Part time jobs and taxes
As an international student, you do have visa restrictions when it comes to employment, as well as tax responsibilities.
Before you find employment, make sure that you have the correct and complete documents to work in the UK.
Solent university will be able to give you further careers advice and help you find employment. You can email Solent Futures here: solent.futures@solent.ac.uk.
Please note: All guidance for students on a Student Route visa also applies to students on a Tier 4 general visa.
Work rights
Work rights are a condition of your immigration permission. This means it is very important that you are clear about what you may and may not do.
You must always comply with any restrictions, which are explained in high level details on this page.
Solent University does not produce letters to confirm your working conditions.
UK employers have legal duties towards their employees. These include:
- Anti-discrimination measures
- Health and safety requirements
- The obligation to pay the minimum wage
- The obligation to apply laws relating to working hours and breaks
- The duty to pay National Insurance contributions
- The duty to provide wage slips (printed or online)
Further information and guidance are available on the UK Government website and UKCISA website.
It is your personal responsibility to be compliant with your visa requirements to include working conditions. Breaching visa conditions is an immigration offence.
Self-employment
Self-employment is prohibited under a student visa.
If you are unsure about your payslip, please check with the international student adviser: internationalsupport@solent.ac.uk, or employability adviser: Solent.futures@solent.ac.uk.
National Insurance number
You need a National Insurance number to work in the UK.
Your National Insurance (NI) number is a unique personal number, which is used to record your National Insurance contributions and tax that you pay. It also acts as a reference number when communicating with the Department of Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
You do not need to have a NI number before starting work, but you must obtain one when you get a job.
You get deducted for National Insurance (NI) apart from tax in your payslip, the first £1048 is not deductible for NI. If you earn between £1048 - £4189, you get charged 12% NI and anything above that is charged 2% .
Click here for more information on National Insurance numbers.
For information on how to apply for NI number visit, click here.
Income tax
You will have to pay income tax if you earn more than a specified personal allowance in any tax year.
Some double-taxation agreements mean you do not pay UK tax on your income if you work while you're a student.
If your country does not have an agreement like this, you have to pay tax in the same way as others who come to live in the UK.
You are entitled to a personal allowance of £12,570 of annual income tax free. Anything above the personal allowance will be 20% income tax deductible and will be automatically deducted from your payslip.