- Working for the University on a Student visa
- How many hours can I work for the University?
- Can I have more than one job at the University?
- When can I start working?
- What if I become an Herts SU Sabbatical Officer?
- What if I become a part-time School Officer?
- University employment regulations
Working for the University on a Student visa
If you have a Student visa and work for the University of Hertfordshire or Herts SU, you must follow your visa conditions and the University's employment rules.
The University may place additional restrictions on the number of hours you can work, regardless of the hours permitted by your visa.
How many hours can I work for the University?
The University's working-hour restrictions apply to all employment at the University, including roles such as:
- Student Ambassador
- Residential Assistant (RA)
- Visiting Lecturer (VL)
- Aramark roles
- Sports Village roles.
Where full-time work is permitted during University vacation periods, the University allows a maximum of 37 hours per week.
If you take part in voluntary activities through the Herts Excellence Award these hours also count towards your weekly working-hours limit.
You are responsible for monitoring the number of hours you work.
If you are unsure how many hours you can work as a University student, contact the HR team at recruitment-hourlypaid@herts.ac.uk.
Your permitted work under the Student route depends on the conditions attached to your immigration permission. The current UK Immigration Rules continue to include specific work conditions for Student visa holders.
Can I have more than one job at the University?
No. If you have a Student visa, you can only have one job at the University at a time.
For example, you cannot work for Aramark and as a Student Ambassador at the same time.
This restriction also applies to jobs with Herts SU. You cannot have a job with the University and work for Herts SU at the same time.
When can I start working?
You must complete the University's recruitment process before starting work.
This includes:
- signing and returning your appointment letter
- receiving confirmation of your start date from HR.
Do not start work until HR has confirmed your start date.
Your recruiting manager can provide the recruitment documents, but they should not confirm your start date before HR has done so.
Starting before completing the recruitment process could affect your pay and could result in you breaching your visa conditions.
What if I become an Herts SU Sabbatical Officer?
If you are considering standing for election as a Hertfordshire Students’ Union Sabbatical Officer or School Officer, contact the Student Immigration Team before you stand for election to understand how the role could affect your visa and studies.
The Student route specifically provides for someone taking an elected position as a Students' Union Sabbatical Officer.
If you are elected as a full-time Sabbatical Officer partway through your studies:
- you cannot continue studying alongside the full-time post
- you will need to defer your studies
- the University will notify UKVI that you are working as a Sabbatical Officer
- you may need to extend your Student visa to cover the post and allow you to complete your course when you return to study.
If you are elected towards the end of your studies, you may need to extend your Student visa to cover the length of your Sabbatical Officer post.
What if I become a part-time School Officer?
If you are elected as a part-time School Officer, you can continue studying alongside the role.
However:
- the hours you work as a School Officer count towards your weekly working-hours limit
- you must not exceed your permitted working hours
- the role must not affect your studies.
If you become either a School Officer or Sabbatical Officer, you must meet with a Student Immigration Adviser and read and sign a declaration confirming that you understand the requirements of the role.
You cannot start the role until you have signed the declaration.
Herts SU and the University may share relevant information about your employment as a Sabbatical Officer.
University employment regulations
You should also read the University's employment regulations for students on Students visas.