Working while studying in the UK, Canada, and Australia: what's allowed

Most West African students partly fund their studies with part-time work. Here's what's legal.

United Kingdom - 20 hours/week during term - Full time during vacations - Minimum wage £11.44/hour (2026) - Self-employment and freelancing not permitted

Canada - 24 hours/week during term (post-Nov 2024 rule) - Full time during scheduled breaks - Minimum wage varies by province (CA$14–18/hour)

Australia - 48 hours per fortnight during term - Unlimited during scheduled breaks - Minimum wage AU$24.10/hour

Where students actually find jobs - Retail and hospitality (most common) - Campus jobs (best work-life balance) - Tutoring (best pay) - Care work (UK only — strong demand)

Plan to cover 30–50% of living costs from work. Tuition and core rent should be funded before arrival.