Part Time Jobs for Students UK: Pay, Rules and Ideas

Good part time jobs for students UK wide include retail, hospitality, campus roles, tutoring, events and customer service. From April 2026 the minimum wage is £12.71 an hour at 21 and over, £10.85 at 18 to 20 and £8 under 18. School pupils have strict hour limits, and Student visa holders must follow their visa's work conditions.

Key facts

• From April 2026 the UK minimum hourly rates are £12.71 for workers aged 21 and over, £10.85 for ages 18 to 20, £8 for under 18s and £8 for apprentices; rates change on 1 April every year. (GOV.UK, National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates, Apr 2026)
• In the UK, children can work part-time from the age of 14, and from 13 in some local council areas. (GOV.UK, Child employment, 2026)
• During term time, children can work a maximum of 12 hours a week, including at most 2 hours on school days and Sundays, and may not work during school hours or before 7am or after 7pm. (GOV.UK, Child employment: Restrictions on child employment, 2026)
• During school holidays, 14-year-olds can work up to 25 hours a week and 15 to 16-year-olds up to 35 hours a week, with limits per day. (GOV.UK, Child employment: Restrictions on child employment, 2026)
• UK Student visa holders may be able to work, with the amount depending on what they study and whether it is term time, but cannot be self-employed or work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach. (GOV.UK, Student visa: what you can and cannot do, 2026)

Part time jobs for students UK wide can cover rent and travel, build your CV and teach skills you will use for years. But the rules depend on your age and, for international students, on your visa. This guide explains the April 2026 minimum wage, the legal hours for school pupils, the basics for Student visa holders, the best job types for students and how to find work in big cities such as London, Manchester and Birmingham. All rules and rates come from GOV.UK.

What you should be paid

The UK minimum wage depends on your age and changes on 1 April every year. From April 2026, GOV.UK sets the following hourly rates:

For comparison, from April 2025 to March 2026 the rates were £12.21, £10.00 and £7.55. Apprentices get the apprentice rate if they are under 19, or 19 and over in the first year of their apprenticeship; after that they get the rate for their age. You must be at least school leaving age to get the National Minimum Wage. Check your payslip each time: if your pay is below the rate for your age, raise it with your employer.

Rules for school pupils

If you are still at school, there are strict rules to protect your health and education. GOV.UK says children can work part-time from the age of 14, and from 13 in some local council areas. Children are not allowed to work during school hours, before 7am or after 7pm, for more than one hour before school unless local rules allow it, or for more than 4 hours without a break of at least 1 hour. They may also need an employment permit from the local council.

During term time, children can work a maximum of 12 hours a week. That includes no more than 2 hours on school days and Sundays, and no more than 5 hours on Saturdays for 14-year-olds or 8 hours for 15 to 16-year-olds. In school holidays, 14-year-olds can work up to 25 hours a week and 15 to 16-year-olds up to 35 hours, with daily limits. Children must also have a 2-week break from any work during the school holidays each year. Local council bylaws may add more rules about the types of jobs children can do, so check with your council's education department.

Rules for international students

If you study in the UK on a Student visa, your visa sets your work conditions. GOV.UK says you may be able to work, and how much depends on what you are studying and if you are working in or out of term time. It also says you cannot be self-employed or work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach. Your visa decision tells you your exact limits. Keep a record of your hours each week and never go above your limit, even if an employer asks you to. Breaking your conditions can put your visa at risk.

The best part time jobs for students UK employers offer

Retail

Shops hire students for evenings, weekends and busy seasons. You will learn customer service, handling money and teamwork. Large chains often have online applications and set training.

Hospitality

Cafes, bars, restaurants and hotels need flexible staff, especially in city centres and university towns. Note that some roles serving alcohol may have age limits, so check before you apply.

Campus jobs

Universities hire students as ambassadors, library assistants, event helpers, IT help desk staff and research assistants. Campus jobs often fit around lectures and understand exam pressure.

Tutoring

If you are strong in a subject, tutoring younger pupils can pay well and look good on a CV. You may need a background check for work with children.

Events and promotions

Concerts, sports venues, festivals and conferences hire students for short shifts. This work is flexible and good for building experience fast.

Customer service and call centres

Some call centres offer part-time evening and weekend shifts. This work builds strong communication skills that every employer values.

Delivery and warehouse work

Warehouses and delivery firms hire students, especially before major holidays. Check age, licence and insurance rules for any driving or riding work.

Part time jobs for students London

London has the largest number of student jobs in the UK, with many roles in retail, hospitality, tourism, events and offices. Pay is usually at or above the minimum rates, and some employers pay more to reflect higher living costs, but rents and travel are also more expensive. Look for jobs close to where you live or study to save on travel time and costs. Big events, museums and attractions often hire seasonal staff.

Part time jobs for students Manchester

Manchester has a large student population and a busy city centre with plenty of shops, bars, restaurants and venues. Universities and sports and music venues are also common employers. Many roles cluster in the city centre and around the main university areas, so check travel routes before you accept a shift pattern.

Part time jobs for students in Birmingham

Birmingham offers student jobs in its large shopping and entertainment areas, in hospitality and at major event venues and universities. As in other cities, apply early before busy seasons such as the run-up to holidays and the start of the academic year, when many students are looking at the same time.

Where to look

• Your university or college careers service and student union job boards
• Company career pages of large shops, cafes and hotels near you
• Local job sites and the UK jobs listings on Dev Global Jobs
• The youth and student jobs section
• Walk-in applications at quiet times with a printed CV
• Friends and classmates who already work part-time

How to apply

Keep your CV to one page, put your availability near the top and list any customer service, volunteering or school roles with short results. Many large employers use online forms with short questions, so prepare a few sentences about why you want the job and an example of good teamwork. For walk-in applications, ask for the manager, hand over your CV and say in one sentence which hours you can work. The CV builder makes a clean one-page student CV quickly.

A sample week

Here is how one second year student, Priya, fits work around study. She works two evening shifts in a city centre cafe on Tuesday and Thursday, from 6pm to 10pm, and one Saturday shift from 10am to 4pm. That gives her 14 hours a week, mostly outside lectures, with Sunday kept free for study and rest. In the four weeks before exams, she agrees with her manager to drop the Thursday shift. In the summer, she picks up extra hours to save for the next term. Her plan works because she agreed it early and keeps her manager informed.

Your own week will look different, but the idea is the same: decide how many hours you can manage, pick shifts that do not clash with study, protect at least one full day for rest and agree changes in advance.

What employers look for in student staff

Managers who hire students value people who turn up on time, tell them early about changes and work hard during each shift. A friendly attitude matters a lot in shops, cafes and front desk roles, and being willing to learn often counts for more than experience. Flexibility helps too. If you can cover some weekend or holiday shifts, say so in your application, because many managers find those times hard to fill.

Money tips for student workers

Your first wages can disappear fast. Make a simple budget that lists rent, travel, food and phone costs, and see how much your job covers. Try to save a little from every payslip for emergencies. Check that each payslip shows the right hours and the right rate for your age. If you get student finance, make sure you understand how your earnings and your loan or grant fit together, and ask your university's money advice team if you are unsure.

Your rights at work

Part-time workers have rights too. You should get at least the minimum wage for your age, a payslip, rest breaks and safe working conditions. You should not be treated less favourably than full-time staff just because you work part-time. If something seems wrong, speak to your manager first. Your student union and official advice services can also help.

Balancing work and study

Your studies come first. Agree your hours early, keep exam weeks lighter and use one calendar for lectures, shifts and deadlines. Tell your manager about exam dates at the start of term. If your grades slip or you feel worn out, cut your hours. A good employer will understand, and your degree is the bigger long-term investment.

Tax and National Insurance

Students in the UK pay income tax and National Insurance in the same way as other workers if they earn above the thresholds. Many part-time students earn below the tax threshold over a year, but your employer may still deduct tax if your tax code is wrong, especially in your first job. Check your payslip and your tax code, and use the official GOV.UK services to claim back any tax you overpaid. Keep your payslips and your P60 or P45 forms in a safe place.

Getting your first job without experience

Many student jobs do not need experience. Employers look for reliability, a friendly manner and willingness to learn. Show these with examples from school, sports teams, volunteering or helping at home. Apply to several places at once, follow up politely after a week and be flexible about shifts at first. Once you have one job on your CV, the next one is much easier to get.

Seasonal work

The weeks before major holidays and the summer months bring many short contracts in shops, warehouses, events and tourism. These roles are a great way to earn more during breaks without affecting term-time study. Apply early, often a couple of months before the season, because many employers recruit their seasonal teams well in advance.

Avoiding scams

Students are often targeted by fake job offers. Be careful if you are asked to pay for training, receive money into your bank account and send it on, or share bank details or ID before any interview. Very high pay for very little work is another warning sign. Real employers interview you and pay you; they do not ask you for money.

Building skills for your future career

Every part-time job builds skills you can use later: customer service, communication, teamwork, handling pressure and managing your time. Keep a short note of moments when you solved a problem, trained a new colleague or handled a busy rush. These become strong examples for graduate job applications and interviews. If you can, pick a part-time job linked to your future field, such as a care role for a nursing student or an IT help desk role for a computing student.

Interview tips for student jobs

Interviews for part-time jobs are usually short and friendly. Expect questions such as why you want the job, when you can work, how you would handle a busy rush or an unhappy customer and what you would do if a colleague did not turn up. Answer with short, real examples from school, sport, volunteering or home life. Dress neatly, arrive a few minutes early and smile. At the end, ask one question, such as what training new staff get. Managers remember candidates who are polite, prepared and clear about their availability.

Your first weeks in the job

The first weeks set the tone. Learn names quickly, ask questions when you are unsure and write down key steps such as till procedures or opening checks. Arrive on time for every shift, tell your manager early if you cannot make a shift and offer to help when it is busy. Small habits like these build trust fast, and trust leads to better shifts, more responsibility and a strong reference when you move on.

How many hours should you work?

There is no single right answer for adult students. Think about your course load, your travel time and how much rest you need. Many students find that a small number of regular hours each week fits well with study, with more hours in holidays. School pupils and Student visa holders must stay within their legal limits at all times. Whatever your situation, watch your grades and your energy and adjust if needed.

When you leave a student job

When your course ends or your timetable changes, leave on good terms. Give the notice your contract asks for, finish your last shifts well and thank your manager and team. Ask for a short reference or permission to name your manager as a referee. A positive reference from a part-time job can make a real difference when you apply for your first graduate role, because it shows an employer that someone has already trusted you with customers, money or a busy shift. Keep in touch with good managers; they can become useful contacts as your career grows, and a short message now and then keeps that link alive for years. Good contacts are one of the most lasting rewards of student work.

Live on Dev Global Jobs

Right now there are 111,793 open jobs on Dev Global Jobs (live count, 9 November 2026). Browse jobs in the UK and youth and student jobs, and build a one-page CV in the CV builder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates, GOV.UK. Accessed 3 October 2026.
2. Child employment, GOV.UK. Accessed 3 October 2026.
3. Child employment: Restrictions on child employment, GOV.UK. Accessed 3 October 2026.
4. Student visa: what you can and cannot do, GOV.UK. Accessed 3 October 2026.
5. How to get work experience, National Careers Service (UK). Accessed 3 October 2026.

Source: Dev Global Jobs, updated 9 November 2026.