Work placements and internships on a Student visa

Work placements that are part of your programme (assessed and integral)

Student visa holders are permitted to undertake a full time work placement as part of their full-time degree programme, providing:

• It is an assessed and integral part of your programme - this means that it should be part of the design of the programme, and you should not be able to achieve the award without undergoing the placement
• It is not more than 50% of the length of your programme, unless it is a statutory (legal) requirement
• You will remain enrolled as a student at the University (on a Leave of Absence) and will not take an interruption of studies

You are also allowed to work up to the usual term time 20 hours per week, in addition to your assessed work placement.

The University informs UKVI about your assessed work placement and your Student visa remains valid. You must continue to abide by the conditions of your visa permission.

If the work placement is not classed as being assessed and integral (does not meet above conditions), you will not be able to start it on a full-time basis, during term time. 

However, extra-curricular work placements or internships can be allowed if they are within your term time 20 hour per week work limit. See below for further information. 

Extracurricular work placements and internships (not assessed and integral)

If you are studying a full-time degree programme and wish to undertake a work placement or internship which is not an assessed and integral part of your studies, you may do so:

• Part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during term time; and
• Full-time during vacation periods

If you wish to take an interruption to your studies for reasons of starting a full-time work placement or internship, you will need to seek alternative immigration permission, which will allow you to undertake this type of work in the UK. You should not use your Student visa for this purpose. You would also need to apply and pay for a new Student visa to return to your studies. 

Work placements and internships outside of the UK

If your work placement is based outside of the UK you will need to seek immigration permission from the country where you will work, unless it is your home country.

If your placement is an assessed and integral part of your degree programme, your Student visa will remain valid.

If your planned work placement outside of the UK is not related to your degree programme, you are strongly advised to contact us to assess what the impact may be on your visa. 

Postgraduate research students

If you are studying a research degree it is unlikely that a work placement will form part of your programme design. However, if the work placement that you wish to undertake forms an essential part of your research, you can still do the placement using your Student visa.

The University will make a report to the Home Office and inform them of your change of circumstances. 

The work placement must still meet all the conditions for a work placement under  your Student visa.

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