As an international master's student in the UK, how many hours can I work per week during term time and holidays, and what's the estimated weekly earnings before tax based on the National Minimum Wage as of April 2026?

The 20-hour limit is a hard cap set by your visa conditions, not a university policy, and it applies across every on-campus and off-campus job you hold combined, not per employer. Students who take on two part-time jobs sometimes miscalculate this and unintentionally breach their visa terms, which can affect future immigration applications.

Term Time Versus Official Vacation

• Term time: up to 20 hours a week across all jobs combined.
• Official university vacation: full-time work is permitted, but vacation means your university's officially published vacation dates, not any week where you personally have no classes.

What the April 2026 Minimum Wage Actually Pays

From 1 April 2026, the UK National Living Wage is £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over, and £10.85 an hour for those aged 18 to 20. At the term-time cap of 20 hours a week, that works out to £254.20 gross a week (£10.85/hour: £217.00 a week) for someone aged 21 or older. During a full 40-hour vacation week, the same rate produces £508.40 gross. Over an eight-week term working 20 hours weekly, that is roughly £2,033.60 gross; over a 12-week vacation period at 40 hours, roughly £6,100.80 gross.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

These figures are before Income Tax and National Insurance. The standard Personal Allowance for 2026 to 2027 is £12,570 a year, and employee National Insurance generally begins above £242 a week, so most part-time student jobs at these hours fall within or close to the tax-free threshold, though your actual take-home depends on your total annual earnings and tax code.

What You Cannot Do

You cannot be self-employed, run your own business, or work as a professional sportsperson or entertainer while on a Student visa. Always check the specific work conditions printed on your eVisa or immigration status, since your sponsor and course level can affect what is permitted.

This Information Is Also Available On

UK Government (GOV.UK), Student visa: money and work guidance. UK Government (GOV.UK), National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates, effective April 2026.

My Advice

Treat part-time earnings as a cushion for living costs, not as tuition funding; even at the full 20-hour cap, a year of term-time work rarely covers more than a few months of London rent. In my experience, students who line up an on-campus job (library, labs, student union) before term starts get hours far more reliably than those who wait until after arrival, since campus roles fill up fast in the first few weeks.