Finding a part-time job

Working hours

The university allows you to work as many hours as you like as long as it does not affect your studies. A sensible guideline for full-time students is 15 hours per week maximum. Your studies should always take priority.

International students
If you are an international student, your visa will tell you if you can work in the UK and how many hours you are permitted to work per week.

 If you are unsure, contact our International Student Support Team, or you can visit the UK Government or UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) websites.

EU students and Brexit
To date, there has been no change to the rights and status of EU nationals in the UK as a result of the EU membership referendum.

Getting paid

The National Minimum Wage is the minimum amount that an employer must pay you per hour. If you are over 25 years of age you should be paid the National Living Wage.

Current rates are:

National Minimum Wage
£5.90 per hour (age 18–20)
£7.38 per hour (age 21–24)

National Living Wage
£7.83 per hour (age 25 and above)

If you are concerned that you are not being paid the legal minimum, contact the Careers Service for advice on how to proceed.

An employer will usually pay your wages directly into your bank account. Deductions for Income Tax and National Insurance will be made before you are paid.

Employers who pay you in cash without making deductions are breaking the law. If you accept these payments you risk losing your employment rights and may have to pay tax and national insurance yourself.

Tax and National Insurance

Tax

You will have to pay income tax if you earn more than £987.50 per month.

Your employer will deduct tax from your wages before you are paid. 

If you are self-employed you will need to register with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and pay your tax directly.

If you earn less than £11,850 during the year (the 2018-19 personal allowance) you can claim the tax back.

Non-UK students leaving the UK may be able to reclaim any tax they have paid.

National Insurance (NI)

All UK citizens are issued with an NI number at age 16. If you were not a UK resident at age 16 you must apply for an NI number before starting work.    

Call 0345 600 0643 to make an NI application. You will be given an application reference number. You can then start work immediately. You do not need to wait until you receive your NI number.

If you earn more than £162 per week you will pay NI.

Your employer will deduct NI from your wages. If you are self-employed you will need to pay directly.

Resources

Student jobs: paying tax
Information on tax and national insurance from the UK government.

Take home pay calculator
Work out how much money you will make based on your salary, or hourly rate and working hours.

Your rights

Student workers are protected by UK employment law and have the same rights as everyone else.

If you think you are being treated unfairly or are having problems at work, see our page Your rights in the workplace for information and contact details for advice agencies, or contact us.

What work can I do?

This is a summary of the jobs that are typically advertised. Other opportunities may be offered during the year, and also over the summer break.

Student Ambassadors
Assisting at open days, new student welcome events, HE fairs and conferences on and off-campus.

Social Media Ambassadors
Engaging with new or prospective students and answering questions about student life at the university.

Student Helpers
Employed in university libraries and computer pool rooms to assist users and helping staff to shelve library stock.

Telephoners
Contacting recent graduates to collect data for the annual Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey. Contacting graduates of your area of study, with news updates about the university and to ask them to consider providing additional opportunities and financial support to students.

Summer Accommodation Assistants
Assisting with the processing of applications for university accommodation and help students to find private sector accommodation.

Recreation Assistants
Providing fitness suite supervision, set-ups and reception services at campus sports facilities.

Academic Support Workers (ASWs)
Supporting disabled students in an educational setting; e.g. classrooms, placements, clinics, field trips, etc. Tasks include note-taking, photocopying, support in the library and carrying books.

Mentors
Providing study skills support for students whose academic progress has been disrupted by disability or mental health difficulties.

Students' Union student staff
Roles include work in the SU retail and café-bar outlets, general admin in SU offices, event assistants, and assisting with engagement stalls for activities and campaigns.

Other roles
Work as stewards and invigilators at Grand Parade to assist with exhibitions and degree shows, staffing the Sallis Benney Theatre box office, life modelling, and also technical or research posts within academic areas.

Where to look for vacancies

Careers Service
Most on-campus opportunities are advertised through our Vacancy Service. Get email alerts for new part time jobs sent direct to your inbox. See our social media for further updates on campus recruitment.

Human Resources
HR recruit staff at all levels across the university. You will also find part time roles which are appropriate for students.

Sport Brighton
Vacancies at all university sport and recreation facilities.

Student Union
For SU jobs, check the Brighton SU webpage.

Studentcentral
Roles within academic schools may be advertised directly to students within those schools via studentcentral. Also, follow any related Facebook or Twitter accounts.

Blue Arrow
A recruitment agency which provides temporary staff for the university. They encourage students to register for part time work on campus. Telephone 01323 430 055 and find out what’s available.

When to apply

Our calendar below shows when regular recruitment drives typically take place.

September
Student Helpers (Information Services)
Recreation Assistants (Sport Brighton)

October
Telephoners
Student Ambassadors (Academic Services)

January
Student Ambassadors (Business School)

February
Student Ambassadors (Academic Services)

March
Student Ambassadors (Student Services)

April
Summer Accommodation Assistants

May
Various posts (Students' Union)
ASK Ambassadors
Online Student Ambassadors (School of Environment and Technology)
Student Helpers for examinations (Brighton and Sussex Medical School)

Contracts and pay

Employment contracts

Before you start work at the university you will need to make available your bank account details, your passport and details of a named referee; this could be a previous tutor or employer.

You may also be asked to provide a reference from their course leader or head of year. This is to confirm that you are a current student attending a course at the university.

We will only ask for this information once you have been recruited into a role. Delays in providing this information could result in delaying your start date or in receiving your pay.

Pay

Rates vary according to the level of responsibility. All student jobs pay substantially more than minimum wage.

Most roles are paid hourly via the university payroll system and recruits should expect to be paid a month in arrears on the last working day of the month. For example, if you work hours in mid-February you will be paid at the end of March.