17 Highest Paying Part-Time Jobs in the UK for International Students
If you are studying a full-time course in the UK under a student visa (formally called a Tier 4 student visa), you can access a range of highest paying part-time jobs in the UK for international students. You do not need to switch to another visa to work part-time as an international student.
A UK Student Visa allows you to work up to 20 hours per week. If you are a graduate, you can apply for a Graduate Visa, which was put in place on 1 July 2021 to allow degree graduates to work and find jobs for up to two years (three for PhD graduates) in the UK after graduation, regardless of skill level or starting salary.
What are the highest paying part-time jobs in the UK for international students?
Some of the highest paying part-time jobs in the UK for international students include being a developer, photographer, graphic designer, graduate teaching assistant, translator, and database administrator.
1. Call Centre Agent
Consider a career as a call centre agent if you have a sales mind, are target-oriented, and enjoy conversing with others. Businesses need motivated people that are always looking for new clients to help them grow. The schedule is flexible and can be adapted to the busy schedule of an international student.
Part-time salary range per annum: £9,000 – £11,360
2. Student Ambassador
Students who become Student Ambassadors for their universities or colleges can get involved in many different types of work, developing their existing skills as well as learning new ones. Student Ambassadors tend to be confident, dynamic, and good communicators. Such skills may include public speaking, networking, presentation skills and interpersonal skills.
Part-time salary range per annum: £9,910 – £11,600
3. Graphic Designer
Having a solid understanding of Photoshop and graphic rules is helpful. In many companies, a graphic designer is needed to create visual content, whether for print or online. Graphic designers’ skills are always in demand, whether they are designing business cards, promotional flyers, or newsletters. It is among the highest paying part-time jobs in the UK for international students.
Part-time salary range per annum: £11,100 – £18,550
4. Animal Caretaker
Pet care might be a good choice for you if you’re an animal lover and miss your pet back at home. Part-time jobs and tasks are plentiful for international students. If you are interested in working with animals, consider working at a pet grooming parlour, a dog walking service, a pet daycare, a veterinary clinic, an animal shelter or a zoo. It is one of the highest paying part-time jobs.
Part-time salary range per annum: £12,710 – £14,320
5. Examinations Assistant
You will support the administration and organisation of all aspects of internal and external exams in schools, colleges or universities. You may need to have previous experience working in a busy office and possess strong IT skills such as Microsoft Office. Your employer would require you to be able to work under pressure while being able to organise your workload quickly and work to deadlines.
Part-time salary range per annum: £8,925 – £10,840
6. Brand Ambassador
This job is geared toward raising brand and product awareness for companies. You will have a great time earning money while combining your social life and work as a student brand ambassador! In addition to being flexible, most positions also allow you to work when it is convenient for you.
Part-time salary range per annum: £9,310 – £13,050
7. Resident Assistant
Resident assistants basically act as live-in supervisors for your building. For example, if students have an electrical problem, a blocked sink, or a burst pipe, they reach out to you. However, you won’t be required to solve these issues by yourself. Student housing companies hire resident assistants to act as an intermediary between students and housing companies.
Part-time salary range per annum: £8,820 – £10,945
8. Database Administrator
Your job as a data entry clerk (or database administrator) is to update and maintain information on computer systems and in archives. In many of these systems, the information is only valuable if it is accurate, current, and useful. Among the highest paying part-time jobs in the UK for international students, this is one of the most rewarding.
Part-time salary range per annum: £9,990 – £14,180
9. Graduate Teaching Assistant
This job is usually open to PhD students and is among the highest paying part-time jobs. Graduate teaching assistants are enrolled in a university as a PhD researcher. You will also teach undergraduates at that institution. As a graduate teaching assistant, you will be researching a specialised academic field while teaching courses as a student. Graduate teaching assistants also assist in teaching undergraduate and sometimes master’s classes. Depending on the institution, you may be supported towards acquiring an Associate Fellowship status of Advance HE.
Part-time salary range per annum: £13,655 – £17,000
10. Babysitter
This is an excellent option if you enjoy working with kids. Do you need special skills to be a babysitter? A driving license is usually an advantage (but not required), and you can also choose to work at night instead, which generally involves less work as you’ll be watching TV all day while the kids sleep. You also need to love working around children.
Part-time salary range per annum: £10,120 – £13,090
11. Online Tutoring
You might enjoy tutoring if you enjoy teaching. It is up to you how many hours you teach per day, what level of advancement and what age you teach. As a result, you can help out students a grade below you in any subject you enjoy, or you can help out younger students or children in any subject you know well or enjoy the most. It is one of the highest paying part-time jobs.
Part-time salary range per annum: £8,990 – £15,200
12. Developer
With everything going digital and tech booming, it seems unlikely that robots will replace developers anytime soon, thus making it one of the highest paying part-time jobs. Companies and businesses around you value your skills if you are a coder. This is one of the highest paying part-time jobs in the UK for international students. You can work in a broad spectrum of part-time roles as a game developer, software developer, mobile developer, etc.
Part-time salary range per annum: £13,200 – £21,430
13. Translator
Do you know more than one language? Bi- or multilingual skills can be very valuable not only for cultural reasons but also for technical and industry knowledge. Look for companies who may need your translation skills if you enjoy words and language subtleties. Languages such as French, Yoruba, Farsi, Igbo, Arabic, etc., which makes it one of the most desirable and highest paying part-time jobs.
Part-time salary range per annum: £9,160 – £12,945
14. Customer Service Adviser
Is it your passion to interact with customers, answer their questions, and resolve their problems? Your ideal part-time student job may be a customer service advisor. Even though dealing with angry customers will require patience and calm, it can be extremely rewarding if they’re satisfied.
Part-time salary range per annum: £8,260 – £11,000
15. Social Media Manager
Some people naturally comprehend social media, while others did not grow up with it. Consider selling your skills to small companies that need your knowledge of how business growth can be achieved through social media. The ability to manage their social media channels and help companies gain visibility is a reliable way to earn some money while you study. It is one of the highest paying part-time jobs today.
Part-time salary range per annum: £7,870 – £11,330
16. Library Assistant
Do you love books? Why not make a career out of it? There is a good chance that your university or another library would like students to help with the general maintenance of their library as well as making sure users are kept informed and able to locate what they need. Finding part-time work at the city library is also another option. This is one of the most rewarding part-time jobs in the UK for international students.
Part-time salary range per annum: £7,990 – £12,190
17. Photographer
Photographers are hired to take pictures for many types of events, including weddings, christenings, sporting events, and official company photos. Be on the lookout for photographer jobs if you are good with a camera. This is one of the perks of being an international student in the UK. You can choose your events based on your busy schedule. It is among the most fulfilling and highest paying part-time jobs in the UK for international students.
Part-time salary range per annum: £9,680 – £14,410
General Questions – Highest Paying Part-Time Jobs in the UK for International Students
Do international students pay tax in the UK?
If you have a part-time job as an international student in the UK, you may need to pay Income Tax if you earn more than £1,042 a month on average; and National Insurance if you earn more than £190 a week. Your employer will usually deduct the Income tax and National Insurance from your salary through Pay As You Earn.
What should I do before applying for part-time jobs in the UK?
First, you should identify companies that are relevant to your career and academic background and contact them speculatively to enquire whether there are vacancies. LinkedIn is often the best medium to contact these employers but you can also meet on campus if your university organises job and career fairs with employers.
Also, be proactive and be confident in approaching these employers. Ensure you inform the prospective employers that you do not need a new visa to work in their organisation since you are an international student. You can also include this information on your application/cover letter when applying for a job.
