Overview of Work Regulations for International Students: Allowed Work Hours During the Term and Full-Time Work During Breaks in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong

Working while studying can help cover living expenses and build your resume. However, student visas have strict rules regarding employment: the maximum weekly hours, whether you can work full-time during breaks, and prohibited jobs vary by country. Violating these limits can result in a warning, or worse, loss of student status and visa cancellation. This article outlines the work regulations for current students in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore based on official government websites. Post-graduation work visas are not covered here.

1. Work Regulations Across Six Regions at a Glance

Each region has more specific conditions, detailed below.

2. United States: On-Campus Work Primarily, Off-Campus Requires Authorization

On-Campus Work

• Up to 20 hours per week during the academic term;
• New students can apply for on-campus work up to 30 days before classes start;
• No separate work permit is required, but you must confirm with your school's international student office.

Off-Campus Work

F-1 students working off-campus must fall into one of the following approved categories:

• CPT (Curricular Practical Training): The internship must be an integral part of the curriculum, approved by the school's DSO. See this article on master's internships for details;
• OPT: Can be used before graduation (part-time only during the term) or after graduation;
• Severe Economic Hardship: Eligible if you have completed at least one full academic year and are facing severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond your control.

Consequences of Violations

According to the Department of Homeland Security, if a DSO becomes aware that you are working without authorization, they must report it in the SEVIS system, and your SEVIS record will be terminated. This means you must leave the US immediately and may be barred from returning. This has the most direct consequences among all the countries listed.

3. United Kingdom: Depends on Course Level

According to Appendix ST 26 of the UK Immigration Rules for students:

• Students enrolled in degree-level or above courses at eligible higher education institutions can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during vacations;
• Students enrolled in below degree-level courses at these institutions can work up to 10 hours per week during term time and full-time during vacations;
• Other types of study (including part-time) do not permit work.

Prohibited jobs:

• Self-employment or business ownership;
• Professional sports or sports coaching;
• Entertainment work;
• Filling a permanent full-time vacancy (with rare exceptions, such as switching to a Skilled Worker visa).

Your specific work conditions will be stated on your visa. Once approved, carefully review the conditions in your eVisa. Additionally, internships required by your course and full-time sabbatical officer roles in a student union (for up to 2 years) are permitted.

4. Canada: 24 Hours Off-Campus per Week, No Limit On-Campus

Off-Campus Work

• Eligibility: Studying full-time at a designated learning institution (DLI), holding a valid study permit, and enrolled in an academic, vocational, or professional training program of at least 6 months that leads to a degree or diploma;
• Up to 24 hours per week during the academic term; you can work multiple jobs, but the total cannot exceed 24 hours;
• No limit during scheduled breaks (winter/summer vacations, reading weeks, etc.);
• Cannot work before classes start; work can only begin after your studies have commenced;
• Cannot work off-campus during a leave of absence or while transferring schools;
• Exceeding 24 hours violates permit conditions and may result in loss of student status.

On-Campus Work

If your study permit includes work authorization conditions, you can work on campus with no hourly limits during the term or breaks. Teaching or research assistantships directly related to the school's research funding, as well as work at affiliated libraries, hospitals, or research institutes, also count as on-campus work.

Co-op Work Placements

Starting April 1, 2026, college and university students participating in required co-op placements no longer need a separate co-op work permit, provided they meet requirements such as having work conditions printed on their study permit. See this article on master's internships for details.

Social Insurance Number (SIN)

You need a SIN to work in Canada, and applying for one requires your study permit to have work authorization conditions printed on it. If you are eligible but it is not printed on your permit, you must first apply to have it added.

5. Australia: 48 Hours per Fortnight

• Up to 48 hours per fortnight during the academic term; this limit also applies during exam periods and before classes start;
• No limit during scheduled breaks;
• Students in research master's or PhD programs can exceed 48 hours at any time;
• You must apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) before starting work;
• You can check your visa conditions through the Department of Home Affairs' VEVO system.

Students in Australia are protected by Australian labor laws, and the minimum wage is adjusted annually. According to Study Australia, if you are paid below the minimum wage and report it to the Fair Work Ombudsman, you will not get into trouble for doing so.

6. Hong Kong and Singapore

Hong Kong

Students enrolled in local degree programs can take up part-time on-campus jobs for up to 20 hours per week, with no limit during summer vacation. There are currently temporary relaxed arrangements; refer to the conditions stated in the notification letter issued by the Immigration Department. See this article on Hong Kong for details.

Singapore

According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in Singapore, students holding a Student's Pass and studying full-time at designated institutions can work without applying for a work pass:

• During term: Up to 16 hours per week, or participate in school-organized internships that count towards graduation requirements; institutions where students can work during the term are mainly polytechnics and universities;
• During vacations: No hourly limit for students aged 14 and above; the list of institutions where students can work during vacations is broader and includes some secondary schools.

Refer to the MOM website for the specific list of institutions.

7. Things to Confirm Before You Start Working

1. Check your visa conditions carefully. Check your eVisa for the UK, study permit for Canada, VEVO for Australia, and notification letter for Hong Kong. Your actual visa conditions prevail over any online information.
2. Understand the definitions of "term" and "break." These are generally based on the school's official academic calendar, not just days when you have no classes.
3. Combine hours from multiple jobs. Canada's 24-hour limit is the total for all off-campus work; Australia's 48-hour limit is calculated per fortnight.
4. Avoid prohibited job types. For example, self-employment in the UK, or exceeding work hours in Australia and Canada.
5. Keep records. Save your pay stubs and shift schedules in case you need to prove you haven't exceeded your hours.
6. Consult your school first. If in doubt, check with your school's international student office.

Final Thoughts

Working while studying is permitted, but "permitted" has clear boundaries. The purpose of working is to support your living expenses and gain experience; it must not interfere with your studies, and you must certainly not risk losing your student status just to work a few extra hours. Before you start working, make sure you fully understand the conditions on your visa.

For post-graduation work visas, check out our comparison of student visas across six regions; for more questions, see our 20 FAQs on student visas.

Verification note: This article was verified in September 2026. The US section is cross-referenced with the "Working in the US" page and CPT/OPT guidelines on the Department of Homeland Security's "Study in the States" website; the UK section with Appendix ST 26 of the UK Immigration Rules on GOV.UK; the Canada section with the off-campus work page (updated April 15, 2026), on-campus work page (updated May 1, 2026), and co-op work page on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; the Australia section with the student visa and work rights page on the Study Australia website; the Hong Kong section is sourced from the Hong Kong Immigration Department and verified in our Hong Kong article; the Singapore section is cross-referenced with the work pass exemption page for student passes on the Ministry of Manpower website (updated May 11, 2026). Policies are subject to change; please refer to your visa and the latest official information for specific conditions.

References:

• Study in the States：Working in the United States
• Study in the States：F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
• GOV.UK：Immigration Rules Appendix Student（ST 26）
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: Work off campus
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: Work on campus
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: Work in a student work placement
• Study Australia：Student visa (subclass 500)
• Study Australia：Your work rights explained
• Ministry of Manpower Singapore: Work pass exemption for foreign students