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For full time students working during term-time, the University recommend working no more than 12 hours per week for undergraduates and a maximum of 6 hours per week for postgraduates.

For International students there are additional restrictions in place from the government – please check your visa to see what restrictions apply to you.

Working too many hours alongside your studies may have a detrimental effect on your academic achievement. There are currently no working hour recommendations for part time students.

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If you work in the UK and earn over £11,850 during the tax year, then you will have to pay tax.

If you think you have paid too much tax you can claim a refund here.

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By law, after 6 hours of continuous working, you are entitled to a 20 minute break.

Working time regulations (WTR) cover your employment rights to make sure you do not work excessive amounts.

You cannot be forced to work more than 48 hours in a single week; your boss can ask you to work more than this, but this request must be made in writing and in advance.

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By law, you should have at least 11 hours’ rest in each 24 hour period – this means if you finish a shift at 21:00 you shouldn’t be on the rota again until 08:00 the next day.

Working time regulations (WTR) cover your employment rights to make sure you do not work excessive amounts.

You cannot be forced to work more than 48 hours in a single week; your boss can ask you to work more than this, but this request must be made in writing and in advance.

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If you are an international student you are allowed to work as long as your visa entitles you to work during your study. You will normally be allowed to work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during holiday periods. However, whilst your visa may allow you to work up to 20 hours per week during term-time, University guidelines recommend working a maximum of 12 hours per week.

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As a worker you are covered by equality legislation. Equality law applies regardless of the size of the organisation, the number of employees or the type of work.

Under the Equality Act 2010 the protected characteristics (features which it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of) are:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and Civil Partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion and belief
• Sex
• Sexual Orientation

More information on the 2010 Equality Act can be found here.

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All workers are legally entitled to a certain amount of holiday per year (unless you are self-employed or on a temporary contract).

Full time workers get at least 5.6 paid holiday weeks a year (whether this includes bank holidays is up to your employer).

For part time workers you are entitled to a proportion of those 5.6 weeks, depending on how many hours/days you work.

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You can be off work for up to seven consecutive days before you need to provide your employer with a doctor’s note or ‘fit note’.

You are entitled to statutory sick pay if you normally earn over £112 per week and have been ill for at least four days in a row.

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Trade unions exist to maintain and improve employment conditions on behalf of their members. Some other benefits of joining include:

• Access to representation during any disputes or negotiations with your employer on matters such as pay, health and safety, hours of work and disciplinary proceedings.
• Providing assistance and services to their members such as CV writing, and legal and financial advice.
• Exclusive member discounts on a range of products.

Everyone has the right to join a trade union and cannot be discriminated against for joining one.

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You will not be charged for a National Insurance (NI) number – it is completely free.

To be able to work in the UK you need a National Insurance number (NI number). This applies to students of all nationalities. This is a unique personal reference number for all your tax/employment affairs.

If you are a UK student you will have received a National Insurance number when you were 16.

To get an NI number, telephone 0800 141 2075 (lines are open 8:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday).

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Every employer in the UK must follow employment legislation when employing staff. This includes working part time and casual employment.

At the start of your employment you should be given a statement of the terms and conditions of your employment within eight weeks of starting your job. This statement can be written or oral or both, and should include information such as:

• Job title
• Rate of pay
• Notice period
• Hours of work
• Holiday entitlement
• Details of pension scheme

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It is your employer’s responsibility to ensure that your workplace is a safe place to work. You have the ultimate right to refuse to work if you do not think your employer is fulfilling their responsibility to ensure safe working conditions.

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The Living Wage is calculated by the Living Wage Foundation charity, based on what it believes people need to live in the UK. It's separate to the Minimum Wage, which is a legal minimum rate set by the Government. The Living Wage is set at £9.00 per hour regardless of age, whereas the Minimum Wage is £5.90 (18-20 year olds), £7.38 (21-24 year olds) and £7.83 (25 and over).