Work placements and internships for Tier 4/Student route visa holders
You may wish to undertake some work experience while you are studying. In many cases, this will be possible, but for international students there are restrictions on working in the UK.
Work placements as an assessed and integral part of your programme
Tier 4/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
If the work placement meets these conditions, you are permitted to work full-time using your Tier 4/Student visa. You will still be permitted to work an additional 20 hours per week, as well as the placement.
The University will make a report to the Home Office to inform them about the placement and your visa will remain valid. You must continue to abide by the conditions of your visa.
If the work placement does not meet those conditions, you will not be able to undergo the placement on a full-time basis, during term time.
Extracurricular work placements and internships
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 interrupt your studies to undertake a work placement or internship, you cannot use your Tier 4/Student visa. You will need to seek alternative immigration permission which will allow you to undertake work in the UK. You will need to apply for a new Tier 4/Student visa to return to 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 Tier 4/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 Tier 4/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 Tier 4/Student visa.
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