UK Minimum Wage 2026: Rates and Your Rights at Work as a Student
The 2026 National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates by age, plus the workplace rights every international student employee should know.
Whether you're stacking shelves, working in a café or tutoring on the side, UK law sets a wage floor that applies to everyone working in the UK, including international students on a Student visa — your immigration status has no effect on your entitlement to be paid correctly, and employers who don't pay it are breaking the law regardless of your visa type.
Know your rate before your first shift
The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage are reviewed every April by the Low Pay Commission and change annually, so always check the current figure on gov.uk rather than relying on a number you were told last year. Rates are banded by age, with a lower "apprentice rate" for genuine apprenticeships. Your visa status is irrelevant to which band applies — only your age matters.
Multiply your hours worked by your correct rate and compare it to your payslip. Common underpayment tricks include not paying for training shifts, deducting uniform costs below the minimum wage floor, or rounding down hours. You can report anonymously to the Acas helpline (0300 123 1100) or HMRC without risking your visa — reporting wage theft is not an immigration matter.
Rights that apply from day one
- A written statement of employment — terms, pay, hours — within the first day for most jobs (a full contract within two months).
- Payslips every payday showing gross pay, deductions and net pay.
- Paid holiday, accrued from your first day, pro-rated to your contracted hours (a typical 20-hour-a-week job accrues roughly 11–12 days a year).
- Rest breaks — at least 20 minutes for a shift over six hours.
- Protection from discrimination based on nationality, religion or race, under the Equality Act 2010.
Common questions from students
- Can my employer pay me cash in hand below minimum wage "because I'm a student"? No — student status never lowers the legal minimum.
- Does tax get taken automatically? Yes, through PAYE; see our tax and PAYE guide for how refunds work if you've overpaid.
- What if I'm on a zero-hours contract? Still covered by minimum wage for every hour actually worked, and still accrues holiday pay proportionally.
- Can I be sacked for asking about my rights? No — this counts as unfair treatment and can be reported to Acas.
Don't rely solely on the employer's system. A simple phone note of dates and hours worked, cross-checked monthly against payslips, is the fastest way to catch underpayment early and the strongest evidence if you ever need to raise a dispute.
Staying within your visa hours while earning fairly
Being paid correctly and staying within your 20-hour term-time limit are separate issues — you can be perfectly compliant on wages and still breach your visa by working too many hours. Our 20-hour work rules guide covers exactly what counts.
Employers found paying below minimum wage are named publicly by the Department for Business and Trade twice a year — a useful check before accepting a role from an unfamiliar small employer, alongside asking current or former student employees found through your university's careers fairs.
Our Career Hub lists verified, fairly-paying part-time employers near Oxford, and our contact page can connect you with advice if you think you're being underpaid.
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