Working during your studies

Working is of course the best way to top up your income while improving your language skills and strengthening your CV. Many shops and businesses in Canterbury employ UK and EU students. 

Who is allowed to work?

Most EU/EEA students can work in the UK without having to get a work permit, however those from the following countries must apply for a registration certificate within one month of taking up a job:

Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia

Finding a job?

To find a job simply drop off a CV with local shops, visit the jobcentre plus website, look for advertisements in local papers such as the Kent Messenger or call the local Job Centre in Canterbury  at 01227-594000

Minimum wage

The UK has a national minimum wage, which is the minimum amount a working person aged 16+ must be paid. To find out more about this please see  http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nmw/

Income Tax

EU/EEA students in employment pay both income tax and national insurance while in the UK. The amount of tax paid depends on the earnings. For example a single student in the Tax Year 2007/08 could earn up to £5,225 per year before being taxed.  In the UK a tax year begins in April.

In order to set up your tax record your employer needs to have some information about your tax status. If you have a form P45 or equivalent document from your own country (which is the slip from your previous employer that shows your total earnings so far)  give it to your new employer. It shows your PAYE code, your total earnings and how much tax you have paid since the start of the tax year and will help Inland Revenue determine if you pay any tax.