A Student visa will generally permit the holder to work for "up to 20 hours a week during term time, and full-time during periods outside of term time". However, University rules may differ; please see permitted working hours below.
If employing a Student visa holder, the department should fill in and send an HR35 form to the HR Compliance Team which will confirm the permitted working hours. If engaging them via the Cambridge Casual Worker System (CCWS), the department may enter the permitted working hours.
Undergraduate students
The following apply to both University of Cambridge and external students:
- During term time: up to 20 hours per week
- Outside of term time: full time
- Once course completed/degree awarded: full time
Taught Masters students
The following apply to both University of Cambridge and external students:
- During term time: up to 20 hours per week
- Outside of term time*: full time
- Once all elements of course completed and CAS end date has passed: full time
- Once degree awarded: full time
* Any time between the end of the final term and the dissertation submission deadline should not be considered as 'outside of term time' as students are still expected to be working on their studies at this time.
Research Masters and PhD students
The following apply to University of Cambridge students only:
- During full time study: up to 20 hours per week
- Between thesis submission & degree committee meeting: full time
- Between degree committee meeting and formal approval/award of degree: up to 20 hours per week
- From formal approval/award of degree: full time
The following apply to external students only:
- During full time study: up to 20 hours per week
- Between thesis submission & official notification of viva outcome: full time
- Between official notification of viva outcome (corrections required) and degree being formally approved/awarded: up to 20 hours per week
- Between official notification of viva outcome (corrections not required but course not yet completed) and course being completed/degree being formally approved/awarded: up to 20 hours per week
- Between official notification of viva outcome (corrections not required and course completed) and degree being formally approved/awarded: full time
- From formal approval/award of degree: full time
Completing CCWS for Research Masters and PhD students
Unfortunately, CCWS does not accommodate the above rules for Research Masters and PhD Student visa holders working after they’ve submitted their thesis. As a workaround, upon thesis submission, the department should amend the Worker Term Dates tile as follows:
Internal students
- Change last ‘term end date’ to date of thesis submission
- Next ‘term start date’ = date of degree committee meeting
- Next ‘term end date’ = date of formal approval/award of degree
External students
- Change last ‘term end date’ to date of thesis submission
- Next ‘term start date’ = date of receipt of official notification of viva outcome
- Next ‘term end date’ = if corrections required after viva, or corrections not required but course not yet completed, enter anticipated date of degree being formally approved/awarded OR if corrections not required and course completed, enter same date as term start date
The permitted working hours should then be entered on the Compliance tile as follows and do not need to be updated at each stage:
- 'Within term time': 20 hours per week
- 'Outside term time': 48 hours per week
Restrictions
Student visa holders cannot:
- work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
- work as an entertainer
- work in a position which would fill a permanent full-time vacancy unless they apply for a Skilled Worker or Graduate visa
- run a business or be self-employed unless they have applied for a Start-up visa
If you are not sure which rules apply, please contact the HR Compliance team.