When you arrive, and during term-time

If you have a Student visa, you will be permitted to work part-time in term time and full-time during official vacation periods. 

Students who are studying a programme at degree level or above can work for 20 hours per week during term time, and those studying a programme below degree level can work up to 10 hours per week. 

There is no limit on the amount of 'volunteering' you can do, but you must make sure this is not considered ‘voluntary work’. For example, if you are required to work certain hours or are undertaking an unpaid internship, this will be classed as voluntary work (which will count towards your weekly hours of work).

If you have a Standard Visitor visa, you are not permitted to work in the UK (paid or unpaid). You may undertake volunteering provided it lasts no more than 30 days in total and is for a charity that is registered with either the Charity Commission for England and Wales; the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland; or the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.

Working during studies

It is important that you check your BRP carefully when you get it to make sure there are no errors, especially with the expiry date or your working hours. 

If you think there is an error on your BRP, you must report the error within 10 days of receiving it, or you may have to apply and pay for a replacement or make a new visa application. 

Please always contact our team for further advice.

Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Contact us through our enquiry form

UK nationals and some permanent residents are entitled to financial benefits from the government; for example, jobseekers or housing allowance.  As a Student or Standard Visitor visa holder  you are not entitled to claim these benefits. 

Your UKVI grant email/letter will state your visa conditions (including if it is NRPF) 

Information about public funds

This depends on what location you selected when completing your application form.  

If you make your visa application outside the UK, you can choose to collect it either from the University (using the ACL code 2HE529), or from a Post Office.

If you make your application inside the UK, you should arrange to have your BRP delivered to your home address.  You will need to sign for your BRP when it arrives to show that you have received it.

Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

If you have applied for a Student visa before travelling to the UK, you MUST bring the UKVI visa grant letter (entry clearance information)  that you received from the UKVI when your passport was returned. 

We also recommend that students with Student and Standard Visitor permission that already hold a visa before travelling bring all the supporting documents that you used for your visa application.   

If you intend to come to the UK and request permission to enter as a Standard Visitor on arrival, you must bring: 

• Your offer letter or letter of invitation from the University of Edinburgh 
• Evidence of how you will fund your studies 
• Evidence to show that you intend to leave the UK within 6 months 

It is very important that you read the information about arriving in the UK.

Arriving in the UK

Not all students can change their programme using the same visa.  There are strict rules about who can change their programme of studies.  For example, you will need to apply for a new visa from outside the UK if are a degree-level student and your new programme is longer than the one for which your Tier 4 / Student visa was granted 

It is important that you contact an adviser before travelling to the UK.

Read our information about making changes to your studies:

Changes to your studies

Contact us through our enquiry form

You do not need to tell us if you will be outside of the UK during vacation periods or weekends. 

You will need to request permission from your School if: 

• You wish to travel during term time 
• You will continue your studies overseas 
• You are taking a break from your studies 

Your Student Adviser or Supervisor will be able to advise you on these processes. 

If you wish to interrupt your studies for longer than 60 days, or wish to study remotely,  you should contact the Student Immigration Service for advice on how this may affect your visa.

Contact us through our enquiry form

Changes to your studies

Please refer to the instructions provided at our guidance page below. 

Lost or stolen passport and visa

Student visa holders can interrupt their studies for up to 60 days without the validity of their visa being affected, provided they can still complete their programme before their visa expires. 

If you wish to interrupt your studies for more than 60 days, the University will normally be required to withdraw sponsorship of your Student visa and it will be curtailed (cancelled) by UKVI.  You will need to apply for (and obtain) a new Student visa to return to studies, usually from your country of nationality. 

Changes to Your Studies

There are several visa routes which are tailored to make it easier for Student visa holders to transition into the UK workforce. 

Read about them at the link below.

Working after studies

Student visa holders are permitted to do a work placement as part of their programme of studies, provided it is assessed and integral.  This means it must be part of your studies.   You can do a work placement that is assessed and integral on a full-time basis for up to 50% of your programme (or more, if it is a statutory requirement). 

If the work placement/internship is not assessed and integral as part of your current programme, you can use your Student visa to do it as long as the type of job/hours per week remain within your Student visa work restrictions (10 or 20 hours per week during term time depending on level, full time hours during official vacation periods) 

Standard visitors are not permitted to undertake work placements, paid or unpaid. 

Working during your studies