Students on a Student visa should ensure they are familiar with the restrictions on the type of work permitted as it is their responsibility to ensure that any work restrictions are adhered to.  They should be aware that the University is required to report any breaches to the UKVI which could have serious consequences and result in the curtailment of their Student visa.  Students should check the conditions stated on their visa/BRP and the full explanation provided in the Student visa Policy Guidance.

Any Student visa holders who are working both for the University and for an external employer should make their School/departmental contact and hrimmigration@lboro.ac.uk aware of the other work they are undertaking to ensure that they remain compliant with the working restrictions before any work is allocated to them.

Students employed on a Student visa are not allowed to be employed as a professional sports person including coaches nor take up any full time permanent vacancy.  In addition, subject to a visa/BRP check:

• Further Education students are eligible to work a maximum of 10 hours in a set 7 day period (Monday to Sunday) during standard University term times in all UK employment.  There are no hourly restrictions during the vacation periods.
  
  
•  Undergraduate students are eligible to work a maximum of 20 hours in a set 7 day period (Monday to Sunday) during standard University term times in all UK employment.  There are no hourly restrictions during the vacation periods. Students employed on an assessed placement as part of their programme are not subject to an hourly limit.
  
  
•  Postgraduate Taught Students (Masters) are restricted to working a maximum of 20 hours in a set 7 day period (Monday to Sunday) during standard University terms times in all UK employment.  In line with University policy, they can work without restriction during the Christmas and Easter vacation periods but are limited to working a maximum of 20 hours per week during the summer vacation period.
  
  
•  Postgraduate Research Students (PhD) are restricted to working a maximum of 20 hours in a set 7 day period (Monday to Sunday) all year round as there are no set term times for research students.  The working restriction also applies when research students are on annual leave. This is University policy which also overrides UKVI rules around the flexibility to work full time after completion of their studies.  This means that research students will be unable to work more than 20 hours per week unless they hold a Graduate visa (previously Doctoral Extension Scheme visa, DES)(and have received a letter from the Doctoral College Office confirming the award of their PhD) or have switched to a Skilled Worker visa. See further information regarding Skilled Worker sponsorship here.
  
  
•  Graduate visa (previously Doctoral Extension Scheme, DES) holders can work full time without restrictions provided they have received a letter from the Doctoral College Office confirming the completion of their studies and the award of their PhD.  Further information on the Graduate visa route is available here.

Eligibility to work during visa renewal process (3C leave) is not automatic.  Students will only be employed when their visa has expired if the University has a Positive Verification Notice from the UKVI which confirms that they have the right to work whilst the visa renewal application is being processed.  Students wishing to work during this period should contact the HR Immigration Team if they are employed on a casual contract or their Senior HR Officer if they are employed on a salaried contract and provide their UKVI visa application reference and a copy of the personal details page of the visa application.  The HR Immigration Team or the Senior HR Officer will then submit an Employer Checking Service request to the UKVI.  They will be notified once a response has been received within 3 – 5 working days and sent the Positive Verification Notice which can be handed to the relevant administrator to prove their continued right to work.  Once their new visa has been received, they should take their original visa/BRP to the Student Enquiries desk on the ground floor of the Rutland Building.  If they are undertaking casual work, they should also present it to the relevant School/Departmental contact or their Senior HR Officer if they are on a salaried contract.

If Student visa sponsorship (previously Tier 4) is withdrawn a student will no longer be allowed to work at the University regardless of whether any visa permission remains

Casual work – Process for the Recruitment of Students on a Student visa 

The University encourages overseas students to undertake part time work as permitted under the terms of their student visas and University policy. 

However, there is a strict process in place to ensure that the number of hours allocated to students on a Student visa is monitored.  The steps within the process are as follows:

a)    The student provides right to work check documents (original current passport and Student visa) to School/departmental contact who is allocating the work.  This check is subsequently uploaded to a central workspace and approved.  See further guidance on right to work checks for prospective employees.

Please note that students are unable to work until a valid right to work check has been undertaken.

b)    School/departmental contact sends a casual staff portal link to the student.  The student enters their personal details.

c)    School/departmental contact requests the production of an appointment letter by HR.

d)    Student accepts terms contained in the appointment letter via a link contained in the letter which includes providing bank details.

e)    School/departmental contact allocates working hours via a central casual worker system and will inform the student whether they will be paid directly in line with the hours allocated or by completing a paper claim form.

It is imperative that all students on a Student visa are recruited via this process in order for the University to be compliant with UKVI requirements. 

Students should not undertake any work until the above process has been followed.

Any immigration queries regarding the recruitment of students on a Student visa should be sent to hrimmigration@lboro.ac.uk.  If your query is related specifically to the casual worker system (Dashboard) or the process of the recruitment of students on a Student visa please contact the HR Claims Support Team on 01509 228424 or claims.support@lboro.ac.uk.