Part-Time Work Rules for International Students: US, UK, Canada and Australia Compared (2026)

Almost every Indian student plans to work part-time abroad, and almost every family overestimates what that work can pay for. The part-time work rules for international students are strict and different in each country: the US barely allows off-campus work, the UK counts hours by the calendar week, Canada caps you at 24 hours, and Australia counts by the fortnight. Break the cap by a few hours and you put your visa at risk. Here is what each country allows in 2026, and what it means for your budget.

The Rules at a Glance

As of October 2026. Verify on the official immigration site before you take a job.

USA: On-Campus Is the Only Easy Option

On an F-1 visa you can work up to 20 hours a week on campus while classes are in session (library, dining hall, research or teaching assistant roles) and full-time during official breaks. You can start an on-campus job up to 30 days before your program begins. If you hold two campus jobs, the 20-hour limit applies to both combined.

Off-campus work is a different matter. It is allowed only through Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT) or a rare severe economic hardship approval, and usually only after one full academic year. Driving for a delivery app, tutoring for cash or working at a relative's store is unauthorised employment. That is a status violation that can end your F-1 and your chances at OPT and H-1B later. Our OPT vs CPT guide explains how the two routes work.

UK: 20 Hours, Counted Monday to Sunday

Degree-level students (bachelor's, master's, PhD) can work 20 hours a week in term time. Students below degree level, such as foundation or pre-sessional English courses, get 10 hours. UKVI counts a week as Monday to Sunday, so working 25 hours one week and 15 the next is still a breach. The limit covers paid and unpaid work, including internships.

Two traps catch Indian students every year:

• Master's summers usually count as term time. On a September-start one-year master's, your dissertation period runs through summer, so the 20-hour cap still applies. Your university's official vacation dates decide this, not your own timetable.
• Banned work: no self-employment or freelancing (including online selling or paid gig work you invoice for), no permanent full-time job, and no work as a professional sportsperson, coach or entertainer.

The National Living Wage is £12.71/hour from April 2026 for workers aged 21 and over. Twenty hours at that rate is about £254 a week before tax.

Canada: 24 Hours Off Campus, Unlimited on Breaks

Full-time students at a Designated Learning Institution, in a program of at least six months, can work up to 24 hours a week off campus during academic sessions and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks such as summer and winter holidays. Your study permit must carry the work condition, and you need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) before you start. You cannot work before your program begins. Students in ESL-only courses cannot work, and part-time students can only work in their final semester.

One useful change: since April 2026, most post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for mandatory placements that make up half or less of the program. Ontario's minimum wage rose to C$17.95/hour on 1 October 2026, so 24 hours comes to about C$431 a week. Working in Canada as a student also connects to your PGWP later, so stay within the rules.

Australia: 48 Hours a Fortnight

Subclass 500 holders can work 48 hours per fortnight once their course has started, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Because it is counted by the fortnight, you can work 30 hours one week and 18 the next. Students in a master's by research or a PhD have no cap once their course begins, and mandatory placements that are part of your course don't count toward the 48 hours.

Australia also pays the most. The national minimum wage is A$26.44/hour from 1 July 2026, and casual roles usually add a 25% loading under the relevant award. Read our Subclass 500 guide for the full visa conditions.

What This Means for Your Budget

Part-time work covers rent, groceries and transport, if you find a job quickly. It does not pay for tuition. Finding a first job often takes weeks in a new city, and visa officers in every country want to see funds for tuition and living costs in your account before you arrive. Expected earnings never count. Plan your finances using our cost of studying abroad breakdown, and treat part-time income as a buffer, not a funding source.

• If earning while you study matters a lot, Australia and Canada give the most hours and the highest wages.
• If you're heading to the US, plan for on-campus jobs only in year one, and fund the rest upfront.
• If you're doing a UK master's, assume a 20-hour cap for the whole year.

Planning Your Finances Before You Fly?

A realistic budget, including what you can and can't earn on your visa, makes the difference between a stressful first semester and a manageable one. Book a free consultation with Goodwind and we'll map out costs, funds proof and work options for your chosen country and course.