This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

Uni Students - how much can you earn per year?

I'm actually asking the question (in the title of this thread) to the full-time uni students who do part-time jobs during term and/or vacation.

Is it possible to earn 6000 pounds during vacation alone?

Reply 1

Leigh

15

Do you mean, how much can you legally earn per year, with regard to tax and stuff, or do you mean ho wmuch do you think it's possible to earn in a year, given you can't work a whole lot during term time?

The former is about £4850 last I checked before you start getting fully taxed.
The latter... depends how much you work I guess. The summer, here at least, is 14 weeks long. Say you worked full time, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, and earnt £5 an hour (easy to earn more than that), you'd make £2800, only half of your target.
If you worked 7 days a week (hardcore) and made £6 an hour, that'd still only be £4704.

£6000 would definitely be a push then I believe. Although you could work easter, christmas and maybe a weekend day to get yourself closer to that target.
Why £6000 out of interest?

Reply 2

L i b

19

Well it obviously depends what job you get and what salary you can command!

If you worked full time, 40 hours a week (assuming summer of 14 weeks - I have no reason to doubt the abovementioned length is abnormal), then you'd have to earn £10.71 an hour.

The most I've ever heard of a student earning over summer was £13-odd an hour working for PwC - but a lot of that went on summer drinking and the costs of living down south.

Reply 3

AT82

I managed to earn £13 an hour as a student :p:

However the work was irregular and I would only make £2000 a year from that job. Pretty much all of it went in night clubs and HIFI gear and holidays :p:

.

Reply 4

<A-S-H-I-Q-U-E>

OP

14

Thanks for the replies so far. :smile:

King Leigh

Do you mean, how much can you legally earn per year, with regard to tax and stuff,...?

Yup.. ofcourse, I'm concerned about legal earnings. :smile:

King Leigh

Why £6000 out of interest?

Good question!

£6000 is the average living expense (incl accommodation) outside London, and so I'm wondering whether I can pay for my living (in the 2nd year of study in UK) from my earning in the 1st year.

Reply 5

EffingKrazy

1

i thought the NUS recommend working 10 hours a week if u want to work? i know people who work like 30 hours a week during term time

Reply 6

Leigh

15

<A-S-H-I-Q-U-E>

Thanks for the replies so far. :smile:

Yup.. ofcourse, I'm concerned about legal earnings. :smile:

I didn't mean "are we allowed to include earning money by illegal means?"
I meant "are you asking what the regulations are with regard to how much you are allowed to earn in a year".
My fault.

Reply 7

Talya

16

I believe the tax free threshold for earning was £5035 in this tax year, will go up a little from April.

Reply 8

<A-S-H-I-Q-U-E>

OP

14

King Leigh

I meant "are you asking what the regulations are with regard to how much you are allowed to earn in a year".

o ok... yes, im asking so.

btw, i didn't know there's a restriction in the amount of money we can earn per year.

As an international student, i can work 20 hours per week during term time and 40 hours (full-time) during vacation.

Reply 9

Talya

16

<A-S-H-I-Q-U-E>

o ok... yes, im asking so.

btw, i didn't know there's a restriction in the amount of money we can earn per year.

As an international student, i can work 20 hours per week during term time and 40 hours (full-time) during vacation.

There's no restriction (I don't think) but if you earn more than £5K a year you will have to pay some tax.

Reply 10

<A-S-H-I-Q-U-E>

OP

14

Talya

There's no restriction (I don't think) but if you earn more than £5K a year you will have to pay some tax.

I see..

how and when do you pay the tax? at the end of the year?

what if one earns £4K in 'vacations' (summer, christmas, and easter) and £2K during 'term' time from different employers? Does s/he still need to pay tax?

Reply 11

kookabura

13

If you earn over the threshold (someone has mentioned the figure above) you will have to pay tax. I am pretty sure that is doesnt matter how you go over the threshold, if you combine term time work and vacation work it doesnt matter as far as I know if its over that amount you are taxed. That isnt necessarily a problem, its that you need to look at how much you are going over by as to if its worth it. From what I understand, and someone correct me if I am wrong please, even if you are obly a couple of pounds over the threshold you get taxed on all your earnings. So if you are a fair bit over you are probably still better off having earnt that and paid some tax than not having earnt it at all. Whereas if you are only a small amounf over, by the time you have paid tax you are worse off than if you hadnt earnt the little bit extra, if that makes sense!

But....I'm not sure how that relates to international students. I think there is the restriction on working hours because of the 'reason' you give for coming to the UK (presumably being a student, rather than working?) Don't know if you would have to pay tax if you earn over the threshold or not!

Anyway....in response to the OP. You could probably get fairly near your £6000 if you worked during the term time (maybe evening or weekend job) and during the holidays. Means you would be working a lot though. A lot of it depends on how much you would earn/hour and how much of your earnings you would spend during the year whilst you were earning it still!

Edit: Theres a link here which gives some info on tax. Still doesnt gve much info on international students though

Reply 12

Talya

16

I thought you only got taxed on the money you earn over the threshold? So everyone has a tax free allowance of £5K even if they are earning like £50K?

Reply 13

<A-S-H-I-Q-U-E>

OP

14

Cathie86

Anyway....in response to the OP. You could probably get fairly near your £6000 if you worked during the term time (maybe evening or weekend job) and during the holidays. Means you would be working a lot though. A lot of it depends on how much you would earn/hour and how much of your earnings you would spend during the year whilst you were earning it still!

Edit: Theres a link here which gives some info on tax. Still doesnt gve much info on international students though

Thanks for all the info you've provided. :smile:

The link to that website clearly explains about the income tax system in UK. Hope any non-EU student can point out differences (if any) for international students.

Cheers

Reply 14

<A-S-H-I-Q-U-E>

OP

14

Talya

I thought you only got taxed on the money you earn over the threshold? So everyone has a tax free allowance of £5K even if they are earning like £50K?

The website in the link, provided by Cathie86, clarifies your query. It says:

For example, if your total income comes to £8,000 in a tax year:

•

you will pay no Income tax on the first £5,035, leaving you with £2,965.

•

£2,150 of this will be taxed at 10 per cent (£215)

•

the remaining £815 will be taxed at 22 percent (£179.30)

This means that over the course of the year, you'll pay £394.30 in Income Tax. If your earnings included savings interest, this would be taxed at 20 per cent because you've reached the middle tax band.

I believe, in the same way, you can calculate your income of £50K. :smile:

Reply 15

Leigh

15

This goes weird if you have a second job though.
If you have that, you will be charged full tax on money earnt in that job regardless (the other job works the same as stated above) but at the end of the year, if you have been taxed more than you should have in total you get the difference refunded.

Reply 16

mtbab

17

but remember you can claim ure tax back at the end of the tax yr, if ure a ful time student

Reply 17

Sarky

18

Get a job as a warden in halls. Thats what i do, and that way my rent is subsidised. If i choose to get a job after that (i don't usually have the time but i try) then at least i know its not all going on my rent.

Reply 18

mtbab

17

Sarky

Get a job as a warden in halls. Thats what i do, and that way my rent is subsidised. If i choose to get a job after that (i don't usually have the time but i try) then at least i know its not all going on my rent.

yeh but u can only do that once ure 3rd yr right?

Reply 19

La Trampa

18

i'm an international student and as long as i earn more then £94 i think per week,i have to pay tax.

Uni Students - how much can you earn per year?

Related discussions

Articles for you