Best Part-Time Jobs for International Students in the UK: Maximize Earnings & Opportunities
Are you looking for the best part time jobs in the UK for international students? This video explains everything you need to know on how to get part-time jobs in the UK for students on a UK student visa in 2025. We talk about the highest-paying part-time jobs in the UK for students, what you can and can’t do to earn as a student in the UK, and how much you can expect to get paid.
And with that, let’s dive in. Now, here’s the thing. Life in the UK can be amazing, but let’s be real, it can also be pretty expensive. Between tuition fees, rent, grocery, transport, and social life, the costs add up quickly. And that’s where part-time jobs come in.
Working part-time not only helps cover your basic expenses, but it also gives you some real life experience in the UK and helps improve your English skills and lets you meet people outside your university. As an international student on a student visa, you’re allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during term time and full-time during holidays. Of course, these rules depend on what course you’re doing in the UK.
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So, what kind of jobs can you actually get in the UK? Let’s check out the top five from the lowest to the highest income potential. But before we dive in, the one challenge that most international students face in the UK is in terms of accommodation because quality accommodation is less and rooms with issues are more.
If that’s a challenge you’re facing or something you’re worried about, you should check out Amber Student, which gives you access to good quality properties close to all major universities and across all price points. And one of their best features is that many of their properties don’t require a local guarantee, so you can use someone who will vouch for you back at home. And they don’t have to be based out of the UK. Some properties don’t even require a guarantee, so that’s a huge relief. and it ranks very high on Trust pilot with more than a million students opting for the same.
5. Retail Assistance
Now, starting off at number five, we have retail assistance. The Alip pay is £9.5 to1 an hour and you can find these jobs on high street stores like Primark, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Marks and Spencer, just to name a few. How to find these jobs?
Well, check websites like Indeed, Total Jobs, or walk in and ask for openings. Here’s a couple of things you should keep in mind, though. This involves shift work and especially on the weekends, so you might not always have free weekends to hang out with your friends or to catch up when that’s college work. It also requires standing for long hours and good customer service skills.
4. Waiters or Waitresses or Baristas
We have waiters or waitresses or baristas. The hourly pay is anywhere from £10 to 12 per hour plus tips, and you can find jobs at most cafes, restaurants, and bars like PR, Costa, and Nando. How to find these jobs? Well, it’s simple. Head over to caterer.com or Gumtree, or ask in person at any of these outlets. What you do need to keep in
Keep in mind it’s often a fast-paced environment, so you will have to match that environment. Busy areas also come with high tips, so that’s something to look forward to. And but on the flip side, you often work in shifts that can very often go late into the night.
3. Customer Service Executive Roles
At number three, we have customer service executive roles. The average pay is around £11.13 an hour depending on high demands and location. And if you’re looking for these roles, you can find them anywhere in most cities. Where to find these
roles? Well, you can apply with Manpower, Adecco, Haze Recruitment, Michael Page, and Ranstad. But do keep in mind, you would need good communication skills to land up with these roles. You would also have to have strong problem solving skills and attention to detail. And most importantly with any customer service role, you’d have to be patient and calm.
2. University Campus Jobs like Library Assistants or Student Ambassadors
Number two, you have university campus jobs like library assistants or student ambassadors. The hourly pay is anywhere from 11 to 13 an hour. And the best part is you get to work at your university. Now you find these roles on university job portals, career services, or the offices of your student union.
What you would need to keep in mind is that they’re flexible and student-friendly hours, which is great. It looks great on your CV, but do remember that these jobs get filled really quickly, so it’s important for you to apply quickly.
1. Tutoring or Freelance Work
Number one is tutoring or freelance work. Now, the average pay is anywhere from £15 to £30 an hour, which is a lot. and sometimes even more. Now, something to keep in mind is there are online tutoring options as well, like MyTutor, or you can work with Fiverr or Upwork. And if you’re looking for this, you can sign up on tutoring platforms or freelance sites to get started.
Do keep in mind that you should ideally stick to subjects that you already know or have a native language strength in so that you can help other students. And this would require good communication skills and sometimes prior experience as well.
It’s also great for remote work from home, either in your dorm or your flat. Now, you might have noticed that I skipped a lot of roles that you might have heard others mentioning that you can do, and there’s a reason for it.
As an international student in the UK, You Cannot be Self-Employed.
Now, being self-employed doesn’t only mean opening your own startup. It also includes selling your products or services for a profit. When you are a delivery driver, for instance, it’s classified as working for yourself because technically you’re
not employed by the delivery company. So, here’s the thing. You aren’t allowed to do it legally in the UK while you are on a student visa.
You can’t sell your products in Etsy. You can’t be an entertainer or a musician or a coach. Basically, you can’t take up gigs for money. Now, some students still go ahead and do it and it’s all up to luck to be honest. If you’re lucky, you get away with it. If you’re unlucky, you get caught. The other thing is if your income is more than £15,000 a year, the home office might get in touch with you to find out the means of your income. Now, technically, there’s no cap on how much you can earn.
Conclusion
Part-time work in the UK offers more than just extra cash. It helps build skills, opens doors for future employment, and makes your experience more fulfilling. Stick to the rules, choose jobs wisely, and balance work with your studies. The key is to earn enough without risking your visa or grades.
Start early, use university resources, and pick opportunities that match your skills. With the right approach, your side jobs will support your studies and new life in the UK.
Take care to avoid fraudsters!
🚫 You should never pay someone for a job application, an interview test, or an interview. A genuine employer will never request payment.