UK Student Visa Work Limits (20 Hours) & Dependents Rules 2026
2026 guide to UK Student Visa work conditions and dependant rules: 20-hour and 10-hour term-time limits, full-time work outside term-time where permitted, self-employment restrictions, dependant eligibility, voluntary work and breach consequences.
1. Executive Summary & The 20-Hour Rule
Students may work during term-time only if their Student permission permits employment. A full-time degree-level student sponsored by a higher education provider with a track record of compliance can normally work up to 20 hours per week during term-time; some below-degree students are limited to 10 hours and other students have no employment permission.
2. Student Work Permission & Dependant Matrix
The table below outlines work rights and dependant rules across degree levels:
| Degree Level / Course Type | Term-Time Work Allowance | Vacation Work Allowance | Dependants Permitted? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Degree (BA/BSc) | 20 Hours per Week max | Full-Time, subject to Student work restrictions | Generally No, subject to government-sponsored and other qualifying exceptions |
| Taught Master's (MA/MSc) | 20 Hours per Week max | Full-Time, subject to Student work restrictions | Generally No, subject to government-sponsored and other qualifying exceptions |
| Postgraduate Research (PhD/MPhil) | 20 Hours per Week max | Full-Time, subject to Student work restrictions | YES Dependants Allowed |
| Below Degree Level (Foundation) | 10 Hours per Week max | Full-Time, subject to Student work restrictions | Generally No, subject to government-sponsored and other qualifying exceptions |
3. What Counts as a 'Week' Under UKVI Rules?
For Student work conditions, a week runs from Monday to Sunday. Where the permission allows 20 hours during term-time, the total work in that Monday-to-Sunday week must not exceed the permitted limit across all employment and qualifying voluntary work.
4. Dependant Rules & Restrictions for International Students
Most international Students cannot bring dependants. A student can generally bring a partner or child only where the Student is a qualifying government-sponsored student on a course lasting longer than 6 months, or a qualifying full-time postgraduate student on a course of at least 9 months that began on or after 1 January 2024 and is a PhD/other doctorate or research-based higher degree.
5. Permanent Full-Time Work and Work Placements
Student work permission is not equivalent to unrestricted employment. A Student who is permitted to work is generally not allowed to fill a permanent full-time vacancy while remaining on Student permission, subject to the specific switching rules. A work placement that is an integral and assessed part of the course can be permitted under separate Student-route conditions and is treated differently from ordinary employment.
6. Voluntary Work and the Weekly Limit
Where a Student is permitted to work, qualifying voluntary work is also subject to the applicable term-time hours limit when combined with other work. The Home Office distinguishes voluntary work, where contractual obligations can exist, from volunteering, which generally involves unpaid activity without an employment contract.
Essential Summary & 2026 Checklist
- Eligible degree-level Students can normally work up to 20 hours per week during term-time, subject to the exact work condition on their Student permission.
- Where Student permission permits work, full-time work is allowed outside term-time, including official vacations and the applicable end-of-course period.
- Students cannot be self-employed or engage in prohibited work; some gig-platform arrangements may amount to self-employment. The legal status of the particular arrangement should be checked rather than relying only on the platform name.
- Taught Master's students generally cannot bring dependants, unless another specific exception applies, such as qualifying government sponsorship.
- A serious breach of Student work conditions can lead to cancellation or curtailment of permission and potentially enforcement action; the consequences depend on the circumstances.
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