How Many Hours Can International Students Work?

Hours an international student may work during term
Country	While studying
USA	On-campus work up to 20 hrs/week during term, plus CPT tied to your course.
UK	20 hrs/week during term on a Student visa.
Canada	24 hrs/week off-campus during term.
Germany	140 full days or 280 half days a year.
Australia	48 hours a fortnight during term, unlimited in scheduled breaks.
Netherlands	16 hrs/week with a work permit, or full-time in June–August.
France	964 hours a year, about 20 hrs/week.
Sweden	No formal cap, though universities advise treating study as full-time.
Japan	28 hrs/week with permission to engage in activity outside your status.
South Korea	Up to 25 hrs/week, once you have held a D-2 visa for six months and meet the language requirement.
Singapore	Up to 16 hrs/week for students at approved institutions.
Switzerland	15 hrs/week, allowed six months after you arrive.
Ireland	20 hrs/week during term, 40 hrs in holiday periods.
New Zealand	20 hrs/week during term, full-time in scheduled breaks.
Italy	20 hrs/week, up to 1,040 hours a year.

The cap is a visa condition, not a guideline

Working over the limit can end your permission to stay, and it is recorded against future applications. Employers who ask you to work extra hours off the books are risking your visa, not theirs.

Earning while you study only goes so far

Twenty hours a week helps with rent. It rarely covers tuition. A scholarship does both.

Check which scholarships I qualify for What it all costs

Questions about working abroad

How many hours can an international student work?

Between 15 and 28 hours a week during term, depending on the country. Canada allows 24, Japan 28, Switzerland 15. Sweden sets no formal cap. Australia counts it fortnightly rather than weekly, at 48 hours.

Most countries lift the cap during scheduled holidays.

What happens if I work more hours than allowed?

You put your permission to stay at risk. It is a visa condition, not advice, and breaches are recorded against future applications — including ones to other countries.

An employer offering cash for extra hours is risking your visa, not theirs.

Can I cover my costs with a student job?

Rent, sometimes. Tuition, almost never. Twenty hours a week at a minimum wage covers a decent share of living costs in Germany, Italy or Japan, and much less in Sydney or Zurich where the rent is higher.

Plan on the basis that a job supplements your funding rather than replacing it.

Do I need a separate permit to work while studying?

It depends. In most countries the right to work is built into the student visa. In the Netherlands you need a separate work permit arranged by the employer. In South Korea you must have held the D-2 visa for six months and meet a language requirement first.