6 Great Part-Time Jobs for International Students Studying in the UK

If you’re looking to help supplement the costs of your study abroad journey but are unsure of what jobs are ideal for international students, keep reading. In the past, we’ve explored great part-time jobs for international students studying in the United States and Canada. In today’s blog, we’re looking at six popular and in-demand part-time gigs that students studying in the United Kingdom should consider. Be sure to check back next week as we outline more exciting part-time jobs for international students studying in Australia.

*The information in this blog post is sourced from Indeed, is provided for informational purposes only, and is in UK pounds.

Courtesy of the University of Surrey.

1. Administrator (£9.97/hour)

If you’re seeking experience in an office environment, then you may want to consider a part-time job as an administrator. In this role, you would be responsible for:

• Taking phone calls
• Greeting visitors
• Sending emails
• Filing documents
• Managing diaries

An administrator role would allow you to build your time management, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills. These newly acquired skills will help set you up for success in various administrator roles across countless industries should you continue to pursue this field.

Courtesy of Gov.UK.

2. Call Centre Agent (£11.13/hour)

Are you a people person with the gift of gab? Call centre agents use their excellent customer service skills to handle inbound and outbound calls. The nature of the messages and calls they receive includes bill payments, support complaints, questions, and more. As a call centre agent, you would be in charge of:

• Researching solutions 
• Processing orders, applications, and forms requested by customers
• Identifying and escalating priority issues 
• Recording details of inquiries, complaints, comments, and actions taken
• Completing call notes and call reports 

This role boasts flexible hours, which is ideal for international students who need to balance their studies and work, plus all the fun in between.

Courtesy of Gov.UK.

3. Housekeeper (£9.42/hour)

If you’re not interested in being stuck behind a desk all day and would rather be on your feet, a part-time job as a housekeeper could be the perfect choice for you. In this role, you would:

• Sweep, vacuum, dust, and mop the living areas
• Wipe down the counters, cabinet doors, appliances, and sinks in the kitchens
• Clean the toilets, bathtubs, mirrors, and showers in the bathrooms
• Wash, fold, and iron clothes
• Clean interior windows
• Change bed linens

If cleaning and organizing have always been one of your strong suits, check out the housekeeping and cleaning companies that are hiring in your new city. 

Courtesy of Newcastle University.

4. Private Tutor (£21.28/hour)

One of the highest-paying part-time jobs for international students is private tutoring. If you’ve got expertise in a specific subject and are organized, reliable, and great at breaking down hard-to-understand information, you should consider it as a part-time job. As a tutor, you would be responsible for:

• Recognizing students’ individual learning needs
• Working with students to enhance their skills in specific subjects
• Preparing lessons and assigning and correcting homework
• Evaluating students’ progress 
• Discussing the results with students or their parents
• Preparing and correcting tests

If you have dreams of becoming a teacher or just enjoy passing on the knowledge that you already have, then becoming a private tutor could be the route for you.

Courtesy of Gov.UK.

5. Warehouse Operative (£10.08/hour)

If you’re somebody who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty, then a part-time job as a warehouse operative should be on your radar. In this role, you would be responsible for the following duties:

• Picking and packing stock for delivery
• Loading products onto vehicles
• Keeping count of stock levels

Not only do warehouse operatives have the perk of working flexible hours, but they can get away with skipping the gym now and then due to the physical demands of the job.

6. Barista (£9.47/hour)

Calling all coffee lovers! Does the thought of working in a cute coffee shop excite you? The environment is pleasant, and the aromas are divine. Coffee shops tend to hire students due to their flexible schedules, so finding an open position should be relatively easy. As a barista, you would be in charge of:

• Preparing and serving cold and hot drinks such as tea and coffee, as well as specialty and artisan beverages
• Sanitizing and cleaning work utensils, areas, and equipment
• Cleaning seating and service areas
• Suggesting products to customers
• Describing menu items
• Serving customers and taking orders

In addition to the enjoyable environment, another benefit of working in a coffee shop is that many owners offer free or discounted coffee and treats to their employees, but don’t hold us to that!