Which Countries Allow You to Work While Studying? Top 20 Countries Explained (2026 Guide)

Most advanced study destinations allow international students to work part‑time during their studies and often full‑time during scheduled breaks or holidays, but the conditions vary widely by country — including the number of weekly hours, legal requirements for work permits on student visas, and combined work‑study pathways. In places like the United Kingdom, students can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full‑time in vacations on a student visa. In Canada, international students can work up to 20 hours per week off‑campus and full‑time during breaks, and in Australia, students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during term and unrestricted hours during school breaks.

Many EU countries like France, Germany, Ireland, and Poland allow 20 hours or more, and even Sweden and Estonia offer comparatively flexible conditions. Some countries, like Singapore or Israel, prohibit work without specific permission, and others have nuanced systems for internships, remote work, or work‑study combinations, all of which are critical to understand before you apply.

1. United Kingdom — Europe’s Flexible Part‑Time Work Hub for Students

The United Kingdom has long been a magnet for international students precisely because of its clear, well‑regulated work‑while‑study regime and strong integration with professional opportunities. Under a Student (formerly Tier 4) visa, international students enrolled in a full‑time degree course at a UK university are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during term time, and full‑time outside of term dates, including official university breaks. Detailed guidance from UK institutions like Imperial College London confirms that students are not permitted to work freelance or as self‑employed contractors under this condition, emphasizing the importance of staying within visa conditions if you want to maintain legal status and focus on your academic progression.

In practice, the structure of UK universities — with clearly defined term times and holiday periods such as Christmas, Easter, and summer breaks — means that a student may balance academic workload with part‑time work in ways that suit both personal finances and professional growth. For example, a student studying in London might work as a barista or retail assistant during term; then, when exams are over, engage in more intensive work that helps support living costs. This pattern can reduce total education expense and also provide real‑world experience living in the UK labour market, which employers often value when you graduate.

It’s essential to note that working beyond the 20‑hour weekly limit during term time — for instance taking multiple part‑time jobs that cumulatively exceed this limit — is treated as a visa violation and can jeopardize your stay. This balance is designed so that study remains the primary purpose of your visa, not employment, even though work helps with cost of living and career preparation. For many students, it’s the combination of academic rigor and part‑time work flexibility that makes the UK favorable, especially compared to destinations with more restrictive rules.

Furthermore, the UK’s Graduate Route Visa allows eligible graduates to stay and work — full‑time — in the country for up to two to three years after completing their studies, significantly enhancing the value of the work‑while‑study experience. This extended stay post‑graduation is not universal around the world and positions the UK as a strong contender for students looking to transition into early‑career employment after finishing their degree.

Finally, UK work‑study structures are backed by robust guidance from official government and university sources, and most institutions offer dedicated career services, job fairs, and student employment hubs to help international learners find legally compliant roles that fit their studies and visa conditions — turning part‑time work into a strategic part of their educational journey.

2. Canada — North America’s Work‑While‑Study Powerhouse

Canada is frequently highlighted as one of the world’s most student‑friendly countries for work‑while‑study programs, precisely because its student visas are structured to facilitate part‑time employment and integrate this into a broader academic and career pathway. According to immigration policy data, international students with a valid study permit at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during academic sessions, and full‑time during scheduled breaks such as summer and winter holidays. Notably, Canada’s policy does not require a separate work permit for most student jobs, making it comparatively straightforward for students to find employment right after arrival.

Beyond the immediate financial benefit, Canada’s work‑while‑study framework aligns with its Post‑Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) system. Unlike some countries where work restrictions end with graduation, the PGWP allows eligible graduates to remain in Canada and work for up to three years depending on the length of the completed programme — a major incentive for long‑term career planning. This blend of part‑time work during study plus meaningful post‑study work rights is a compelling combination for international students.

Because work rights are integrated into the student visa (and not treated as a separate permit), students can find roles both on‑campus and off‑campus, increasing flexibility in job types — from research assistant positions that complement academic interests to retail and hospitality roles that help with day‑to‑day expenses. Many Canadian institutions also facilitate co‑op or internship placements as structured parts of degree requirements (though these may require specific documents or co‑op work permits). These opportunities elevate part‑time jobs from purely financial support to professional skill‑building roles.

It’s important to note that while the standard rule is 20 hours per week during sessions, Canada has tweaked this arrangement over time in response to labour market and policy changes — including temporary increases in work rights during peak labour shortages, illustrating that Canadian work‑study policies evolve in response to economic needs.

Ultimately, Canada’s balance of structured work permissions, post‑study opportunities, and relatively transparent rules makes it a favourite destination for international students who want to work while studying and then transition into longer‑term employment without leaving the country — provided they maintain full‑time enrolment and meet immigration conditions.

3. Australia & New Zealand — Oceania’s Student Work Destinations

In Australia, international students on a student visa (Subclass 500) are permitted to work part‑time under defined rules, typically up to 48 hours per fortnight during academic sessions and unlimited hours during recognized breaks. This arrangement, outlined by official immigration and student resources, gives students flexibility while ensuring study remains central to the visa condition. The high minimum wage and multi‑sector job market in Australia make part‑time roles a viable supplement to living costs.

However, strict compliance is critical: exceeding this cap, such as working 60 hours per fortnight, can trigger enforcement actions, including visa cancellation, as recent cases involving students working illegally beyond the regulated hours demonstrate. These incidents highlight that while Australia’s work‑study rules are generous, they are actively enforced to maintain the integrity of visas.

New Zealand has traditionally offered similar work opportunities for international students, allowing part‑time work — historically up to 20 hours per week during academic dates and full‑time in breaks. Recent policy updates show that the country has expanded part‑time work rights to up to 25 hours per week during academic terms, reflecting New Zealand’s strategy to attract and retain more international students by enhancing work flexibility.

The Post‑Study Work Visa in New Zealand also allows graduates to remain and work in the country after completing their studies, adding an attractive long‑term component to the study‑and‑work package — much like Canada’s PGWP system. This integration of study, part‑time work, and post‑study employment aligns with the broader goals of both countries to incentivise international talent to contribute to their labour markets.

While both Australia and New Zealand impose clear conditions — including maintaining full‑time enrolment and exhibiting satisfactory academic progress — the region’s friendly work policies, high wages, and post‑study pathways make them compelling for students focused on balancing education with employment experience abroad.

4. Europe’s Work‑Study Landscape — Diverse Opportunities Across Nations

Europe is a mosaic of work‑while‑study policies for international students, with many countries within the European Union (EU) and Schengen Area allowing students to work part‑time under varying conditions. A comprehensive overview shows that almost all European countries permit work during study, typically with weekly hour limits and sometimes additional permit requirements.

Countries like France allow students to work a defined percentage of the legal work year (e.g., up to 964 hours annually, roughly equivalent to 20 hours per week) as long as they are enrolled and have a valid residence permit. Similarly, Germany permits non‑EU students to work part‑time up to a fixed number of days annually (e.g., 120 full days or 240 half days), enabling meaningful work without jeopardising student status.

In nations such as Ireland, students can typically work up to 20 hours per week during term and full‑time during holidays, providing a good balance of academic focus and employment opportunities. Poland also fits this pattern, allowing work up to 20 hours per week and full‑time during breaks without a separate work permit, which simplifies compliance for many students.

Interestingly, some countries like Sweden and Estonia are noted for being particularly flexible. Sweden imposes no specific weekly cap on hours for international students, provided their work does not interfere with study commitments, while Estonia often allows work without separate permits under conditions that prioritise academic progress.

The Dutch system requires work permits for non‑EU students but allows work up to 16 hours per week during term and full‑time during summer, representing a structured yet accommodating environment. Other countries such as Italy, Belgium, Austria, Cyprus, Latvia, and Portugal have similar part‑time allowances around 20 hours per week but may require employers to secure work permits or students to demonstrate certain conditions.

Together, these European policies show that while conditions differ widely — from permit requirements to hour caps — the continent broadly encourages international students to participate in part‑time employment as part of their educational experience, often without jeopardising academic goals.

5. Asia and Other Regions — Rules Beyond the West

Work‑while‑study policies in Asia and other parts of the world vary considerably, reflecting local labour markets and immigration priorities. Countries such as Japan allow international students to work part‑time — often up to 28 hours per week — provided it doesn’t interfere with academic duties and the student obtains permission from immigration authorities. South Korea similarly permits part‑time work under its student visa system, typically capping hours and requiring permission from relevant immigration offices, though strict compliance with work limits is essential.

In Singapore, students may work part‑time up to certain hour limits (commonly 16 hours per week) while studying, and there are options such as industrial attachments that form part of academic curricula; however, exchange students or those not on a recognised long‑term study programme may not be permitted to work at all, underscoring the importance of understanding specific visa conditions.

While countries like China, Malaysia, and South Africa do allow international students some form of employment under defined conditions — often requiring work permits and capped hours — others in the region such as India and Israel generally do not permit student work outside very tight academic roles without specific authorisations.

These regional variations highlight that non‑Western destinations often embed work permissions within broader immigration strategy and local economic needs, meaning that students must carefully verify conditions for their chosen country before planning employment during study.

Comparison Tables for Featured Snippets

Work‑While‑Study Country Policy Comparison

Conclusion

There’s a rich global landscape of work‑and‑study policies for international students, with many nations explicitly allowing part‑time employment during academic terms and expanded hours during scheduled breaks. Destinations like the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and numerous European countries combine academic excellence with flexible work opportunities, helping students manage costs, build skills, and even position themselves for post‑study careers.

At the same time, it’s essential to pay attention to visa conditions, hour caps, required permits, sector limitations, wage norms, and the interplay with academic performance. Failing to comply with rules — for example working too many hours in Australia — can jeopardise study visas and future immigration prospects.