Students

Finding a Job

You may want to work as a student iin the UK, we can help you to find a job, and guide you on the number of hours you are entitled to work.

Typical student jobs are working in cafes or restaurants, cleaning or clerical work.

European Economic Area

If you come from a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) you can work in the UK (but certain EEA nationals are required to register with the Home Office).

Outside European Economic Area

If you are from outside the EEA, your right to work will depend on your immigration status:

If you are a student but you are in the UK with permission as a 'visitor', you are not allowed to do any paid or unpaid work - you are prohibited from working. Check your visa or passport stamp, it should state something like 'no work' or 'work prohibited'.

If you are a student and you have permission to be in the UK as a 'student' then you are allowed to work - paid or unpaid - up to 20 hours per week during your academic term. You are allowed to work full time during your vacations (at Christmas, Easter and during the summer).

Where can you work?

Typical student jobs are working in cafes or restaurants, cleaning or clerical work. You can look for part-time work in the job centre and in recruitment agencies in the city, or read the local newspaper 'Yorkshire Evening Post' on a Thursday, when jobs are advertised. Staff at NSL will be happy to help you with this. Also look on the jobs notice board in the school where jobs are often advertised, and in the Post Office window on New Road Side, near NSL.

If you have any concerns about terms or conditions of your work, feel free to ask the staff of NSL for advice.

Opening a Bank Account

If you are planning to stay in Leeds for a while it will be useful for you to open a bank account. International students can open a bank account at most banks and NSL will help you as much as possible. It is a good idea to get advice from your bank in your home country, and make sure you have money (bank card, cash or traveller’s cheques) for your first few weeks in Leeds, while you are opening a new account. If you would like information about local banks so that you can check them out before you arrive in Leeds please ask us.

We will help you make appointments with the bank if you need us to, and make sure you have the correct documentation to take with you.
Normally you will need:

  • Identification (eg. Passport)
  • proof of address in UK (eg. Contract or letter from homestay provider)
  • proof of student status, which we will provide you with.

We will even go with you to the bank, if necessary, to help you. Most of the staff at NSL have spent time living abroad and know how it feels to be in a strange country, and processes like this with limited language can be very challenging.

International students normally open “basic bank accounts”, but these have limited facilities. Often they do not provide a cheque book or debit card. A debit card is very useful. It is a bank card which you can use to withdraw money from a cash machine or buy online or in shops. Ask your bank which accounts you can open that provide debit cards. If you have have a credit card from your home country bring it with you. Sometimes it can be difficult for international students to apply for a credit card in the UK.

UK currency

In the UK we use pounds (£) and pence. You will normally use:

  • £50 notes
  • £20 notes
  • £10 notes
  • £5 notes
  • £2 coins
  • £1 coins
  • 50p coins
  • 20p coins
  • 10p coins
  • 5p coins
  • 2p coins
  • 1p coins

If you need any help with money matters of any kind please ask a member of our welfare team to help you.