Are part-time jobs allowed during studies in the UK and how much can I earn for a Master's?

If you are pursuing a Master's in the UK on a Student Visa, you can work part-time, but you should plan your finances around the 20-hour weekly cap rather than a longer summer break. Most Master's programs treat the summer months as term time because you are expected to work on your dissertation, so the same hour limit usually continues through summer unless your university states otherwise in writing. Your actual take-home pay will depend on your age and the minimum wage band you fall into.

How Much You Can Earn Per Hour and Per Year

Where Your Earnings Fit Into UK Tax Rules

Standard student jobs such as retail, hospitality, or campus ambassador roles generally pay between 10.85 and 15.00 pounds per hour, while specialised postgraduate research or tutoring work can pay 20 pounds or more per hour. Since the UK tax-free Personal Allowance threshold sits at 12,570 pounds per tax year, your tax bill stays minimal on the small amount you earn above that threshold even at maximum permitted hours. Remember that if you are on a part-time student visa rather than a full-time one, you are not permitted to work at all.

My Advice

Track your weekly hours strictly, since UK Visas and Immigration defines a week as Monday to Sunday, and exceeding 20 hours even once counts as a serious visa violation regardless of how it averages out over the month.