Guide for Nigerian » Voice of Nigeria
Want to Study and work at the same time in UK? Here’s how to do it.
It is not uncommon for Nigerian students to study while working part time in the UK. By working part time, you can reduce the cost of living there as well as gain work experience.
By choosing the UK as a place of further study, you will also have the opportunity to develop a number of employability skills as well as the ability to think independently. This is certainly very good for your career in the future.
A wide variety of jobs are available in the UK where you can work part time, volunteer or complete work placements or take sandwich courses around the clock. All of these are valuable work experiences that can give you an edge and build your resume.
In addition, most UK universities and educational institutions have dedicated careers centers which can advise Nigerian students on all aspects of finding a job while or after they study.
Conditions of working in the UK
Your student visa affects this requirement. For students coming from the European Union, they have no restrictions on work. However, if you are from Nigeria and your course is longer than six months, you will need to obtain a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. The visa allows you to take up to 20 hours of part-time work during college starts and full-time work during college breaks.
Here are some general requirements for those of you holding a Tier 4 (general) or Tier 4 (child) visa to be able to work while you are studying in the UK .
- Study at a publicly funded higher education institution
- Currently studying a short-term study abroad program with an overseas higher education institution
- Over 16 years old
- Currently studying a course at NQF level 6 (degree level) and above
However, there may be limitations on the type of work you can do, including limits on the hours you work.
If you are undertaking a bachelor’s or master’s level programme, excluding the Foundation Program you can work part time up to 10 hours while studying and work full time during holidays.
Please note, if your passport or ID card says ‘No Work’ or ‘Work Prohibited’ it means you are not allowed to work in the UK. This is a provision of UK immigration, which if you violate it you are considered to be breaking the law.
Type of part time job
You are welcome to do anything but run a business, be self-employed or take up a permanent career. You also cannot work as a professional athlete or entertainer on a student visa.
Usually, students work in the trade or service sector. You also need to know the minimum wage for working there is £6.50 (3700 NGN) per hour or more.
Students who wish to do voluntary internships need to find out from the organization whether the work is paid work or not. If so, then this will reduce your maximum working time per week.
Once you get a job you will need to get a National Insurance Number and will need to pay income tax to the UK government.
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The sector of part-time jobs for international students
The part-time work sector for international students here means that there is something like working in the service sector such as trade or services, there are many job options for students in the UK. The average wage for work in this sector is £7 (4000 Nigerian Naira) per hour, here are a few.
1. Brand Ambassadors
Sometimes, big companies choose some students to represent their brand at the university. Usually you need to put up posters advertising the company, run promotional events and some other way to introduce their brand to other students. You can be paid hourly or per project, depending on the type of work you do.
2. Private tutor
Students can offer private tutoring services to other students, or students at local or community schools. This is usually a popular choice for students who are fluent in a foreign language, who can give lessons in English. There are agencies such as Bright Young Things that employ students, or you can look at the advertisements on university bulletin boards. You can also promote your own private service.
3. Carpentry
You can also put your skills to work while you’re in college. These jobs range from painting, gardening, cleaning or heavy lifting and are typically £7.50-£12 (US$ 4000 – 6800 NGN) per hour less, than jobs in the service sector. However, these jobs are highly needed and are usually located far from city centers and campuses.
4. Special skills
Depending on your skillset, you may want to take on a part-time project to gain experience in your field. These positions are generally not offered publicly, or you can look at online job fairs such as studentgems.com . These positions are also commonly offered through job boards at universities where employers are looking for candidates with specific skills and knowledge. Wages and working hours depend on the type of project.
5. Work after graduation
If you want to live and work in the UK after you’ve finished your studies, you’ll need to get a new visa first, or you can also apply for a UK visa extension.
There are three most common work visas available to international students namely, Tier 1 (Graduate Employer), Tier 2 (General) and Tier 5 (Temporary Worker). Please find information about these types of visas on the UK Government’s official website, so you can find out if you are eligible for one of these visas, as well as information on how to apply for a visa.
Want to find out other information regarding further study abroad? Please contact our counselors and make a consultation appointment here . We are ready to help you with this information for free.
