How many hours per week can I work in the UK during term time on a Student visa?

The 20-hour figure gets repeated often, but it only applies to one category of course; the actual cap depends on whether your program sits at degree level or below, and mixing the two up can put your visa status at risk.

The Two Different Weekly Caps

• Degree-level or above (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD): up to 20 hours per week during term time.
• Below degree level: generally capped at 10 hours per week during term time.
• Official vacation periods: eligible students on either category can generally work full time.

Nationality does not change these limits; an Indian student on a Student visa follows exactly the same hourly caps as any other international student, since the rule is tied to course level, not country of origin.

What Counts as a Week and What Is Off Limits

UK Visas and Immigration defines a week as a fixed 7-day period, so you cannot average your hours across two weeks by working 25 hours one week and 15 the next; each individual week must independently stay within your cap. Certain types of work remain off limits regardless of hours, including self-employment, running your own business, and taking a permanent full-time role, since the Student visa is not designed to support those categories of work.

This Information Is Also Available On

GOV.UK's Student visa overview and sponsorship duties guidance.

My Advice

Keep a simple weekly log of hours worked against a fixed Monday-to-Sunday week, because employers and UKVI both refer to that same definition, and an honest mistake averaged across weeks is still treated as a violation. If your course is at foundation or pre-degree level, confirm your exact 10-hour limit with your university's international student office before accepting a role, since assuming the more generous 20-hour cap applies is one of the more common and avoidable visa compliance errors.