Working in the UK
Working in the UK
If you are interested in getting a part-time job while you are in UK, here are some important considerations which you must take into account and some guidelines which might be of assistance.
Question
Can I work to supplement my stipend?
Answer
Your Chevening scholarship should be enough for you to live on in UK. If you think, for whatever reason, that you will have to get a part-time job, you should seek advice from your course supervisor and Award Administrator concerning how much time you could devote to a job without it affecting your studies.
Your studies must remain your priority.You should also be aware of what is stated on your visa. A student visa will allow you to work up to 20 hours during term time and full time during holidays. Remember that the main reason you are in UK is to achieve the objectives of your Chevening scholarship and pass your course so this must be your main priority.
Your Award Administrator can offer advice and essential guidelines can be found at hhtp://www.ukcosa.org.uk. Refer also to the booklet "Studying and living in the UK" which you received at your pre-departure briefing. The UK government has recently changed the rules so that it is easier for international students to work while in UK. Permission to work while you are a student depends on where you are from, whether your award is for more or less than six months and what type of stamp the immigration authorities put in your passport.
Question
What kinds of immigration stamps are there?
Answer
There is one stamp for EEA nationals (ie people from countries within the European Economic Area). Nationals of other countries may get a "restriction on working" stamp whilst some others may fall under the "prohibition on working" category.
Question
What effect do these have on me getting a part-time job?
Answer
If you are a national of an EEA country you can work in the UK without restriction. You can work for an employer or be self-employed. For other countries, and provided you are staying for over six months, the immigration authorities will stamp your passport on arrival with a "restriction on working" stamp which also says "work (and any changes) must be authorised".
This means that you can’t take up a full-time job but, during term time, you can work up to twenty hours a week. You can, however, work full-time during the holidays. If your course is less than six months and you are from a country outside the EEA, your passport will probably be stamped "prohibition on working" which means you can’t work at all in UK. It might be possible to get this changed and you should either explain at immigration that you want to work while in UK or ask your University Student Adviser or Award Administrator.
Question
Can my spouse and family work?
Answer
If you are an EEA national, your dependants can work as well without restriction. For all others their passports will either get a "prohibition" stamp where the same rules as above apply or a stamp which doesn’t mention employment at all, which means they are free to work in UK with no restrictions.
Question
Is it possible to stay on in UK at the end of my course to get some work experience?
Answer
The purpose of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) Chevening scholarship scheme is to build strong relationships with international leaders of the future. Students who accept Chevening scholarships give an undertaking to return to their home countries after they have completed their studies by signing their Award Letter (paragraph 5, section i, “return to your home country at the conclusion of the scholarship”).
The purpose of the Chevening scholarship is to help advance the career of the scholar in their home country, hence the FCO would like them to honour their commitment to return home,
The FCO will not allow Chevening scholars to apply for the Tier 1 Post Study Work category and the FCO will not give letters of consent to employment in the UK.
