Changes to the ability of students to work

The government has announced that from July 2011 only students studying directly at higher education institutions will be able to work while they are in the UK with Tier 4 leave. All other new students will have no right to work.

Students sponsored by publicly-funded colleges of further education will also be able to work ten hours per week in term-time and full-time during vacations.

The restrictions on the right to work were announced as part of a full review of the student route. Other changes to be introduced will include restrictions on work placements in courses outside universities.

There will also be restrictions on the ability of students to bring their dependants with them to the UK. Only postgraduate students at universities and government-sponsored students, in both cases who are studying for a minimum of 12 months, will be able to bring dependant spouses and children when they come to the UK to study. Dependants who are allowed to come to the UK will continue to have unrestricted access to the labour market.

For more information please contact Nicolas Rollason.