Regulations for working in the UK

Hours of work

As a university, we recommend our students work no more than 15 hours per week, as any more can interfere with your studies. Where vacancies display hours of more than 15 per week, applications and acceptance of working hours are at your discretion.

Rates of pay

There are national minimum wage regulations in the UK, these are enforced through HM Revenue and Customs.

The rates change every April. The current national minimum wage rates as of 1 April 2021 are as follows:

• Aged 23 and over: £8.91 per hour
• Aged 21-22: £8.36 per hour
• Aged 18-20: £6.56 per hour
• Aged under 18: £4.62 per hour
• Apprentices: £4.30 per hour

National Insurance

UK nationals 

All UK nationals would have been issued National Insurance (NI) number at 16 years of age.

Non-UK nationals

It’s currently only possible to apply for a National Insurance number if you have entered the UK on a visa and have the right to work in the UK.

Applications are no longer being processed for EU nationals. However if you’re an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen, you can continue to use your passport or national identity card to prove you can work in the UK until 30 June 2021.

To apply for a National Insurance number, you need to contact the National Insurance Number application line: Telephone 0800 141 2075 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am - 6pm).

You will be advised to either complete and return a Fastpath Application Form or attend an interview at a Jobcentre Plus office.