Working in the UK

Working during your studies
Many international students who have entered the UK on a student visa are able to work part-time whilst they are studying. If you have come to the UK on a student visa for more than 6 months you are likely to be able to work up to 20 hours a week during term time and any number of hours during vacations.

How to tell if you are allowed to work in the UK whilst you are studying
You can work if the visa/immigration stamp placed in your passport state one of the following:

A: "Leave to enter for/until X Date. No recourse to public funds. Work (and any changes) must be authorised."

B: "Leave to enter the United Kingdom on condition that the holder maintains and accommodates himself and any dependants without recourse to pubic funds and does not enter or change employment paid or unpaid without the consent of the Secretary of State for Employment, and does not engage in business or profession without the consent of the Secretary of State for the Home Department is herby given for/until X date

However, if you are uncertain of the meaning of the statement on your visa placed in your passport regarding permission to work, please check when you arrive in Cardiff. The International Student Support Co-ordinator in the International Development Division, 42 Park Place and the International Advisory Team in the Student Support Centre, 50 Park Place will be happy to help you.

What kind of work can you do?
If you have either A or B statements in your student visa then you are allowed to work within certain conditions. These conditions state that:

You can work up to 20 hours a week during term-time.
You can work any number of hours during the vacations.

However, you must not:

Engage in business, be self-employed, or provide services as a professional sports person or entertainer
Pursue a career by filling a permanent full-time vacancy.

Sandwich courses
A "sandwich course" is an undergraduate course that includes a work placement. Typically undergraduate students on sandwich courses spend the first year in full-time study at Cardiff University; the second year working in a company and then return to full-time study at the University. The work placement must be approved by the University and not extend beyond the end of the course, that is, there must be another period of study at the University after the work placement has ended. If you are studying a sandwich course you are allowed to take a work placement which is part of that course and work full-time during your work placement.

How do I get a job?
The best place to start your search for part time work is through the UNISTAFF JOBSHOP

A priority for many students on arriving at University is finding a part-time job. This can be difficult in a strange country and city where everything is unfamiliar and where the high street employment agencies are not always student friendly. Unistaff Jobshop is a great free service which makes it easy for students to find casual temporary part-time work.

The Jobshop operates both as an introductory service to local employers as well as a recruitment agency providing part-time, temporary and vacation jobs within the Students’ Union and University and with local companies. All vacancies are advertised, whether internal or external; pay is at the adult National Minimum Wage of £5.35 per hour.

Vacancies with local companies are advertised on the notice boards at the Jobshop as well as on the Student’ Union website (see below). Vacancies are updated frequently, so it is important that you check the website and the job boards regularly. Once registered, you will be kept informed of new vacancies as they arise via email.

Once you arrive in Cardiff, you can register by calling into the Jobshop (located on the ground floor of the Students’ Union building), between 10.00 - 16.00, Monday - Friday. Please bring your student card and passport.

www.cardiffstudents.com/main/support/jobshop

Tel: 029 2078 1535 or 029 2078 1536

How easy is it to get a job?
It isn’t possible to walk straight into a job when you arrive in Cardiff and register with the job shop. However, if you are prepared to do any type of work, if you are conscientious and reliable then you will be able to pick up work to supplement your income whilst you study.

What type of jobs can I obtain from the Students Union Job Shop?
The most popular jobs are those located in offices in different departments in the University. Typical types of office jobs include data entry - in-putting information onto a database on a computer or carrying out a mail-shot - collating information and putting it into envelopes to send to individuals. All Students want to do these jobs, so when they become available you will need to respond quickly to staff in the Jobshop.

However, more frequently the type of work that is available through the jobshop includes:

Catering work - washing up
Working in the libraries - restocking shelves
Giving out flyers
Telephone market research
Telephone sales
Supporting corporate events at the Wales Millennium stadium

Your level of spoken and written English will dictate what employment is available to you.

How much will I be paid?
You are likely to be paid the minimum adult wage, currently £5.35 per hour. The income you receive from part-time work should be viewed as pocket money only. It is not possible to rely on these part-time earnings to maintain an adequate standard of living whilst you are studying in Cardiff.

Income tax and national insurance contributions
International students pay tax at the same rate as UK citizens, this includes both income tax and national insurance, and (which is another tax). You will see from your payslip that these deductions are made before you receive your wages. If you work for Cardiff University Students’ Union job shop, you will need to complete a P46 tax form when you register with the job shop and give it to the Finance Office in the Students’ Union. However, if you work only in the holiday periods and your total income (apart from scholarships and education grants) is not more than £5,225 from April 2007 - March 2008, you might be able to get back the amount of tax you paid. For further information about tax issues see:

www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/students

The Student Advisory Team in the Student Support Centre are also available to answer any queries you have about claiming income tax back from your earning.

How to obtain a national insurance number
In order to be employed in the UK students need a National Insurance Number. To obtain a national insurance number you will need to obtain an appointment with the National Insurance Team at the Job Centre Plus. Appointments for National Insurance numbers can be obtained by telephoning: 0845 6000 643. You will then be sent an appointment to attend an interview at Job Centre Plus, Caradog House, which is close to the University.

Job Centre Plus
National Insurance Team
Caradog House
1 - 6 St Andrews Place
Cardiff, CF10 3BE.
UK.

Further information can be obtained from staff at the job shop and also Student Advice and Representation Centre in the Students’ Union.

A warning: Do not come to the UK expecting to work your way through your studies
Please remember because of the limited number of hours that you are allowed to work and the type of work you are likely to obtain, you will not be able to simply work your way through your studies in the UK; your income from this work will not be sufficient to maintain an adequate standard of living.