University of Birmingham - Part-time employment

What you get

You’ll earn at least £13.45 per hour (about 15.50 EUR) in part-time jobs on campus, although some roles pay higher hourly rates. For every hour worked, you’ll receive 18.18% in holiday pay, so your actual earnings will be higher. During term time, you can work up to 20 hours per week, which, according to the university, covers the cost of a typical week’s rent, utilities and food. Outside term time, you can work more, provided your visa allows it.

The university’s own service, ‘Worklink’, arranges these positions. Every year, it allocates over £3.5 million to employ around 3,000 students in more than 6,000 roles – ranging from laboratory technicians and exam invigilators to baristas, childcare workers, marketing content writers and sports camp assistants. A second service, ‘Jobs, Skills and Volunteering’ (run by the Students’ Union), also lists vacancies at the university and with local employers that offer flexible working hours to fit around your studies.

You’ll also receive support from the Careers Network with writing your CV, practising for job interviews and using LinkedIn, as well as free, unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning with over 16,000 online courses.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are enrolled at the University of Birmingham.
• Level of study: All year groups and levels of study, including undergraduates, postgraduates and PhD students.
• Field of study: Any subject.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. International students are also permitted to work, although UK visa regulations apply to all forms of employment. You should therefore check how many hours you are allowed to work on your student visa.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a scholarship that you have to apply for, but a job placement service open to all students in Birmingham. With over 6,000 vacancies filled each year across a wide range of sectors, there is plenty of choice. If you are enrolled at university and are meeting your visa requirements, you stand a good chance of finding flexible paid work.