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International students

As an international student, you can access the full range of services and resources from Student Futures, as well as additional resources tailored to you.

 
 

Working as an international student

Work experience is a great way to develop your skills. There are a number of ways you can gain work experience, including:

  • An internship: Usually takes place during university holiday periods and can be paid or unpaid
  • A placement: At Edinburgh Napier University, this is usually an assessed part of your programme and not every programme has a placement option. Ask your Personal Development Tutor if your programme has a placement option
  • Part-time work
  • Volunteering and work shadowing

You must understand the conditions of your visa before applying for work experience opportunities. If you are completing a full-time degree (and on a Tier 4 student visa), you are permitted to work:

  • A maximum of 20 hours per week during term time if you are studying a qualification at degree level or above
  • A maximum of 10 hours per week during term time if you are studying for a qualification below degree level
  • Full-time (40 hours per week) outside of term time (all study levels included). This includes university holiday periods.

For further information, contact our International Support team or visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website.

 

International student job opportunities with Student Circus

Student Circus is a job search platform for international students that brings you filtered visa job listings, internships, and placement opportunities. With Student Circus, you can now save time in your job search by only applying to employers who hire international students.

Edinburgh Napier students can sign up with their University email and get unlimited access to the platform.

Sign up at Student Circus
Lone student working with a laptop
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Will employers be interested in my work experience outside the UK?

Definitely. Employers will be interested in work experience outside of the UK if you make it relevant to the role you are applying for. Reflect on the skills you have to offer as an international student, such as:

  • Adaptability and wide perspective from working in a variety of cultural workplace settings
  • Ability to communicate professionally in multiple languages
  • Resilience and problem-solving skills from studying and working overseas

If you are struggling to reflect on your skills, you can book an appointment with one of our Career Development Consultants.

Is there a list of employers who will hire international students?

Unfortunately, no. It is your responsibility to research employers and opportunities. Visit our Work experience and Career options pages that suggest useful websites for job searching.

  • If you're looking for part-time work, ENSA provide advice and a list of websites for job searching.
  • Student Circus is a job search platform for international students that brings you filtered visa job listings, internships, and placement opportunities. With Student Circus, you can save time in your job search by only applying to employers who hire international students. Edinburgh Napier students can sign up with their university email and get unlimited access to the platform.

What are my visa options after graduation?

There are several different visas, so make sure you consider which is best for you. Find out more on our Working in the UK page, or visit the UKCISA website for more information.

How do I find a graduate job in the UK?

Visit our Career options page for general advice on finding a graduate job in the UK.

For information specifically for international students seeking employment in the UK, check out the following helpful resources:

How do I find work abroad or when I return home?

If you want to work abroad, it is important to understand the immigration and application procedures in your target country. Every country has its own criteria and research is essential.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office lists the foreign embassies in the UK which can be a useful source of information.

The websites below also provide further information about working overseas:

 
 

More information and advice

Read about the experiences of other international students on the ENU Alumni page.

For all queries on visas, please contact the Visa and International Support team: