Working in the UK

Undergraduate, full-time taught Masters and Advanced Diploma students 

Students are not expected to undertake paid work during term-time. Cambridge seeks to keep student living costs manageable, and accordingly the vast majority of students do not work during term-time, concentrating instead on their academic studies and co-curricular/social activities. Cambridge terms are short so students may work in the vacation periods. Masters students should consult their Faculty or Department for further details regarding official vacation periods during their studies and note that, depending on the course, studies may continue into the summer.  

Any students who undertake work should first consider the impact this may have on their studies and discuss the matter with their Tutor. Pressure created by paid working will not normally be accepted as extenuating circumstances for examination mitigation in cases where results are disappointing. 

Postgraduate research students 

The University recommends limiting work to 6 - 10 hours per week but students should read the further guidance outlined on the working while you study webpage. The academic year for postgraduate research students is continuous throughout the year, from 1 October to 30 September. It is therefore not possible, for example, for a postgraduate research student to undertake full-time work during the summer period. Whilst breaks for holidays are permitted, at times agreed with your Supervisor, these are not periods that would permit full-time work. Students should never in any case exceed a maximum of 20 hours work each week, which includes both paid and unpaid work, in terms of both the University's restrictions and visa restrictions for those students on a Student visa.   

A full-time Student visa for Cambridge allows you to work for a maximum of 20 hours a week during term-time, and full-time outside of term.  

This is a maximum of 20 hours in any week during term-time, including for one or more organisation, and cannot be averaged over a longer period of time.  

Term and vacation dates vary depending on the level of study. The term and vacation dates used by undergraduates do not apply to postgraduate research courses and some taught Masters courses. 

Masters students should consult their Faculty or Department to check the official vacation periods during their studies and should be aware of the official end date of their course as stated on the CAS used to apply for the Student visa. Some courses continue into the summer.  

For postgraduate research students, the academic year is continuous from 1 October to 30 September, so until submission of thesis for examination, it is only possible to work up to 20 hours a week. ​After submission of thesis for examination, the number of hours you can work on a Student visa will depend on the stage of the process: 

• The period between submission of thesis for examination and official notification of viva outcome is considered to be 'vacation' and you can work full time. 
• The period between official notification of the viva outcome and unconditional approval of degree, which includes time working on corrections if applicable and submission of the hardbound thesis, is considered a return to full-time study. You can only work for up to 20 hours a week.  

Students on a Student visa can do most kinds of work, but you must not undertake work of the following types, as this would be a breach of your immigration conditions: 

Be self-employed  

To undertake work, you should be an employee of the organisation. If you will not be on the employer or agency's employee payroll, it is likely the work being offered is on a self-employed basis and is not permitted on a Student visa. You should be given a formal document by the employer such as a 'contract of employment' or a 'worker's agreement' or some other written statement confirming your employment status. This includes where you will be undertaking work for one or more of the Colleges, or for the University. Self-employment normally includes activities such as freelance writing or publishing, private tutoring or selling goods or services directly to an end customer, for example as a consultant.  

Engage in business activity 

Visa policy defines ‘engaging in business activity’ as working for a business in which you have a financial or other significant beneficial interest in a capacity other than as an employee. Some examples of the types of circumstances in which you would be considered to be engaging in business activity are provided: 

• Setting up a business that is trading or has a trading presence.
• Being employed by a company in which you hold shares of 10% or more. 
• Working for a company where you hold a statutory role, such as a director. 

However, this is not an exhaustive list. If you are unsure whether this restriction would apply in particular circumstances, you should seek further guidance from the International Student Office prior to undertaking the activity. 

Fill a full-time permanent vacancy 

Any work undertaken on a full-time basis where permitted, for example after completion of your course, must be in a temporary position (i.e. the contract ends on a certain date). There is an exception to this if you make an application for the Graduate visa following successful course completion, in which case you can start a full-time permanent role whilst this new visa application is pending. 

In addition, on a Student visa, you cannot:  

• work as a professional sportsperson including as a sports coach, paid or unpaid, as defined by the Home Office in the 'Professional sportsperson (including sports coach)' section of the Student route guidance
• work as an entertainer, paid or unpaid
• work as a doctor or dentist in training, unless you are on the foundation programme

Work placements and internships, whether paid or unpaid, are likely to require approval from the University. They are considered to be 'work' from a Student visa perspective, so a Student visa only allows you to undertake a work placement in specific circumstances. 

Masters courses

A small number of Masters courses include a work placement, or the option of a placement, as an integral part of the course. The University must notify UKVI of the placement details. 

PhD courses

The academic year for postgraduate research students is continuous throughout the year without the vacation periods between terms which apply to undergraduates and some taught Masters. This means that both the University and Student visa term-time working restrictions apply continuously until submission of thesis for examination. 

The following information about internships and work placements therefore applies.  

• If the internship is integral to your PhD research or a mandatory requirement of your funded doctoral training programme and approved through the University’s work away procedures, you can undertake it on your Student visa as it is considered to be an assessed part of your course. 
  • You must have received full University approval under the work away procedures before the internship begins. Starting the placement without the necessary approval may result in you breaching your visa work conditions. 
  • The University must notify UKVI of the placement details.
• If the internship is not integral to your PhD research or a mandatary requirement of your funded doctoral training programme, you would need to apply for non-medical intermission as an authorised break from study to be able to undertake it. 
  • If the intermission application is approved, visa sponsorship would be withdrawn from the start date of the internship
  • Your visa should subsequently be curtailed by UKVI to 60 days from the date visa cancellation occurs. 

For internships undertaken in the UK while on non-medical intermission:

• You would need to obtain an alternative visa, such as a temporary work-related visa. Discuss with your internship provider whether this is possible and can be supported by them. 
• You would need to provide a copy of the work-related visa to the International Student Office in case additional advice is required in relation to your return to studies at the end of the internship period, including whether you can make a new Student visa application in the UK.
• You will normally need to apply for a new Student visa to return to study at the end of the intermission period. You would need to pay the visa application fees again, including the immigration health surcharge for the duration of the new Student visa.
• If you switch to a work-related visa in the UK, this may have an impact on your eligibility for the Graduate visa depending on what stage of your PhD you would be taking a break from study.

Read about the University procedures under ‘Internship information for doctoral students’ as well as further guidance about visa implications of changes in your circumstances. 

After your course has ended and whilst your visa remains valid, it is possible to work full-time on a Student visa. Restrictions on the type of work continue to apply.  

For PhD students, the end of the course is unconditional approval of degree. 

For Masters students, the end of the course is either receiving official notification of approval of your degree OR the course end date as stated on your CAS as long as you have completed all required assessment for your course by this date, whichever is earlier. For students studying on an MPhil by Research examined by thesis and oral, when you can work full-time depends on the stage of the examination process and you are advised to contact the  International Student Office for further guidance. 

For undergraduate students, you can work full-time once you have completed your studies and term has ended.  

The Graduate visa enables international students to work or look for work after their studies.

Eligibility  

To be eligible, you must:  

• hold a current Student visa 
• have studied a Bachelors, Masters, PGCE or PhD 
• have successfully completed the degree for which your visa was granted 
• have studied the minimum period of time in the UK on a Student visa
• apply for the Graduate visa inside the UK
• provide a letter of consent if financially sponsored for course fees and living costs by a Government or international scholarship agency
• apply in the UK within the validity of your Student visa

Successful completion means you have received approval of degree and your record has been updated to reflect completion. 

• You can only apply for the Graduate visa after the University has reported your successful course completion to UKVI. You must wait until you have received an email from the International Student Office confirming this has been done.  
• For PhD students, this is normally confirmed on submission of the hardbound and e-thesis.
• Masters students who do not complete all their required assessment within the expected timeframe for their course (for example because of an extension to a submission deadline) may no longer be eligible for the Graduate visa if their degree approval will not be received, and reported to UKVI, prior to their current Student visa expiry.
• Students on a four-year Integrated Masters course are eligible to apply for the Graduate visa if they successfully complete their studies and exit with the Bachelors qualification and will not be proceeding to the fourth year, or after completing the fourth year. Integrated Masters students are not able to apply for the Graduate visa based on successful completion of the Bachelors qualification if continuing studies in the fourth year. 

The minimum period of study for the Graduate visa is at least 12 months OR the full length of your course, whichever is shorter. Permitted 'study abroad' activities (i.e. activities that are undertaken overseas as part of a course) or time spent overseas during permitted breaks from study, such as during official vacation periods or at the weekend, can be included in the minimum period. 

Cost 

The visa application fee is £937. 

The immigration health surcharge is £2,070 for 2 years and, for PhD students, £3,105 for 3 years.  

Apply 

You can only apply for the Graduate visa from within the UK. 

• Apply online on the government website. 
• Once you have applied, you cannot travel overseas until you have received the decision. 
• If your visa expires after you have applied to the Graduate route, you will be permitted to remain in the UK whilst your application is being considered under the conditions of your Student permission until you have received the outcome of your Graduate visa application.  

You can also find information about eligibility for dependant family members on the government website.

Conditions of the Graduate visa

It is granted for: 

• 2 years for undergraduate and Masters students, or 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027  
• 3 years for PhD students

A Graduate visa permits any work in the UK, except working as a professional sportsperson or coach. The work can be in any sector and at any level without any minimum salary requirements or the need for visa sponsorship. 

Study is restricted on a Graduate visa and is only permitted on courses that would not meet requirements for Student visa sponsorship.  

The Graduate visa can only be granted once and cannot be extended.