International Student Jobs in the UK

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Working in the UK as an International Student

The UK has one of the lower unemployment rates in the European Union (EU) at present. The UK economy is built on the free trade system, buying and selling products for maximum profit in the global marketplace.

The government monitors and, to some extent, controls the migration of workers, thereby managing the UK labour market. Estimates of non-UK nationals working in the UK have been increasing over time, particularly with the expansion of the European Union. The Office for National Statistics estimate for January - March 2014 was 9.1% of all people working in the UK. You can look at government statistics and find out about the labour market on their website at www.statistics.gov.uk/default.asp

Many international students who study in the UK want to get work experience during their studies and/or a UK graduate job on completion of their studies. Some will require paid employment during their studies, while others gain valuable unpaid experience. Employers value a degree; they also value evidence of work experience and skills gained from a wide range of life experiences and will expect to see this in your job applications.

Benefits of recruiting international students

In an international business environment, international students can be a real asset to a business, enabling the exploration of new markets. Imperial College students come from over 126 countries; they have wide personal networks and are very driven to succeed.

From a business perspective international students can make an impact in a variety of ways:

• Providing knowledge of international business markets through experience and contacts

• Identifying new market opportunities overseas

• Utilising their language skills to liaise with international clients and internationalise your website and marketing

• Using previous business and research experience to advance commercial goals

• Providing scientific and technical skills, particularly in research and development

• Helping with intercultural awareness and business etiquette

• Working flexibly during peaks and troughs in workload

Jobs for International Graduates

If you are interested in the possibility of working in the UK after you graduate, as an international applicant, you will almost certainly need permission to work. Some of the main options are outlined below. The Tier 1 category of the points-based system is for high-value migrants and has various subcategories such as Tier 1 (Exceptional talent), Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) and Tier 1 (Investor). Details can be found on the GOV UK website and also see ‘Working after your studies’ on the UKCISA website.

One sub-category, Tier 1 (Graduate entrepreneur) allows students who have completed a degree in the UK, and who have been identified by participating institutions as having developed world class innovative ideas or entrepreneurial skills, to stay in the UK for a year after graduation to set up a business. (It is possible to apply to extend your stay for another year after this.) For more information, see the GOV UK and UKCISA websites.

In addition to the Tier 1 categories, there is also a Tier 2 category for sponsored skilled workers .

Tier 2 (General) is for those who have the offer of a skilled job that cannot be filled by a settled worker. This category includes applicants coming to the UK to fill shortage occupations. (For students in the UK who meet the normal criteria for Tier 2 and who are switching to Tier 2 before their student visa expires, the Resident Labour Market Test requirement is waived.)

The salary for the job should normally be at least £20,500 p.a. Applications under Tier 2 are for a specific individual to work in a specific job and you will need a valid certificate of sponsorship from the employer before you can make an application in this category. Another, short-term, option is the Tier 5 (Temporary worker - government authorised exchange) category which allows migrants to work in the UK on an approved scheme for up to 12 or 24 months (depending on the scheme). Obtaining permission to work is time-consuming and expensive. If you do not need permission to work, this should be made clear on your written application. Further details on all categories and changes to arrangements to date are available from the GOV UK and UKCISA websites:

https://www.gov.uk/browse/ visas-immigration/work-visas and www.ukcisa.org.uk.

It is important to check the current rules of these categories, which can change at any time. If you want to stay in the UK, you must make your application before your current permission to be here as a student runs out and usually after you have graduated.

International Student Work Rights in the UK

In the UK as an international student, you're allowed to work up to 20 hours at maximum per week during term-time and full-time during holiday breaks. But there are many restrictions and conditions you must stay in line with in order to be allowed to work.

The UK post-study work visa allows international students to stay back in the UK to search for work for a period of 2 years after completing their graduate studies. The new visa rules will come into effect from September/autumn 2020 or later.

In August 2017, the Home Office published new exit checks data. They analysed visa compliance, looking at those which expired in 2016/17, and excluding those where someone had been granted an extension to stay in the UK. For those who came to the UK on a study visa (and their dependents), 97.4 per cent are known to have departed on time