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If you are studying a full-time degree-level course (undergraduate or postgraduate) on a Student visa, you can work up to 20 hours per week during term time. During official university vacation periods (Christmas, Easter, summer), you can work full-time with no hour restriction. Students on courses below degree level (e.g. foundation years, pre-sessional English) are limited to 10 hours per week in term time.

No. The 20-hour limit is a per-week maximum, not an average. UKVI defines a working week as Monday to Sunday. You cannot work 30 hours one week and 10 the next to balance out — working 30 hours in a single Monday-to-Sunday period is a visa breach even if your average is fine. Each individual week must stay at or below 20 hours.

Yes. Both paid and unpaid work — including voluntary work and internships — count toward your weekly hour limit. The only exceptions are certain course-required placements that are part of your degree programme. Check with your university's international student support team to confirm whether a specific placement counts.

Exceeding your permitted working hours is a breach of your visa conditions. If discovered, your university (as your visa sponsor) is legally required to report this to UKVI, which can lead to curtailment of your visa, removal from the UK, and difficulty obtaining future UK visas. Your employer could also face penalties for knowingly employing someone in breach of conditions.

For student visa purposes, "term time" is defined by your university's official term dates — not your personal timetable. Even during reading weeks, induction weeks, or exam periods, if they fall within your university's published term, the 20-hour limit applies. Vacation periods are the official breaks between terms as listed on your university calendar.

Yes. During official university vacation periods (typically mid-June to mid-September for most UK universities), Student visa holders studying degree-level courses can work unlimited hours. The full-time restriction lifts as soon as your term officially ends — but you must return to the 20-hour limit when the next term begins.