Part-Time Work Rules for International Students: UK, Canada, Australia, Germany and USA

Part-time work helps international students pay for living costs and gain local experience. However, work rights are strictly limited by visa conditions, and breaking them can cost you your visa. Here is a summary of the general rules in five popular destinations.

United Kingdom

• Students on degree-level courses can usually work up to 20 hours per week during term time.
• Full-time work is generally allowed during official university vacations.
• Some jobs are not allowed, such as self-employment and permanent full-time roles.
• Check your eVisa conditions for your exact limit.

Canada

• Eligible full-time students can work off campus up to 24 hours per week during academic sessions.
• Full-time work is allowed during scheduled breaks such as winter and summer holidays.
• On-campus work rules can be more flexible.
• You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work.

Australia

• Student visa holders can usually work up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods.
• Unlimited hours are generally allowed during official course breaks.
• Work that is a formal part of your course is not counted in the limit.

Germany

• Non-EU students can work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per year.
• Work as a student assistant at a university (Hilfskraft) is often treated differently.
• Earnings above certain thresholds affect taxes and social insurance.

United States

• F-1 students can usually work on campus up to 20 hours per week during term and full-time during breaks.
• Off-campus work is only allowed through authorised programmes such as Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT).
• Unauthorised off-campus work is a serious violation of F-1 status.

Quick comparison

Popular student jobs

• University jobs: library, IT help desk, research or teaching assistant
• Retail, hospitality and customer service
• Tutoring and online teaching (check whether remote work for home-country employers is allowed)
• Internships related to your field

Tips to balance work and study

• Wait until you have settled in and understand your workload before taking a job.
• Keep a record of the hours you work each week.
• Prioritise jobs that build skills for your career.
• Do not rely on part-time income to pay tuition.

When these rules were last checked

We checked the rules for Canada and Germany against official government pages on 8 October 2026. For the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, confirm the current limit on the official immigration website before you rely on the numbers above. In every country, the conditions printed on your own visa or permit are what count.

Canada in more detail

The Government of Canada’s page on off-campus work sets out these points:

• You can work up to 24 hours a week during regular terms. You may have more than one job, as long as the total stays within 24 hours.
• During breaks that your institution schedules, such as the summer and winter holidays or a reading week, you can work unlimited hours.
• You can start working only when your study programme starts, not before.
• You must be a full-time student at a designated learning institution, in a programme of at least six months that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
• Your study permit must carry a condition that allows off-campus work, and you need a Social Insurance Number.
• Students who are only on an English or French language course, or on general interest courses, cannot work off campus.
• Remote work for an employer outside Canada does not count toward the 24 hours, as long as you still meet your permit conditions.

Canada counts unpaid work too, if it is a job that people are normally paid for. Working more than 24 hours a week breaks your permit conditions. You can lose your student status, and you may have to leave the country.

Germany in more detail

Germany’s official portal for skilled workers explains the rule for students from outside the EU in this way:

• You may work up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year without approval from the Federal Employment Agency.
• A working day of up to four hours counts as half a day.
• As an alternative, you may work up to 20 hours a week during the lecture period, like German students.

Jobs as a student assistant at a university are often treated more generously, and compulsory internships that are part of your degree are usually handled differently from ordinary jobs. Ask your university’s international office and the local foreigners’ authority before you accept either, and keep a list of every day you work.

Your scholarship may be stricter than your visa

A visa that allows work does not mean that your funder allows it. Commonwealth Scholars in the UK, for example, must not take paid employment during their award without approval from the Commission. Many government scholarships have similar rules, and some reduce your stipend if you earn other income. Read your award letter and the scholar handbook, and ask the scholarship office in writing before you accept any job.

How to count your hours correctly

• Know your unit: some countries count hours per week, some per fortnight and some days per year.
• Add all your jobs together: the limit applies to your total, not to each job.
• Know when the week starts: ask your university’s adviser how a week or fortnight is defined.
• Know your official break dates: only breaks scheduled by your institution count as vacation.
• Keep a record: write down the date and hours of every shift, and keep your payslips. You may be asked to prove that you followed the rules.

What part-time work can realistically pay for

In most countries, part-time work at student wages can cover part of your food, transport and phone costs. It rarely covers rent in a large city, and it does not cover tuition. It also takes time to find a job, to get a tax or social insurance number and to receive your first pay. Build your budget so that it works with no job income for the first three months.

Choosing a job that helps your studies

1. University jobs first: research, teaching, library and laboratory work fit your timetable and build your CV.
2. Jobs in your field second: an internship or assistant role in your subject can lead to references and later work.
3. Other jobs third: shops, cafes and delivery work are easier to find, but choose shifts that do not clash with classes.

In exam weeks, reduce your hours. A failed course costs far more than a month of wages, and many scholarships need a minimum grade.

What can go wrong

• Working over the limit, even once: this can affect your current status and your future visa applications.
• Cash jobs with no contract: you have no protection and no proof of your hours.
• Self-employment and freelance work: many student visas restrict it. Check before you take online freelance work.
• Working before your course starts: in some countries this is not allowed.
• Relying on wages for tuition: if you lose the job, you may lose your place.

Questions to ask your international office

• What exactly do the work conditions on my visa or permit allow?
• Which dates count as official breaks in my programme this year?
• Do I need a tax number or social insurance number before I start, and how do I get one?
• Does the university have a job board for on-campus work?
• Are internships that are part of my course counted in the limit?

Ask in your first month, and keep the answers in writing.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay tax on my student job?

It depends on the country and on how much you earn. Ask your employer or your university’s adviser which forms you need, and keep your payslips.

Can I work full time during the holidays?

In several countries you can work more during official breaks. In Canada, for example, hours are unlimited during breaks scheduled by your institution. Check the rule for your country and your own permit.

Does unpaid work count?

It can. Canada, for example, counts unpaid work if it is a job that people are usually paid for. Ask before you accept an unpaid role.

Can I work online for a company in my home country?

The answer differs by country. Canada allows remote work for an employer outside Canada, and does not count it toward the weekly limit. Other countries have their own rules, so check the official website.

Can I work if I have a scholarship?

Only if both your visa and your scholarship allow it. Ask your scholarship office first.

Will part-time work hurt my studies?

It can, if you work too many hours. Start with a few hours a week in your second semester and see how your grades respond.

Planning your budget? Read scholarships vs loans vs part-time work.