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Working in the UK

NB. Although you may be legally authorised to work in the UK during your studies, the courses at the RVC, and specifically Veterinary Medicine, are intense and demanding, and you will therefore find it difficult to undertake part-time work. You will also find that vacations may be spent on placements, again limiting the time available for paid work. Some part-time opportunities working for the College do however arise from time to time throughout the year.

Students from the European Economic Area and Switzerland can work in the UK without any special documents, and there are no restrictions on the type of work you can do or your hours of work. However, some students may need to register in their first month of work. Please go to the UKCISA website for further information http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/eea_work.php

Students studying at UK institutions and who are not nationals of an EEA country are usually authorised to work in the UK, subject to the conditions listed below. Similarly, they are able to do work placements which are part of a sandwich course, or to undertake internship placements without the need to obtain special permission.

Students do not generally need to obtain special permission before they can work. The conditions covering the hours and type of work an international student from outside the EEA may do are as follows:

  • the student should not work for more than 20 hours per week during term time except where the placement is a necessary part of their studies with the agreement of the education institution;
  • the student should not engage in business, self-employment or the provision of services as a professional sportsperson or entertainer;
  • the student should not pursue a career by filling a permanent full time vacancy.

This applies to people admitted to the UK as students for more than six months. Their passport stamp will continue to state that they can only work with permission from the Secretary of State for Employment. You may not work if your visa or passport stamp state, 'No work' or 'Employment prohibited' or that you must 'not engage in employment' (unless it also contains the words 'consent of the Secretary of State').

A student's husband or wife will be given a visa or passport stamp that allows them to work if the student is given permission to stay in the UK for twelve months or more.

Any student wishing to work in the UK will need to apply for a National Insurance number, but you do not need to have received your NI number before you can start work. Your Local Benefits Agency or JobCentre Plus (National Insurance Contributions Section) will advise you on how to apply.

For further information on this and a whole range of other issues relating to overseas students in the UK, please visit the website of UKCISA, The Council for International Education.

They publish a wide range of updated Guidance Notes covering many practical issues that you may face, including council tax, healthcare, immigration and much more www.ukcisa.org.uk

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