Working in the UK

Most LJMU students with a Student visa have some restricted rights to work. The restrictions depend on the type of course for which your Student visa was granted.

Work rights are stipulated on your visa or BRP and it is important to ensure that you comply with any restrictions that apply to your permission.

Students studying with immigration permission in the UK as a Visitor or a Short Term Student are generally not permitted to work at all.

Students with other types of immigration permission may be able to work, depending on the type of permission held. 

Information on working during your studies

Please note:
From 9 April the visa application fee is increasing from £822 to £880

Update: 1 July 2021

The Graduate Route Visa rules have been published and the visa is open to applications from 1 July 2021.

The International Student Advice team at LJMU have produced an information sheet with answers to FAQs about the Graduate Route.

Please note:
The Immigration Health Surcharge for Graduate Route visa applications for students and dependants increased to £1035 per person per year from 6 February 2024

Information on Graduate Route visa

For many International Student Graduates, the Graduate Visa route will be the most straightforward route to apply to, to be able to work in the UK. However, there are other work visa routes available to students.

For options for switching within the UK from a Student visa to a work visa please visit UK Council for International Student Affairs.

Here you will find information about each route, helpful guidance and links to the relevant Immigration Rules, guidance for applicants and for Home Office caseworkers, and the appropriate application forms.

Everyone who works in the UK needs to have a National Insurance number (NINo). This is a unique personal number that is used to collect your National Insurance contributions.

You can apply for a National Insurance number if you live in the UK, have the right to work in the UK and are working, looking for work or have an offer to start work. 

If you have an eVisa, you might have a National Insurance number already. You can check this by logging into your UKVI account.

If you don’t already have a National Insurance number you’ll need to apply online at gov.uk.

Your National Insurance number remains the same for life and even if your personal details change, you do not need to apply for a new one. If you have lost your National Insurance you may be able to find it any existing documents (for example P60, payslips) or by logging in to the gov.uk site.

Visit LJMU’s Student Futures website  for a one-stop-shop for careers, employability and start-up support, information and resources for current LJMU students.

Unitemps is LJMU’s on-campus recruitment agency providing paid work opportunities for LJMU students. Visit the Unitemps website for further information.