What you can work on a Student visa.
The limit is the hours, not the kind of work. Every figure below is from gov.uk. Last verified 27 June 2026.
How many hours
| Your study | Term time | Vacation |
|---|---|---|
| Degree level or above, at a licensed higher education provider | 20 hours / week | Full-time |
| Below degree level, at such a provider | 10 hours / week | Full-time |
| All other study, including all part-time study | No work permitted | No work permitted |
The sector is not restricted
Nothing in the rules limits the industry you work in. IT, data, finance, anything: a tech role counts exactly like a hospitality one. The limits are the weekly hours, self-employment, and a few job types below, never the sector. If you want relevant experience, you are allowed to chase it.
What you cannot do (whatever the hours)
You cannot be self-employed or run a business (narrow exception: a pending Innovator Founder application), work as a professional sportsperson or coach, work as an entertainer, or fill a permanent full-time vacancy (until the switch below).
Vacations are full-time
Outside term time you can work full-time. A summer internship in your field is the highest-value, fully-legal move there is, and the one most students never realise they are allowed to do.
Starting a graduate job before you finish
Once you have applied to switch, you may start a permanent full-time role: up to 3 months before your course ends (Skilled Worker route) or after completing it (Graduate route), under ST 26.6. Plan the timing with the switch-deadline calculator.
Plain-English summary, not legal advice. Rules change and your own visa conditions (on your visa or BRP) govern; confirm them on gov.uk before you rely on this. Last verified 27 June 2026.
Sources
Check your own situation
Tell us your study level and the time of year, and see exactly what you can work right now.