Working in the UK
There are a number of options available that enable international students to work both during and after their studies in order to earn some additional money and gain invaluable professional experience. At Loughborough, we have a strong guidance system in place to support students in finding employment opportunities both on and off campus.
Our award winning Careers and Employability Centre has been voted as one of the top 10 among UK universities and we are one of the few leading UK institutions to have a dedicated International Careers Adviser.
During your studies
The majority of students who enter the UK for longer than 6 months usually receive restricted permission to work during their studies. International students on full-time undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes are normally allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week during term-time. During vacations, students are permitted to work full-time.
For further details on working during your studies please visit the Careers and Employability Centre “Finding Work During Your Studies” webpages.
Work placements
Over the years, the University has established an international reputation for the breadth of its partnerships with business, industry and commerce, which are the envy of other UK institutions.
As a result, more than 60% of Loughborough’s undergraduate degrees offer a salaried placement year in industry and almost 1,000 students are on placements each year.
Companies with whom our students have taken a work placement include:
IBM, Ernst & Young, BAE systems, Ford, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Balfour Beatty, Frazer Nash, Fosroc LTD, Microsoft, Thomas Reuters, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Toyota, HSBC, 3M, Glaxo, Gillette Industries, Nissan, Exxon Group, BP, Santander, Reebok (UK), Xerox (UK) Ltd, Pfizer Limited
The placement or “sandwich” year usually takes place in year 3 of the degree programme. Students who successfully complete a placement are awarded an additional Diploma qualification and a number of students have received job offers from the same company after graduation.
For further general details on work placement please visit the Careers and Employability Centre “Placements - Information for Students” webpages.
Learn more about the specific work placement opportunities in our Schools of Engineering and the Business School.
Post-study work
Under the latest UK Government immigration legislation, international students who have successfully completed and been awarded a degree can apply to stay and work in the UK as a skilled worker on a Tier 2 visa. In such circumstances, students must secure a graduate level job offer with an employer who is a UKBA registered Tier 2 sponsor and should obtain this job offer before their current student visa expires.
We would strongly recommend that you visit the Loughborough University Careers and Employability Centre; “Finding Work After Your Studies” pages to learn more.
Loughborough has an exceptional track record of building enterprise and innovative commercial research through licensing and the formation of companies. Over the years we have established strategic partnerships with global industry leaders, which enables our research to have a real impact on the world around us. Likewise, our teaching and curriculum is focused on practical vocational training and preparing students for the workplace.
In many instances, Loughborough degrees are conceived following close consultation and input from industry in order to meet the needs of future employers. Companies sponsoring our degrees help design, develop and deliver them this ensures that newly employed graduates are professionally and commercially attractive.
Over 60% of our courses are accredited or endorsed by professional bodies and 70% of our research is carried out with industry partners (the UK average is just 20%). Our campus is home to a number of companies and industrial research centres such as Ford, Rolls-Royce and BAE systems.
As a result, 90% of our graduates are in employment or further study both in the UK and overseas. Loughborough is one of the top 13 UK universities targeted by large graduate employers.
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