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Work limits are off for health students in UK

In a move similar to Australia, the UK has confirmed that international students who are employed by an NHS trust are not confined to usual working hours caps of 20 hours per week.

Photo: Gustavo Fring/ Pexels

"Tier 4 students with work rights whose sponsor suspends all study will be permitted to work full-time during this period"

This follows the previous announcement from government that any overseas-registered health professionals whose visa was due to expire by 1 October received an automatic one-year extension.

“Tier 4 students who have work rights and are employed by an NHS trust as a doctor, nurse or paramedic will not be restricted to 20 hours work per week during term time and may work without limit on the number of hours permitted,” states the latest T4 guidance.

In Australia, a similar rule was amended on 18 March

In fact, if their studies are suspended because of coronavirus-related issues, these students can work full-time.

“Tier 4 students with work rights whose sponsor suspends all study as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak will be considered to be in vacation time and so will be permitted to work full-time during this period.”

The rule clarification is part of a wider, flexible policy shift, a temporary concession on Tier 4 rules as universities struggle to adapt to international student populations which are spread around the globe – and severe uncertainty around future admissions protocol.

In Australia, a similar rule was amended on 18 March relating to international students working in “aged care”.

“As more workers take leave to quarantine or because of health concerns, we need to make sure there are enough staff to look after our older Australians who are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus,” Alan Tudge. acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, said.

“Many international students already work in the aged care sector but are restricted to 40 hours a fortnight. We’re relaxing those limits to help fill the temporary staff shortages.”

According to UCAS, a record high of 30,390 people were accepted onto nursing courses in the UK in 2019. Applicants from outside the EU rose by almost a third.

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35 Responses to Work limits are off for health students in UK

  1. Does this relaxation cover International students on a tier 4 visa who work in the healthcare sector but are not employed by the NHS trust. that is those employed by private care providers?

  2. Hi Team,

    Since dec-2020, I am working as a covid test Distributor in Kensington, London.
    Could you please confirm am I restricted to work only for 20 hours per week.

    Thank you.

  3. What about international students working in care home. Are they restricted to work for 20 hours?

  4. I am a nursing student, working 20 hours in a care home as a senior HCA, cared for the covid patients during the pandemic. Am I restricted for 20hors?

  5. Hi,
    I am on Tire 4 Visa and employed by NHS for Covid Admin I am eligible to work more than 20 hrs per week.

  6. Is this applied to International students? And I have been working in health and social care as HCA. Due to the shortage of labour in HSC company make you cover more than 20 hours. I am working with a different agency and am done with my coursework. Is and lectures, and we’re to submit our dissertation in August.

  7. Is this relaxation for the students worked in mental health hospitals which is private and worked for mare than 20 hrs?

  8. As an international student working in an nhs trust as a healthcare assistant,is this relaxation of work limits applicable to me also in 2021?

  9. Please I work with an agency who sends us (workers) to work as health care support staff for nhs. I am a postgraduate student with tier 4 visa. Is the full time applicable to us?
    Is the full time also applicable for students on tier 4 visa working in a care home?

  10. I am a tier 4 student visa holder and currently work as a support care worker in a private care company, kindly confirm to me if this extension is applicable to my category of work.

    Thank you

  11. I am on Tire 4 visa and working as Covid 19 Admin in NHS trust bank job with zero hours contract as per shift it will be more than 20 hrs per week is there any relaxation working for NHS

  12. I am a postgraduate student with tier 4 visa.employed by an NHS trust as healthcare support worker and also work with an Agency as healthcare support staff for nhs hospitals.
    Kindly confirm if the relaxation of work limit is applicable to me

  13. Can I work more than 20 hours per week? I am an international student who works in care homes with a private employer.
    Thanks

  14. I am an international postgraduate student who works in care homes with a private employer, can i work more than 20 hours in a week?

  15. Students who have work rights and are employed by an NHS trust within any
    of the professions listed below, will not be restricted to 20 hours work per
    week during term time and may work without limit on the number of hours
    permitted for that NHS role:
    • biochemist
    • biological scientist
    • dental practitioner
    • health professional
    • medical practitioner
    • medical radiographer
    • midwife
    • nurse
    • occupational therapist
    • ophthalmologist
    • paramedic
    • pharmacist
    • physiotherapist
    • podiatrist
    • psychologist
    • social worker
    • speech and language therapist
    • therapy professional

  16. I am a post gratuate student studying Psychological Wellbeing and Mental health. I am a care and surport worker. Can I work more than 20hrs per week.

  17. As an international student with 20 hours restrictions for work per week, can I work more than 29 hours a week if I am working as a Domiciliary carer in a private agency?

  18. I am working as a administrator/ receptionist in GP- Surgery , am I eligible for work more than 20 hours in a week?

  19. Just I started work with nhs by agency so can I work more then 20 hours working in Watford general hospital .uk

  20. What are the procedures to follow as an International student who wants to work above 20 hours employed by a care home not NHS trust

  21. Agency sent me to one of the care home in Derby, I had been working there for more than 20hrs. I was told to apply as a permanent staff that they will do sponsorship visa. I submitted my documents to them. Hope that is not implicative? Am afraid now. But now I have gotten a new job with NHS in London offered me 37.5hrs.

  22. I am an international student here in the UK, Am I eligible to work as a paramedic as I have a graduate in Medical Laboratory Technology and also have relevant work experience.

  23. Can I work more than 20 hours a week during term time and out of term time in a care home as an international student?
    Won’t my Visa renewal be refused?

  24. Hi,

    Can I work 22 hrs a week in a care home as an international student?
    Won’t my Visa renewal be refused?

    Bcos the manager told me I can work 24 hrs in a care home and it’s won’t affect me but I told her nope, can you please enlighten me on all this if I can work the 22 or holdon to my 20hrs.

    Thank you.

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