Working part-time is the primary way international students offset living costs. Work rights vary by country, and exceeding the legal work limit can result in visa cancellation.
Work Limits by Country
- Australia: 48 per fortnight · Unlimited
- UK: 20 per week (degree level) · Full-time permitted
- US: 20 per week (on-campus only) · Full-time on-campus
- Canada: 24 per week (off-campus) · Full-time permitted
- Germany: 120 full / 240 half days per year · Counts toward annual limit
- NZ: 20 per week · Full-time
Common Student Jobs
On-campus: Library assistant, IT help desk, student ambassador, admin/reception, tutor. Application: university careers portal.
Off-campus: Hospitality (café/restaurant/bar work — the most available), retail, tutoring (high school students), delivery driving, nanny/babysitting. Application: Seek, Indeed, Gumtree, university job boards, walk-in with CV.
Tax Obligations
International students are normally classified as “resident for tax purposes” if they study for more than 6 months and file tax returns. You’ll typically need a Tax File Number (TFN) — Australia, National Insurance Number — UK, Social Insurance Number (SIN) — Canada. Apply immediately upon arrival — processing can take several weeks.
Most student income falls below the tax-free threshold ($18,200 AUD, £12,570 GBP, CA$15,000). However, tax is deducted at the marginal rate by default (not the zero rate) — you must file a tax return to claim the refund.
Important: Don’t Rely on Part-Time Work for Tuition
Part-time work at minimum wage covers living costs (30–60% depending on hours and city). It does not cover tuition. Planning to “work my way through university” in Australia, UK, US, or Canada is not financially realistic for international students — tuition exceeds what a full-time minimum wage job pays in most countries. Part-time work is for supplementary living expenses and CV-building, not for covering the cost of study.