The Best Jobs For International Students In The UK

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Studying in the UK can be expensive, so it makes sense that you might be considering getting a part-time job while you’re studying.  

However, there are strict rules about how much you can work as an international student in the UK. Generally, international students can only work up to 20 hours a week during term time and full-time during vacations. Our blog, ‘Can international students work in the UK?’ has all the information you need. 

UniHomes has put together this guide with all the information about the best and highest-paying jobs for international students in the UK. We’ll cover: 

• The highest-paying part-time jobs in the UK for international students
• How to find part-time jobs as an international student
• Universities with the best graduate employability
• Best graduate jobs for international students
• Where to find visa-sponsored graduate jobs

The highest-paying jobs in the UK for international students 

If you’re looking for a part-time job to earn some extra money while studying in the UK, it’s good to know which roles are the highest paying. The minimum wage for 2023 is £7.49 for 18-20-year-olds, so ideally, you want to look for a job that pays higher than the minimum.  

Here’s a breakdown of some of the highest-paying part-time jobs for students (according to 2023 data from Save the Student).  

Cleaner 

Average hourly rate: £10.69 – £11.21 

Although cleaning might not be the most glamorous job, cleaner roles often have flexible hours and a relatively high hourly rate. Depending on the role, you might be cleaning offices, homes or hotels.  

Customer service advisor 

Average hourly rate: £11.21 – £11.68 

You might be working in a call centre or from home, dealing with customer queries, handling complaints and issuing refunds. To excel in this role, you’ll need to be confident talking on the phone and have good communication skills, plus the ability to stay calm under pressure.  

Warehouse operative 

Average hourly rate: £10.99 – £12.51 

Working in a warehouse environment means you’ll be on your feet all day, picking and packing stock and loading goods onto trucks. You’ll need to be sure that you can handle the physical demands of this, but the hourly pay can be as high as £12.50, and there are often plenty of roles available.  

Receptionist 

Average hourly rate: £11.05 – £11.48 

This is a very customer-focused role, so you’ll need first-class communication and people skills. Your duties might include answering and forwarding phone calls, welcoming visitors and dealing with enquiries.  

Admin work 

Average hourly rate: £11.51 – £11.95 

Working as an administrative assistant is perfect if you want to gain some experience in an office environment, which will look great on your CV. Your role might include filing documents, typing, taking phone calls, and sending emails, so you'll need good communication and organisational skills. Some jobs require previous experience, while others will include training.  

How to find part-time jobs for international students in the UK 

When finding a part-time job to earn extra money while studying, it’s best to start your search as early as possible. Try not to wait until you’re desperate to start looking.  

You’ll need to ensure that your CV is up to date - have a look at our blog ‘How to update your CV as a student’ for more information. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to start looking for jobs.  

There are many part-time job search tools online, such as Save the Student’s job search engine and tools like CV-Library, where you can sign up for relevant part-time job alerts. Social media sometimes has job opportunities advertised, so this is something to consider when trying to find a job. 

Most UK universities have an online job board and run job fairs during the academic year. They might also have job opportunities on campus, which can be really convenient, especially if that’s where you’re living.  

Universities with the best graduate employability 

Whether you’re planning on working part-time while you’re studying, getting a graduate job in the UK when you’re finished, or getting a job in your home country, it’s always important to study somewhere that teaches the hard and soft skills you need to succeed.  

Here are the top five universities for graduate employability (according to the Global University Employability Ranking):

• University of Cambridge
• University of Oxford
• Imperial College London
• London School of Economics and Political Science
• London Business School

Working after you graduate as an international student 

If you plan on getting a full-time, permanent position in the UK after your studies, you must change your student visa. You can apply to be a Skilled Worker, which you can do up to 3 months before your course completion date, provided you meet specific criteria. Or you can apply for a graduate visa, which allows you to work full-time, in any role, for up to 2 years after completing your course.  

Where to find visa-sponsored graduate jobs 

If you’re determined to get a graduate job in the UK, a good place to start your search is Student Circus, a job search portal for international students. They have various Skilled Worker Visa sponsored jobs and graduate schemes suitable for international students, covering sectors such as business, civil engineering, law, computer science, and more.  

Graduate jobs will also be advertised on your university’s job board, company websites, and job portals, such as Indeed. For more information on applying for graduate jobs, have a look at our blog, ‘A guide to the graduate job application process’.  

All-inclusive student properties 

A part-time job while studying is a great way to earn extra money, gain valuable work experience, and learn practical new skills. However, even with a part-time job, budgeting your money can still be tricky. Especially when your bills fluctuate from month to month, and you never know how much you’ll have to pay.  

All-inclusive student accommodation covers your rent, utilities and broadband. There’s no stressing about budgeting, splitting bills with your housemates, or setting up multiple utility accounts at the beginning of the year. This makes budgeting so much easier - you’ll know exactly how much you’ll have left each month!  

UniHomes has an extensive landlord and letting agent network with all–inclusive student properties in student cities across the UK. You can easily filter by price, number of bedrooms, and city to find the perfect student house or apartment without any hassle. Plus, your energy and water are uncapped, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally using too much.  

Contact us today to learn more about the all-inclusive properties available, or look at the properties for rent in your student city.