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Working in the UK
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Working in the UK as an International Student
This will depend upon what has been placed in your
passport. You should have a sticker (vignette) or a stamp
that outlines the conditions of your stay in the UK,
including whether you are allowed to work. The type of
sticker or stamp that you are given is often linked to the
length of your course.
Conditions attached to working in UK
Students studying in the UK for six months or longer
should be allowed to work. However, there are some limits
on the type of work you can do and the number of hours.
Consequently, this sticker/stamp is known as a
“restriction”.
A restriction sticker / stamp in the passport will state:
“Leave to enter for/until…(( …No recourse to public funds
Work and (any changes) must be authorised”
Although it refers to “authorisation” being needed, the
good news is that the government has given a blanket
concession allowing all students with this sticker or
stamp in their passports to work. Therefore a prospective
employer should be able to determine whether you can be
employed by simply checking the wording in the passport.
IMPORTANT criteria:
• The job must not be more than 20 hours per week during
term-time. However,
during the vacations there is no limit on the number of
hours worked.
• You should not be occupying a full-time position.
• You cannot work as a professional sports person or
entertainer.
• You cannot be self-employed.
Work placements/internships
All International Students with “restrictions” are able to
take up work placements and internships without having to
seek individual permission. There are guidelines about
what constitutes a placement or internship so seek advice
from the Placement Office on your local campus.
WARNING: Course Attendance Requirements
Do not let your part time work affect your attendance rate
at school. By law, international students MUST have an
attendance rate of at least 85%. Those students who do not
meet these requirements will be in breach of visa
regulations and you may have your visa revoked and be
deported to your home country. The school is obliged to
report any students whose attendance drops below this rate
to the Home Office.
Can my dependants work?
This will depend on the length of stay granted in your
passport. If you have been granted stay in the UK for 12
months or longer then your dependants will be able to
work. A dependant’s sticker allowing a dependant to work
will state either: “Leave to enter / remain in the UK for
/ until(specified time)No recourse to public funds”
Or:
“Leave to enter / remain in the UK on condition that the
holder maintains and accommodates himself and any
dependants without recourse to public funds is hereby
given for / until (specified time)"
EEA nationals
As an EEA National you have no employment restrictions and
may take employment freely.
Tax and National Insurance
Students and their dependants will have to pay both tax
and national insurance in the same way as home and EEA
students. You will need to apply for a National Insurance
number, but do not need to have received your National
Insurance number before you start work. To apply for an NI
number you must call: 08456000643, your local Job Centre
Plus can also advise you on how to apply. You can find
their details in a local telephone directory.
Staying on after your studies
For information on the Post Study Work Scheme
go here
Further information:
UKCOSA Website:
http://www.ukcosa.org.uk
Home Office Website:
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk
Workers Registration Scheme:
http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk
Department for Education and Skills Website:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/international-students
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UK Culture
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In your home country, there are probably many customs and
social rules that come naturally and you do not even think
of them as part of your culture – you are so used to them
that you take them for granted. When living in the UK you
will notice that many of these customs are different or
seem strange to what you are used to. These differences
can take a little getting used but they are some of the
reasons why living in a foreign country can be so exciting
and educational. When you first arrive in the UK, you may
notice differences in:
• the way people dress
• the behaviour of men and women – towards each other and
in general
• expectations about punctuality – how important it is to
be on time
• attitudes toward animals – for example, many people
share their homes with dogs, cats and other pets
• aspects of religious practice
• food and eating habits
• the climate.
Culture Shock
When you first arrive in the UK, you will probably be
excited about living in another country, meeting new
people and starting your course. Everything will seem new
and fascinating. However, at some point during your stay
in the UK most people will suffer from some kind of
“Culture Shock.” This is when you may feel overwhelmed by
the amount of new information you have to digest or when
you are feeling homesick.
To help overcome these problems it may help to have some
connection to your home country, keep in touch with your
family or spend time with people from your country.
Remember your faith, if you follow a religion and worship
regularly at home, you should continue to do so while you
are in the UK as this can provide a sense of stability and
be a link to your life at home. Every major religion in
the world is represented in the UK and London has many
places of worship for a variety of religions. Learn as
much as possible about British culture and way of life to
help you settle in and so there won’t be many major
surprises when living in London.
Cultural differences
Smoking
Many people in the UK smoke. However, smoking is becoming
less socially acceptable. Smoking in the UK is banned in
all public indoor spaces UK. If you are in breach of
no-smoking regulations, you could be fined £50. If in
doubt, check for a sign or ask someone in authority.
Drinking
In the UK, it is perfectly acceptable for adults to drink
alcohol in moderate amounts. For many British people,
drinking is an established part of their social life –
‘going out for a drink’ is how they relax or spend time
with friends. Do not be surprised if people arrange to
meet in a bar, or if events are held in a pub. You are not
obliged to drink alcohol even if you are in a pub, you can
always ask for a non-alcoholic drink instead. If you feel
uncomfortable going to places that serve alcohol, explain
this to your friends and arrange to meet somewhere else
Explaining about your culture
British citizens who are not familiar with your culture,
may not understand your needs or customs. Most people will
be very accommodating to your concerns and culture if you
explain to them the reasons behind your actions. It would
help if you inform people about your food preferences,
religious practises and any others needs.
Personal safety
The UK is generally a safe place to live. Nevertheless, as
in any country, there can be problems in certain areas, so
you should take some simple, sensible precautions:
• Make a note of all your credit card and bank card
numbers and take a photocopy of your passport,
particularly the pages that contain your passport number,
photograph and any relevant visa stamps. Keep this in a
safe place in your accommodation.
• Never carry large amounts of cash. Be careful of your
handbag, purse or wallet when you are in crowded places.
If your credit cards, bank cards or passport are stolen,
report the theft to the police immediately, and notify
your bank.
• Be vigilant when withdrawing cash from an ATM machine;
make sure no one is looking over your shoulder at your PIN
number.
• If you are out at night by yourself, try to keep to
busy, well-lit areas. Be cautious about speaking to
strangers at night. Ideally you should pre-book a taxi to
take you home at night. If anyone does threaten you and
demand your money or other valuables, do not resist – give
up your money and valuables. Then report the incident to
the police as soon as possible.
• If you own or hire a car, never leave it unlocked. In
addition, either fit an alarm to the car, or use an extra
lock that can be fitted to the steering wheel or gear
stick. Do not leave anything valuable in the car.
• Traffic in cities is heavy and drivers can be impatient,
so be careful when crossing roads on foot and remember
that vehicles drive on the left in the UK so they will be
coming towards you from the right. Use a pedestrian
crossing if there is one, and look both ways before you
cross.
• If you need to call the police for help in an emergency,
dial 999 and ask for the police service. The call is free
from any telephone – you do not need coins or a phone
card. This number is for emergencies only. If you need to
contact your local police station at any other time, you
should dial the number than can be found in the local
telephone directory.
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Transport
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Travelling to London from the airport
Once you have completed your journey through immigration
control and customs, you will want to make your way to the
place you will be staying. Travelling in London is very
easy as London has a very good bus, train and underground
tube train system
We recommend that you study the tube map carefully,
working out where you are going to and then plan your
route, using the information provided. Don't worry about
asking people for information or for directions - look for
signs at the airport. You will probably have to take a
black cab (taxi) for part of the journey.
Travelling to central London from Heathrow Airport
If you are coming in to central London from Heathrow you
have the option of travelling by tube train, bus or rail
links. By tub, take the Piccadilly line (blue) into
central London. By bus take an Air-bus to either Victoria
train station, Russell Square or Kings Cross. By rail
link, you can catch the Heathrow express into Paddington
train Station. The cost and ease of travel is variable but
the rail link takes 15 minutes and costs about £10. The
bus and tube take longer but cost less. The airport
website provides lots of useful information.
www.heathrow-airport-guide.co.uk
To get a black cab (taxi) from Heathrow to central London,
takes 45 minutes-60mintes and cost over £35.
Travelling to central London from Gatwick Airport
If you are coming to central London via Gatwick airport,
you can take the Gatwick Express train or the coach/bus.
By train a single costs around £10 and takes 30 minutes to
reach Victoria Coach Station. The airport website provides
lots of useful information.
www.gatwick-airport-guide.co.uk
To get a black cab (taxi) from Gatwick to central London,
takes 60-75minutes and costs around £65.
Directions to TASMAC from Central London
From central London take the Jubilee line, northbound to
Kingsbury station (25 minutes). From the tube station turn
right, walk for 5 minutes. On the right you will see a
“Seat” car garage. TASMAC London is the glass building
near the garage.
Planning your Journey
For information about the cheapest and quickest routes:
Transport for London's Journey Planner:
http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk
London Travel Information on (020) 7222 1234 (24 hours).
Travel Information Centre:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/explore-london/travel-information-centres/locations.asp
Tickets
Tickets can be bought from ticket machines or ticket
offices at bus or underground stations, or sometimes from
some local shops such as newsagents
(to find your nearest
local ticket agents, see:
http://www.tfl-ticketlocator.co.uk).
Note that it is cheaper and more convenient to use an
electronic card called an Oyster card.
You must buy a ticket before you travel which is valid for
your whole journey, or you will have to pay a penalty. If
you have a travel card which only covers travel in certain
zones, you need to buy a ticket extension before
travelling (otherwise you will need to pay a fine). For
example, the Tube stations at Heathrow are in zone 6, so
if you have a zones 1-4 travel card you will also need to
buy a single ticket for travel through two zones (zones 5
and 6). If your travel card is on an Oyster card the cost
of the extension will be taken from the pay-as-you-go
credit on your card, but only if you have enough credit
remaining.
You must buy an adult ticket if you are 18 years old or
over. Students studying in London may be able to get a
discount if you apply for a special student photo card.
A single Tube ticket will allow you to make one journey on
the underground, changing as many times as you need. If
you are using a paper ticket this will be kept by the gate
when you leave the underground.
Travel cards.
A travel card allows you to use Tube, DLR, Tramlink and
rail services (excluding the Heathrow Express) in the
chosen zones, as well as all bus services run by Transport
for London (this includes most local services within zones
1-6).
A one-day travel card is valid only on the day you buy it.
The cards are cheaper if you travel (after 9:30am on
weekdays, but any time at the weekend or on a public
holiday), or if you do not travel in zone 1. The cost
depends on the number of zones you want to travel through.
A period travel card is a season ticket which allows you
to travel at any time of day for a week or a month or
longer. It is cheaper than buying separate one-day travel
cards tickets every day, and there are no restrictions
about the time of day when you travel.
Oyster Card
 The cheapest and most convenient way to travel on public
transport (buses, Tubes, DLR or trams) in London is with
an electronic card called an Oyster card. Cash fares are
much higher.
To get your Oyster card, ask at any underground station in
London. You will need to pay a deposit of £3 plus some
money to add to your card's credit (you can choose the
amount, for example: £10). This known as a Pay-as-you-go
Oyster Card. You can add extra credit to your card at any
time either at a ticket office or by using one of the
ticket machines which has an Oyster card reader. You can
also use these to check your balance (this is also
displayed at many ticket gates and when you use your card
on a bus): if your balance is too low to make a journey
your card will be refused at the entrance and you will
need to add more credit.
 When travelling on the Tube, you must place your Oyster
card on the reader both at the start and end of each
journey. The cost of each journey you make is
automatically deducted from your pay-as-you-go balance
when you exit the Tube system. If you have made several
journeys on the same day, the amount you pay is capped at
50p below the cost of a one-day travel card (the peak or
off-peak fare, depending on when you made your first
journey). When travelling by bus you must place the card
on the reader at the beginning of the journey only.
above: Oyster card reader
The advantages of having an Oyster card are:
- you save time, because you do not need to queue to
buy tickets each time you want to travel
- fares are cheaper if you use an Oyster card
- you should automatically pay the cheapest fare if
you make several Tube or bus journeys.
If you are leaving the UK and don't want to keep your
Oyster card, you can return it to a ticket office at an
underground station and you will get back your deposit and
any credit which remains on your card.
Student Oyster Photo Cards
A Student 18+ Oyster Photo Card gives you a 30% discount
on travel cards for a period ticket (for 1 week or more)
or a discount bus pass period ticket (for 1 week or more)
from a ticket office. The discount travel card allows you
to travel on the Tube, bus, DLR or railway services within
Greater London (excluding the Heathrow Express service
from Paddington to Heathrow Airport). The discount bus
pass allows you to travel on most bus services. Note that
you cannot obtain a discount on 1-day travel cards or
pay-as-you-go.
Students at TASMAC London can apply for a photo card
online at
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/photocard. You will need a
digital passport-style photo, your student number, and a
debit card or credit card to pay the fee (£5). Note that
bank cards issued outside the UK are not normally
accepted. Make sure that you use the same name as the one
with which you registered at school.
The photo card always expires at the end of September. You
can buy the card at any time of the year, but the cost of
the card is always the same.
For further details about Student Oyster Photo Cards, see:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/oysteronline/photocards/18plusstudents/2976.aspx
Note that you must never allow someone else to use your
Student Oyster Card - the photo and details on the card
must match the person who uses it.
Ticket Prices 2009
Detailed information on all London transport prices can be
found here. The tables below show a summary of the London
underground fares which were introduced on 2 January 2009.
Remember that TASMAC London is located in Zone 4 when
planning journeys.
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Adult Single Fares |
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Fares including travel in Zone 1 |
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Oyster Card Single Fare |
Cash
Single Fare |
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Peak |
Off-peak |
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Zone
1 only |
£1.60 |
£1.60 |
£4.00 |
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Zone
1-2 |
£2.20 |
£1.60 |
£4.00 |
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Zone
1-3 |
£2.70 |
£2.20 |
£4.00 |
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Zone
1-4 |
£2.80 |
£2.20 |
£4.00 |
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Zone
1-5 |
£3.70 |
£2.20 |
£4.00 |
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Zone
1-6 |
£3.80 |
£2.20 |
£4.00 |
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Fares NOT including travel in Zone 1
One or Two Zones |
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Zones 2,3,4,5,6
or
2-3, 3-4,, 4-5, or, 5-6 |
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£1.10 |
£1.10 |
£3.20 |
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Three, Four, or Five Zones |
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Zones 2,3,4,5,6 |
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or
2-3, 3-4,, 4-5, or, 5-6 |
£2.00 |
£1.10 |
£3.20 |
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DLR only in Zones 2-3 |
£1.10 |
£1.10 |
£1.60 |
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Adult Day tickets and Oyster daily price capping
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Bus and tram |
Daily Price Cap |
Day
Travelcard |
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£3.30 |
£3.80 |
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Tube, DLR and London Overground |
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Journeys in: |
Peak |
Off-Peak |
Anytime* |
Off-Peak |
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Zones 1-2 |
£6.70 |
£5.10 |
£7.20 |
£5.60 |
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Zones 1-3 |
£8.10 |
£5.80 |
£8.60 |
- |
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Zones 1-4 |
£9.50 |
£5.80 |
£10.00 |
£6.30 |
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Zones 1-5 |
£12.10 |
£7.00 |
£12.60 |
- |
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Zones 1-6 |
£14.30 |
£7.00 |
£14.80 |
£7.50 |
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Zone
2 |
£6.70 |
£4.60 |
£6.30 |
- |
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Zones 2-3 |
£8.10 |
£4.60 |
- |
- |
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Zones 2-6 |
£8.50 |
£4.60 |
£9.00 |
£5.10 |
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*Anytime includes use between 0430 and 0930
Monday to Friday (except public holidays). Off-Peak
covers
all other times, including public holidays |
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Transport Problems
Transport problems are common in London. It is a good idea
to check if there is any disruption to transport before
you travel, especially when it is important that you
arrive on time, during bad weather or at weekends. Some of
the ways to get information are:
- check the TfL website:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/service_rt_all.shtml (this
contains both real-time information and details about
planned engineering works and long-term problems)
- you can receive TfL travel alerts on your mobile
phone from:
http://www.tflwap.gov.uk
- telephone London Travel Information on
020 7222 1234
- look at the information boards at the station or ask
a member of staff at the station.
Tube Etiquette
Below are some rules about correct behaviour when using
the Tube in London:
- If you are lost or waiting for someone, stand to one
side or next to a wall - try not to get in people's way,
especially near the top of escalators or near ticket
barriers.
- Stand on the right on escalators (moving stairs).
People who are in a hurry walk up the left side, and
they will be annoyed if you are standing there.
- When the Tube train arrives stand to the side of the
doors to let people get off the train easily. Get on the
train only when all passengers who want to get off have
done this.
- Wait for the next train if the doors on a train are
about to close when you arrive on the platform. Never
hold the Tube doors open - it is dangerous and causes
delays.
- When you get into a crowded lift or train, move
inside as far as you can, so that other people can
easily get on behind you. Don't lean against the doors:
this may stop the train from moving.
- If you have large bags, get on the train using the
double doors in the centre of a carriage, not the single
door at the front or back of a carriage. Make sure that
your bags do not get in the way of other passengers.
- Offer to give up your seat if you see someone who
needs to sit down - for example, someone who is old,
disabled, pregnant or who has young children. These
people may need a seat close to the doors.
- Try not to eat while on the train, especially hot
food or anything which gives off smells.
- Smoking is illegal everywhere on the Tube.
- You are not allowed to drink alcohol on the Tube.
Throw away any opened cans or bottles of alcohol before
you try to enter a station.
- Take any rubbish with you when you leave the train
(you can put it in a bin when you are outside again).
For security reasons there are no litter bins in
underground stations.
- Do not take a photograph using flash while you are
on the platform. If a train is coming the driver will be
temporarily blinded by the flash, and this may affect
safety.
- Always respect the Tube's members of staff. Remember
that it is not their fault if there are delays or
problems.
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TV Licence
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TV licenses: the rules for students
If you are living in a private residence or in a shared
house, then you’ll need a television license. Students
planning to return home may be able to claim a discount.
Who needs a TV licence?
College or university students living away from home must
have a TV licence to watch or record television.
As well as TV sets and video or DVD recorders, this
includes using mobile phones, set-top boxes, laptops or
personal computers to receive or record television
programmes.
But if you are returning home for the summer holidays and
only need a licence for nine months, you may qualify for a
refund on the remaining three.
You can get more information from the students' section of
the
TV Licensing website.
Exactly what you need to do about getting a TV licence
depends on where you live:
Private housing
You will need to buy a TV licence if you have a TV set.
Shared houses
If you have a shared tenancy agreement, with everyone in
your house signing the same contract, you will usually
need just one licence to cover all the TV sets in the
house.
If you have a separate tenancy agreement, with each tenant
signing an individual contract with the landlord, each of
you will need your own licence to use a set in your rooms.
Only one licence is needed if the only TV being used is in
a communal area.
Battery-powered equipment
A TV set powered by its own internal batteries, such as a
pocket-sized TV or mobile phone, is covered by a licence
at your parents’ address. However, it must not be plugged
into the mains while being used to receive television.
If there is no licence at your parents’ address you will
need to buy your own.
How much does it cost?
A colour TV Licence costs £139.50. A black and white TV
Licence costs £47.00
How to buy a licence
You can buy or renew a TV licence online with a credit or
debit card by visiting the TV licensing website. It also
has information on other ways to pay.
These include paying by post, by direct debit, via a
savings card or over the counter at a PayPoint outlet.
•
Buy your TV licence online
•
Find your nearest PayPoint outlet
What happens if you’re caught without a licence
If you watch TV without a licence you are breaking the law
and risking prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.
Enforcement officers visit unlicensed rooms on university
and college campuses, as well as student accommodation
off-campus. •
What happens if you don't have a TV licence
How to claim a refund
You could qualify for a refund of up to £32 if you buy a
TV licence before the end of October then return home for
the summer holidays. For more information on how to claim,
contact TV Licensing on 0844 800 6779 or visit its
website.
•
Information on TV licence refunds for students
More useful links
•
Change your address on the TV Licensing website
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