Many international students investigate the work rights policies when they decide where to study. Several governments expanded the time that students seeking certain degrees and studying in distinct areas can stay after graduation to find a job.

Given the high demand for post-study work rights among international students, here is an overview of the policies at the end of 2022 and information about working while studying at each destination.

CANADA

Visa type: Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

Duration: 8 to 36 months, depending on the qualification of the applicant

Minimum study time: 8 months

Minimum credential required: Diploma or certificate

NEW: For several months during the pandemic, international students were allowed to complete 100% of their programme with a Canadian institute from overseas and still be qualified for a post-graduation work permit.

According to the following official guidance, this is being eliminated gradually:

• Students who start studies with a Canadian institute between 1 September 2022 and 31 September 2023 should complete at least 50 percent of their programme inside Canada, whether online or in class.


• The time spent studying outside of Canada before 31 August 2023 won’t be subtracted from the duration of students’ PGWP as long as it comprises less than 50 percent of their programme of study.


• Students who commence their Canadian study programmes after 31 August 2023 will not be permitted to count any time studying from overseas towards their post-graduation work permit.

Working while studying: International students with off-campus permissions on their Canadian study visa can work unlimited hours off-campus while studies are in session between 15 November 2022 to 31 December 2023.

AUSTRALIA

Visa type: Temporary Graduate Work visa- subclass 485 for international students with a graduation degree from an Australian institution.

Duration: Between 2 and 4 years, leaning on the qualification.

NEW IN 2022: There is now a Temporary Graduate Work visa- subclass 485 for international students graduating with higher education degrees related to specified workforce shortages. The allowance is four years for a bachelor’s degree, five years for a master’s degree, and six years for a Ph.D. programme.

Working while studying: Until 30 June 2023, international students can work unlimited hours in any sector of the Australian economy while the academy is in session.

FINLAND

Visa type: Residence Permit to Find a Job

Duration: 2 years (extended from 12 months earlier this year)

Minimum credential required: Bachelor’s degree

Working while studying: Part-time work is allowed (up to 30 hours per week), but it must be associated with the student’s field of study. During holidays, students can work for unlimited hours.

FRANCE

Visa type: Temporary Residence Permit

Duration: 12 months (longer for some nationalities)

Minimum study time: 3 years

Minimum credential required: Professional bachelor’s or master’s degree

Details: Once students find employment, they can go for a 4-year work permit. International graduates can work if they have a guarantee of a job that pays at least 1.5 times the minimum wage. A Talent Passport is open to researchers.

Working while studying: While studying in France, international students can work more than 964 hours per year on or off campus.

UNITED STATES

Visa class: Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Duration: 12 months (up to 36 months for STEM students)

Minimum study time: 12 months

Minimum credential required: Certificate

NEW IN 2022: An Optional Practical Training (OPT) permission of 3 years post-graduation is now open to F-1 students in 22 new domains of study. Also: In 2022/23, degree-seeking J-1 students and graduates in STEM areas can stay in the US for three years. Before this, the cap had been 18 months of work allowance for J-1 students.

Working while studying: F-1 students are permitted to work on-campus under particular conditions in their first year of studies but not off-campus (with rare exceptions).

Beginning in the second year- F-1 students are permitted to work off-campus via one of these programmes:

Pre-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)- 20 hours a week or less) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which can be full-time but usually not given that students need to maintain a full academic course load while completing their CPT. OPT & CPT work must be associated with the student’s field of study.

GERMANY

Visa type: Residence permit

Duration: 18 months

Minimum study time: 3 years

Minimum credential required: Bachelor’s degree

Details: Graduates with a residence permit can work in any job while looking for full-time work associated with their field of study. Once employed full-time, they can freely apply for a 4-year EU Blue Card residence permit.

Working while studying: Non-EU students are permitted to work alongside their studies for 120 full days/240 half days per year.

ITALY

Visa type: Permesso di Soggiorno- (residence permit)

Duration: 6-12 months to find a job. If a student fails to find a job, the student must depart the country.

Minimum credential required: Level 2 master’s degree

Working while studying: Students can work more than 1,040 hours per year. Thus, this equates to 20 hours of part-time work for 12 months.

JAPAN

Visa type: Designated Activities visa

Duration: 360 days (almost a year). Graduates can stay in Japan for a maximum of 360 days in order to find a job under a Designated Activities visa.

Working while studying: Students can work more than 28 hours a week while classes are in session and more than 8 hours a day during holiday breaks.

IRELAND

Visa type: Third Level Graduate Scheme

Duration: 12–24 months

Minimum study time: 12 months

Minimum credential required: Level 8

Details: The Third Level Graduate Stream is created for graduates to find work or apply for a Green Card. An individual can get Green Cards only when a job pays over €60,000 per year, is on a list of defined occupations, or pays up to €30,000 per year and will endure at least 24 months.

Working while studying: International students are permitted to work 20 hours per week while studies are in session and 40 hours per week during June, July, August, and September and from 15 December to 15 January inclusive.

UAE

Visa type: 5-year long-term visa

Minimum credential required: Bachelor’s degree

Details: This visa permits “outstanding” graduates to find work, acquire work permits, and establish permanent residence in the nation. Students should have a distinction GPA of at least 3.75 upon graduation to be qualified for the visa.

Working while studying: Students can work 15 hours per week/60 hours per month while studies are in session, but during summer vacations, students can work 40 hours per week/160 hours per month.

NETHERLANDS

Visa type: Orientation Year Residence Permit to Find a Job

Duration: 12 months

Minimum study time: 10 months

Minimum credential required: Bachelor’s degree

Details: Once students find a job, they can stay in the country for as long as they have that job and can apply for a 4-year EU Blue Card residence permit.

Working while studying: Non-EU or international students can work part-time for more than 16 hours per week during their studies and full-time in June, July, and August. Students need a work permit to do so.

SPAIN

Visa type: Residence permit

Duration: 1 year

Minimum credential demanded: Bachelor’s degree

Working while studying: While studying in Spain, international students can work 20 hours per week.

NEW ZEALAND

Visa type: Post-study Work Visa

Duration: 12–36 months

Minimum study time: 30 weeks

Minimum credential required: Certificate. Click here for more details.

Details: Partners of international students having this visa can apply for their own work visa; visa-holders children can study for free as domestic students.

Working while studying: Rules change by the level of study, but students can work more than 20 hours per work during their courses.

UNITED KINGDOM

Visa type: UK Graduate Route

Duration: 24 months for bachelor’s and master’s degrees and three years for PhD

Minimum study time: 12 months

Minimum credential required: Bachelor’s degree

Working while studying: Students registered in full-time degree-level courses having a student visa can work in the UK for 20 hours per week while classes are in session and full-time during holiday breaks. Part-time studies do not offer a right to undertake any work in the UK.

Source: monitor.icef.com