experience and skills forward.

For a café:

Customer service, teamwork, reliability and working under pressure matter.

For an office role:

Organisation, communication, Microsoft Office and attention to detail might matter more.

Read the advert.

Then make it easy for the employer to see why you fit it.

No UK Work Experience? That's Okay

Every international student with UK work experience once had:

no UK work experience.

Don't hide everything you've done in your home country because you assume British employers won't care.

Experience is still experience.

A retail job in Mumbai.

An internship in Shanghai.

Volunteering in Lagos.

A café job in Madrid.

A university society in Kuala Lumpur.

All of these can demonstrate useful skills.

Explain clearly what you did and what you achieved.

Your English Doesn't Need to Sound "British"

Employers need you to communicate effectively for the role.

They don't need you to sound as though you grew up in Surrey.

If English isn't your first language, remember that speaking another language can itself be valuable.

For some customer-facing, hospitality, tourism, international-business and university roles, multilingual ability can be an advantage.

Put languages on your CV.

And don't apologise for having an accent.

Do You Need a Cover Letter?

Sometimes.

If the employer asks for one:

write one.

A useful cover letter should explain:

• Why you're interested in the role.
• Why you're interested in that employer.
• What relevant skills or experience you have.
• And why you'd be useful to them.

Avoid writing a generic essay about being:

"A passionate, hardworking and dynamic individual seeking to leverage synergies in a fast-paced environment."

You are applying for a Saturday job in a bookshop.

Sound like a person.

Don't Send the Same Generic Application 50 Times

It's tempting.

Particularly when online applications make it easy.

But ten reasonably targeted applications can be more effective than dozens of rushed ones.

For each job:

• Read the advert
• Check the hours
• Check the location
• Check you can legally do the work
• Adapt your CV

and

• answer the application questions properly.

Recruiters can usually tell when you've barely read the job description.

Think About Location Before Applying

A job paying slightly more per hour isn't necessarily better if:

• You need two buses to get there.
• The last shift finishes after public transport stops.
• Or travelling there costs £8 every day.

Look at:

• Hourly pay
• Travel time
• Transport cost
• Shift times
• how the job fits around university.

A job ten minutes from your accommodation can sometimes make far more sense than one paying a little extra on the other side of the city.

Availability Matters

Part-time employers often want to know when you can work.

Be clear.

For example:

• Monday: unavailable
• Tuesday: after 4pm
• Wednesday: after 2pm
• Thursday: unavailable
• Friday: after 3pm
• Saturday: available
• Sunday: available

But don't promise availability you can't maintain.

Your timetable and academic commitments still matter.

And your immigration work-hour limit still applies.

Preparing for a UK Job Interview

For many part-time jobs, the interview may be relatively informal.

But prepare anyway.

Expect questions such as:

• Why do you want to work here?
• Tell me about yourself.
• Tell me about a time you worked in a team.
• How would you deal with a difficult customer?
• When are you available?
• Why should we hire you?

Think of a few real examples from:

• Work.
• University.
• School.
• Volunteering.
• Sport.
• Clubs.
• Or societies.

Specific examples are much stronger than simply saying:

"I'm a really good team player."

Research the Employer

You don't need to memorise the company's annual report.

But at least know:

• What they do
• What they sell
• Who their customers are
• what role you've applied for

If an interviewer asks:

"Why do you want to work for us?"

and your answer makes it obvious that you don't actually know where you are, it isn't a great start.

What Should You Wear?

It depends on the role.

For most student part-time interviews:

Clean, tidy and slightly smarter than the job itself is a reasonable starting point.

An office interview may call for smarter clothing than a casual café.

If you're unsure, ask.

Nobody sensible will be offended by:

"Could I check what the dress code is for the interview?"

Bring Your Right-to-Work Information

Before employing you, a UK employer needs to establish that you're legally allowed to work.

International students with digital immigration status can usually prove their right to work online.

You may need to generate a share code that allows the employer to check your immigration status and work restrictions.

Use the official GOV.UK service.

Prove your right to work to an employer on GOV.UK

A legitimate employer checking your right to work is normal.

Do You Need a National Insurance Number Before Applying?

No.

A National Insurance number, often shortened to NI number or NINO, is used to ensure your UK tax and National Insurance contributions are recorded correctly.

If you live in the UK, have the right to work and are working, looking for work or have an offer, you can apply if you need one.

Importantly, GOV.UK confirms that you can start work before receiving your National Insurance number, provided you can prove your right to work.

Apply for a National Insurance number on GOV.UK

So don't reject a job opportunity because your NI number hasn't arrived yet.

How Much Should International Students Be Paid?

International students are covered by UK minimum-wage rules in the same way as other eligible workers.

As of 17 September 2026, the statutory hourly minimum rates are:

These rates have applied since 1 April 2026 and normally change each April. Different rules determine who qualifies for the apprentice rate.

Check the latest UK minimum-wage rates on GOV.UK

Always check the current rate rather than relying on an old student blog.

You Can Be Paid More Than Minimum Wage

Minimum wage means exactly that:

the legal minimum for eligible workers.

Employers can pay more.

Jobs may offer higher hourly rates because of:

• Location.
• Unsocial hours.
• Experience.
• Responsibilities.
• Skills.
• Or simply because the employer needs to attract staff.

When comparing jobs, look at the entire package rather than the headline hourly rate alone.

Understand What You'll Actually Earn

Imagine you're 21 or older and earn the current minimum of £12.71 per hour.

If your immigration conditions allow 20 hours and you worked exactly 20 hours in a particular term-time week:

20 × £12.71 = £254.20 gross

That's before any deductions that apply to you.

But don't turn that into:

"I'll definitely earn £254.20 every week."

You may not get 20 hours.

Your studies might make 20 hours impractical.

Your shifts may vary.

And your immigration conditions might not permit 20 hours in the first place.

Part-time earnings should be treated as useful additional income rather than guaranteed money.

Will You Pay Tax?

Possibly.

International students aren't automatically exempt from UK Income Tax just because they're students.

Your employer will normally put you through PAYE — Pay As You Earn.

Depending on your earnings and circumstances, deductions can include:

Income Tax

and

National Insurance.

Your payslip should show:

Gross pay.

Deductions.

And the amount actually paid to you.

Keep your payslips.

What Is a P45?

Another bit of UK employment vocabulary you'll probably encounter.

A P45 is a document you normally receive when you leave a job.

It contains information about your pay and tax.

Your next employer may ask for it.

Don't throw it away because it looks like boring paperwork.

Future you may be grateful.

What Is a P60?

If you're employed at the end of the tax year, your employer will normally provide a P60.

It summarises your pay and tax for that tax year.

Again:

Keep it.

Employment paperwork is much less annoying when you know where it is.

Read Your Employment Contract

Before starting, understand:

• Your hourly rate
• Expected hours
• Pay frequency
• Holiday entitlement
• Notice period
• Work location
• and any important employment conditions.

Don't be embarrassed to ask questions.

"Could you explain how the shifts are scheduled?"

is a perfectly reasonable question.

Understand Zero-Hours Contracts

You may encounter zero-hours contracts in hospitality, retail, events and other student-friendly sectors.

These can provide flexibility, but they don't necessarily guarantee you a set number of hours each week.

That can work brilliantly around university.

It can also make your income unpredictable.

Before accepting one, understand how the employer allocates shifts and what flexibility they expect from you.

Keep Track of Your Own Working Hours

This is particularly important for international students.

Don't assume your manager is tracking your Student visa limit for you.

And if you have two jobs, one employer may have no idea how many hours you're working for the other.

Keep a simple record:

• Monday — 4 hours
• Wednesday — 5 hours
• Saturday — 7 hours
• Sunday — 4 hours
• Total — 20 hours

If your term-time limit is 20 hours, that's your maximum for that Monday-to-Sunday immigration week.

Your immigration compliance is too important to outsource to somebody else's rota spreadsheet.

Don't Accept Cash-in-Hand Work That Ignores the Rules

Being paid in cash isn't automatically illegal.

But:

"We'll just pay you cash, no paperwork, nobody needs to know."

should make you cautious.

Working informally doesn't remove:

• Your immigration conditions.
• Employment law.
• Tax obligations.
• Or minimum-wage protections.

If an employer wants to hide the fact that you're working for them, ask yourself why.

Never Pay Someone to Give You a Job

This is one of the clearest warning signs.

A genuine employer should not be asking you to transfer money to secure an ordinary vacancy.

UK government scam guidance specifically warns about fake websites offering nonexistent jobs and then demanding payments connected with employment or visas.

Be particularly cautious if someone:

• Promises a guaranteed job.
• Contacts you unexpectedly through WhatsApp or social media.
• Offers unusually high pay for very easy work.
• Asks for money upfront.
• Asks for your online-banking details.
• Wants you to receive and transfer money.
• Pressures you to act immediately.
• Or refuses to explain clearly who the employer is.
  
  

Be Extremely Careful With "Money Transfer" Jobs

Someone offers you easy work.

Money arrives in your bank account.

You keep a percentage.

You send the rest somewhere else.

That's not a normal student job.

You could be being recruited as a money mule and helping move criminal funds.

Never let strangers use your bank account to receive or transfer money.

Likewise, don't hand over:

• Your bank login.
• PIN.
• One-time security codes.
• Or bank card.

No legitimate employer needs those.

Watch Out for Fake Visa and Job Offers

International students are particularly attractive targets for scammers because immigration status can create anxiety.

The Home Office warns about criminals using fake job offers, official-looking documents and urgent demands for payment or personal information.

A message saying:

"Pay us today or your visa will be cancelled."

should not cause you to immediately transfer money.

Stop.

Verify the claim independently using official channels.

Use LinkedIn. But Don't Depend on It

A good LinkedIn profile can help, particularly for:

• Office work.
• Professional internships.
• University roles.
• Technology.
• Marketing.
• Finance.
• Research.
• And career-related experience.

Use a clear photograph, concise headline, education, previous experience and relevant skills.

Connect with people genuinely related to your university or career interests.

But don't spend three weeks perfecting LinkedIn while forgetting to actually apply for jobs.

Tell People You're Looking

This sounds ridiculously simple.

But it works.

Tell:

• Course mates.
• Flatmates.
• Society members.
• Tutors where appropriate.
• Friends.
• And people you've met through university.

You aren't asking them to magically create a job.

You're simply letting them know:

"I'm looking for some part-time work alongside university."

People often hear about vacancies before they're publicly advertised.

Join University Societies

Societies aren't just good for making friends.

They can also expand your network.

You'll meet:

• Students in later years.
• People working part-time already.
• Committee members.
• Local employers at events.
• And students who know which organisations regularly recruit.

Don't join a society solely because you hope someone will give you a job.

Join because you're interested.

The networking happens naturally.

Don't Give Up After Five Applications

Your first applications may go nowhere.

That's normal.

Part-time recruitment can be competitive, especially around the beginning of term when thousands of students arrive at once.

If you're not getting interviews:

Review your CV.

If you're getting interviews but no offers:

Practise your interview technique.

If you're only applying for one very narrow type of job:

Broaden the search.

Treat the process as something you can improve rather than evidence that nobody wants to employ you.

A Simple 7-Day Job Search Plan

Day 1

Check your immigration work conditions and official university term dates.

Day 2

Create or update your UK-style CV.

Day 3

Register with your university careers service and search its vacancies.

Day 4

Search major job websites and create alerts.

Day 5

Look at employers around your university and accommodation.

Day 6

Apply for several suitable roles with properly tailored applications.

Day 7

Prepare interview answers and continue applying.

Then repeat the useful bits.

You don't need to spend eight hours a day job hunting.

Consistent, targeted applications beat one enormous panic session.

Part-Time Job Checklist

Before applying:

☐ Check your Student visa work conditions
☐ Confirm your maximum term-time hours
☐ Get your official university term dates
☐ Prepare a simple UK-style CV
☐ Ask your university careers service for help
☐ Search university and Student Union vacancies
☐ Search major job websites
☐ Look at local employers
☐ Tailor applications to each role
☐ Practise common interview questions
☐ Check the location and transport before accepting shifts
☐ Know the current minimum wage for your age
☐ Prove your right to work when required
☐ Apply for a National Insurance number if necessary
☐ Read your employment contract
☐ Keep your payslips
☐ Track your working hours yourself
☐ Never pay someone to secure a job
☐ Never let an employer or stranger use your bank account
☐ Ask your university for help if something doesn't feel right

The Main Thing to Remember

Your first UK part-time job doesn't need to be your dream career.

It needs to be:

• Legal.
• Genuine.
• Manageable alongside university.
• Compatible with your immigration conditions.

And preferably somewhere you'll gain useful experience while earning some extra money.

Start with your university.

Create a clear CV.

Apply consistently.

Know your rights.

And don't be discouraged if the first application doesn't turn into a job.

For many international students, that first UK role becomes much more than a payslip.

It's your first piece of UK work experience, and the next application becomes easier.

More Help for International Students

This article is part of the Loomz International Student Guide to Studying in the UK.

Head back to the main guide for practical information covering working, visas, money, healthcare, accommodation, preparing to travel and everyday university life in the UK.

Explore the International Student Guide →

Important

This guide provides general information for international students and isn't legal, immigration, employment or financial advice. Immigration work conditions, employment law and minimum-wage rates can change, and your individual right to work depends on your immigration permission and circumstances. Information in this article was checked against official UK government guidance on 17 September 2026. Always check your own immigration conditions and current GOV.UK guidance before starting work.

© Loomz Ltd