Student Work Rules: UK, US, Canada and Australia (2026)

Updated on 18 October 2026

Part-time work can cover daily costs while you study, but every country sets its own limit, and breaking it can put your visa at risk. Students heading to the United Kingdom can work up to 20 hours a week in term time at degree level, and students in the United States can work on campus only, up to 20 hours a week, unless they get extra authorisation. This guide compares those two with Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand and France, and shows how to count your hours so you stay inside the rules.

Work limits at a glance

Country	Limit during term	Full-time allowed?
United Kingdom	20 hours a week at degree level, 10 hours below degree level	In official vacations, with exceptions for postgraduates
United States	On campus only, up to 20 hours a week	On campus during official breaks
Canada	24 hours a week off campus for eligible students	In scheduled breaks, up to 180 days a year
Australia	48 hours per fortnight	In scheduled course breaks
Germany	140 full days or 280 half days a year	In semester breaks
New Zealand	25 hours a week on new visas from 3 November 2025	In scheduled breaks
France	964 hours a year in total	Counted inside the yearly cap

Rules apply to the date you work, and your own visa conditions are what count. Always read the conditions printed on your permit or visa letter, and ask your university’s international office if anything is unclear.

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Country notes

United Kingdom

On a Student visa, the weekly cap is 20 hours in term time if you study at degree level or above, and 10 hours below degree level. The cap applies to each single week, not to an average across several weeks. Undergraduates can usually work full-time in the summer vacation and over the Easter and Christmas holidays. For postgraduates, summer counts as term time, so the 20-hour cap still applies until your course has ended and you have completed it. Check your visa letter and your university’s guidance for the exact dates.

Some work is not allowed at all on a Student visa. That includes self-employment and freelancing, running or setting up a business, filling a permanent position, and working as a professional sportsperson, sports coach or entertainer. Making or buying items to sell counts as trading. After you graduate, the Graduate Route currently lasts 2 years, and from 1 January 2027 it falls to 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates. PhD graduates keep 3 years.

United States

F-1 students may work on campus only, up to 20 hours a week while classes are in session. Off-campus work needs separate authorisation, such as Curricular Practical Training linked to your course or Optional Practical Training. Optional Practical Training gives up to 12 months of work for each level of study, and eligible STEM graduates can apply for a 24-month extension. Part-time pre-completion training reduces the 12 months, so ask your designated school official before you use it.

Canada

You must be a full-time student at a designated learning institution on a programme of at least six months, with a Social Insurance Number and a study permit that allows work. Language, pathway and exchange students are generally not eligible. A scheduled break must appear in your school’s published calendar and last at least seven days, and you must be enrolled in the term before and after it. Since 1 April 2026, eligible post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op permit for required placements. After graduation, the Post-Graduation Work Permit can last up to 3 years, based on your programme length.

Australia

The 48-hour fortnight limit has applied during study terms since 1 July 2023. A fortnight is counted as a rolling period, so plan shifts carefully. See our Australia student work rights guide with a counting example.

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Germany

A half day is up to four hours. Student assistant jobs and jobs closely linked to your studies have no hour limit. After you graduate, a residence permit of up to 18 months lets you look for work in your field. Most public universities charge no tuition, but Baden-Wuerttemberg and the Technical University of Munich charge non-EU students.

New Zealand

The 25-hour limit applies to tertiary students and Year 12 to 13 secondary students, on visas granted from 3 November 2025. If your visa still shows 20 hours, you need a variation of conditions or a new visa to get the higher limit.

France

The yearly cap of 964 hours is counted from the date your residence document is issued. Internships do not count towards it. Going over the cap can lead to your card not being renewed. France is also raising tuition for new non-EU students from September 2026, to EUR 2,895 a year for a bachelor’s and EUR 3,941 for a master’s, so budget for it.

Worked examples

All examples are hypothetical and use the limits in the table above.

United Kingdom: a weekly cap, not an average

A master’s student works 12 hours one week and 28 hours the next, because a shop offers extra shifts. The average is 20 hours, but the second week breaches the 20-hour weekly cap. A safer pattern is 18 to 20 hours every week of term. If the same student has an official Christmas break, full-time hours are allowed in that break.

United States: on campus and after graduation

An F-1 student works 15 hours a week in the library during term. That is allowed. Taking a restaurant job off campus, even for a few shifts, is not allowed without authorisation. After graduation, Optional Practical Training can give up to 12 months of work in the field, and eligible STEM graduates can apply for a 24-month extension.

Canada: term weeks and breaks

A full-time master’s student at a Canadian university works 22 hours in a week of classes, which is under the 24-hour limit. In a scheduled two-week break she works 40 hours a week, which is allowed because the break is in the school calendar. If she worked 30 hours during a class week, she would breach her permit conditions, even if her average over the month looked fine.

Australia: the rolling fortnight

Pattern	Week 1	Week 2	Fortnight total	Within 48?
A	25 hours	23 hours	48	Yes
B	30 hours	20 hours	50	No
C	10 hours	38 hours	48	Yes, but check every other fortnight window too

Because any fortnight counts, not only fixed pay periods, a heavy week followed by a heavy week can breach the limit even if your pay slips look separate.

Germany: counting half days

A student works three 4-hour shifts a week in a cafe. Each shift counts as a half day, so that is 3 half days a week. Over 46 working weeks, the total is 138 half days, which is under the 280 half-day limit. If the same student adds a full-day shift each Saturday in the lecture period, each of those counts as a whole day, and the combined total must stay within 140 full days or 280 half days. Student assistant jobs at the university do not count against the limit.

After you graduate

Country	Post-study route	Length
United Kingdom	Graduate Route	2 years now; 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates from 1 January 2027; 3 years for PhD
United States	Optional Practical Training	12 months, plus 24 months for eligible STEM degrees
Canada	Post-Graduation Work Permit	Up to 3 years, depending on programme length
Germany	Residence permit to look for work	Up to 18 months
Ireland	Stamp 1G	12 months for Level 8; 24 months for Level 9 or 10

Post-study rules are tied to the level of your qualification, the type of institution and your nationality, so confirm yours before you enrol. See our guide to post-study work routes for more.

How to stay inside the rules

Read the work conditions on your visa or permit, and ask the international office if anything is unclear.
Keep a weekly log of hours worked, with employer name and dates.
Tell every employer your weekly cap in writing, and decline extra shifts that push you over it.
Check your school’s published term and break dates before accepting full-time work.
Keep payslips and tax records, since authorities can review them during later applications.
Do not work unpaid or cash-in-hand for hours that would count, because they still count towards your limit.

Choosing a destination by work rules

If you want…	Look at	Watch for
A clear weekly cap and a post-study route	United Kingdom	The Graduate Route length changes on 1 January 2027
On-campus income and a work year after graduating	United States	Off-campus work needs authorisation
Flexible hours for part-time income	Australia, New Zealand, Canada	Higher living costs; hours are still capped
Work tied to your subject	Germany (student assistant roles)	German-language needs outside campus
A long post-study stay	Canada, Ireland, the UK	Rules that are changing, such as the UK Graduate Route

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours can an international student work in the UK?

Up to 20 hours a week in term time at degree level or above, and 10 hours a week below degree level. Check your visa letter, because your own conditions are what count.

Can an F-1 student work off campus in the United States?

Not without authorisation. On-campus work is allowed up to 20 hours a week in term. Off-campus options such as Curricular Practical Training or Optional Practical Training need approval first.

Can I freelance or start a business on a UK Student visa?

No. Self-employment, freelancing and running or setting up a business are not allowed on a Student visa.

What happens if I work more than allowed?

You breach your visa conditions. Consequences can include losing student status, refusal of future permits, and removal. Work hours can be checked during a later application, so keep payslips and timesheets.

Do internships count towards the limit?

It depends on the country. In France internships do not count towards the 964 hours. In Canada, required placements need no separate permit from 1 April 2026 for eligible post-secondary students. Confirm with your school’s international office.