If you are not a visa national and provided you meet the immigration rules for students (see the Home Office leaflet Information about Students), you can apply for your conditions to be changed to those of a student. Get advice from an international student adviser at your place of study about how to do that, or if there is not one, telephone UKCOSA's advice line (+44 (0)20 7354 5210- Monday to Friday, between 1300 to 1600)

If you intend to travel to the UK to take short course you can get a visa or passport stamp that will allow you to work in the following way: If you are applying for a visa tell the Entry Clearance Officer that you would like to be allowed to work in the UK. He or she will then check if you meet the immigration rules for students.

If you are not applying for a visa, tell the same thing to the immigration Officer at the port of entry.

If you are admitted to the UK as a student, you are authorised to work. If you are admitted as a visitor, you are not authorised to work. What does a student visa or passport stamp state about work?

If you were admitted to the UK as a student,   our visa or passport stamp will state, 'No recourse to public funds. Work (and any changes) must be authorised'. You are authorised to work in the UK, subject to the conditions above.

If you have been granted an extension of stay as a student by the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate your passport stamp will state, 'Leave to remain in the United Kingdom, on condition that the holder maintains and accommodates himself and any dependents without recourse to public funds, does not enter or change employment paid or unpaid without the consent of the Secretary of State for Employment and does not engage in any business or professional without the consent of the Secretary of State for the Home Department is hereby given: until­[date]- on behalf of the Secretary of State, Home Office-[date]'. Consent on an individual basis from the Secretary of State for Education and Employment is no longer required. You are authorised to work in the UK, subject to the conditions above.

Can I work my way through college or university?
You must be able to support and accommodate yourself and any dependents and pay for your studies without working in the UK and without recourse to public funds (these are described in the Home Office leaflet Information about Students).

However, when your means are assessed, anticipated income can be taken into account if the establishment at which you will be studying: .is a publicly. funded institution of further or higher education which is itself providing and guaranteeing the employment (and has provided details of how much you will earn) or .is able, if you are a sandwich student, to guarantee that there is a job available and how much you will earn.

You may use accumulated savings from your work in the UK to show you have the financial means to take another course if you wish to continue studying in the UK.

For more details, you may either dial Work Permits UK on +44 (0) 114 2594074 or log on to the following websites: http:// www.workpermits.gov .uk, http://www.homeoffice.gov .uk/

Can my husband/wife work in the UK?
Your husband or wife will be given a visa or passport stamp that allows them to work if you were given permission to stay in the UK for twelve months or more. If your husband or wife plans to join you in the UK, you should send them a copy of your passport so that he or she can show the Entry Clearance Officer or Immigration Officer that you have been given permission to stay in the UK for twelve months or more. If you were given permission to stay in the UK for less than twelve months, your husband or wife will be given a visa or passport stamp that does not allow them to work in the UK at all.

Do I need a National Insurance number?
You will need to apply for a National Insurance number but you do not need to have received your National Insurance number before you can start work. You local Benefits Agency (National Insurance Contributions Section) will advise you on how to apply. You will need to provide the Benefits Agency with two forms of identity (for example passport, birth certificate, bank statement) and details of when you received a job offer  or started work. You may be allocated a temporary National Insurance number while your application is being processed.
Your employer can allow you to start work, and deduct National Insurance contributions, for the six to twelve weeks it may take for the Benefits Agency to issue your National Insurance card. Your employer may wish to see a copy of your application form for a National Insurance number (CA5404) as proof. He or she will not be penalised by the Inland Revenue if there is a delay in issuing your National Insurance number.

What is a Sandwich course?
A sandwich course is a course that includes a clearly defined work placement, which is approved by the institution providing the course. Students subject to conditions restricting employment will be allowed to follow a sandwich course provided that:
.the course leads to a degree or to a qualification awarded by a nationally recognised examining body
.the work placement does not extend beyond the end of the course.

What is an Internship?
An internship is a short period of paid work, which an employer may offer to a potential employee. The internship may be offered to a student on a first or higher degree course in the UK, even if the potential permanent employment is outside the UK. A student subject to conditions restricting employment will be allowed to undertake an internship provided that:
.the student has not previously undertaken an internship with the employer
.the internship is for not longer than these months
.it is an established part of the employer's recruitment procedure
. it offers pay and conditions of employment comparable to those for a 'resident worker' doing the same work
.it is completed within the current period of leave as a student.

Do I need a visa to study in the UK?
You should see the Foreign and Commonwealth Office leaflet British

Visa Requirements, Information for Students (INF3). This is on the website at: www.fco.gov.ukltravel/download.asp

If you have not yet travelled to the UK, a printed copy can be obtained free of cost from any British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate which operates an entry clearance service. If you are in the UK, you can obtain a printed copy from: Public Section, Joint Entry Clearance Unit, 89A Albert Embankment, London SEI 7TP, Ph +44 (0)20 7238 3838.

What are the immigration rules for students? You should see the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate leaflet information about students by logging on to www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk
Printed leaflets can be obtained from: Communication Unit, 2nd Floor, Apollo House, 36 Wellesley Road, Croydon CR9 3RR. For multiple copies telephone +44 (0)20 8649 7878.