► International students

Working in the UK whilst you have a student visa

We are always pleased to welcome international students to the JobShop and hope we will be able to find you a suitable part time job to fit around your academic studies.
 
Checklist
Does your student visa or UK Identity Card for foreign nationals forbid you from working?
 
Yes… please make an appointment to see Jill or Gemma in the Guild’s Advice & Representation Centre to see if your conditions can be changed.
 
No… then read on.
* You are allowed to work no more than 20 hours per week when it is University term time.
* You may work as many hours per week as you like during your University vacation periods.
* After your course has ended, you may work full time for a maximum of 4 months or until your student visa expires – whichever happens first.
 
It is important to keep within these working rules. If you break the working rules any future visa application you make will be at serious risk of being refused. For example, if you obtain your dream job in the UK after graduation you may not be granted a work permit visa, such as Tier 1 Post Study Work, if you have occasionally worked more than 20 hours a week during term time because your boss telephoned you and asked you to do so!                                                                                                                                                    

For more information on working in the UK whilst you have a student visa, please click here.

What is a National Insurance number and how do I get one?

Your National Insurance number (NINO) is a unique personal number which is used to record your National Insurance contributions. Employees and employers both pay NI contributions, which help to fund contributory benefits, for example, the state pension and jobseeker's allowance.
 
It is possible to apply for a NINO whilst you are looking for paid work. It is not necessary for you to have found work. You may be asked to prove you are looking for work so keep a copy of any job application.
 
You do not need to have a NINO before starting work, but you must obtain one when you get a job.
 
To obtain a NINO telephone JobCentre Plus on 0845 600 0643 which will connect you to the National Insurance Number Allocation Service. You will hear a recorded announcement in English followed by one in Welsh; please wait until someone answers the telephone.
 
If you are an EU student you will be offered an appointment to go to the local office and apply for your NINO. They normally write to you to confirm the appointment details. You will need to take your passport or EU identity card and proof of your UK address. It is a good idea to take your Aston University student card and any evidence that you have been looking for work or that you have a job but these are not required.
 
If you are an international student with a visa which has been renewed in the UK (this means you have either a UK residence permit in your passport or a UK identity card issued to a foreign national), you will be offered an appointment to go to the local office and apply for your NINO. They normally write to you to confirm the appointment details. You will need to take your passport, your UK identity card (if you have one), your police registration document (if you have one), and proof of your UK address. It is a good idea to take your Aston University student card and any evidence that you have been looking for work or that you have a job but these are not required.
 
If you are an international student whose visa (Entry Clearance) was issued abroad, you will be sent some forms to complete. You will not be offered an interview.
 
It takes 5-6 weeks for the NINO to be issued. Remember you do not need to have a NINO before starting work, but you must obtain one when you get a job. Your employer must pay your wages once you start work. They can not refuse to pay you even if you are still waiting for your NINO to be issued.