Supplementary employment and studying

Before the 4 April 2024 rules change Skilled Worker visa holders were only permitted to undertake supplementary employment which was the same type of work as their main role.

As there are different job codes for research and university teaching this meant that a Skilled Worker visa holder in a research role was only permitted to undertake teaching activities (giving lectures, tutorials, examining, or invigilating, for example) if their role also included teaching within the collegiate University. A Skilled Worker visa holder in a research only role who wished to undertake teaching had to ask their employing department/ faculty/ college to submit a request to SIT to report the new teaching duties before any teaching commenced.

Now that Skilled Worker visa holders can undertake supplementary employment in any type of work which could be sponsored under a Skilled Worker visa there is no longer any need to report teaching as an additional duty.

Skilled Worker visa holders are permitted to undertake voluntary activities (such as helping with a charity, or singing in a choir, for example) but this is not the same as unpaid work.

Activities would only be considered to be volunteering if:

• The individual is not fulfilling a role normally undertaken by staff
• There is no obligation on the individual to attend at particular times or have set hours, and
• There is no payment, only reimbursement for reasonable travel and meals expenses actually incurred.

If there are defined hours, extensive training, required attendance, and someone else would have to be found to cover the activities if an individual did not turn up, this is unpaid work, not volunteering.

Activities, other than volunteering, which do not meet the supplementary employment requirements are not permitted, whether paid or unpaid.

In addition to considering the 'supplementary employment' requirements, Skilled Worker visa holders will also need to discuss with their employing department/ faculty/ college other issues around undertaking work outside their main role including:

• Conflict of interest
• 30 day rule (approval to hold outside appointments)

Skilled Worker visa holders are permitted to undertake a course of study in the UK without prior approval from the Home Office; however, those undertaking studies in science, engineering, and technology subjects must check whether the course subject will mean they are required to first obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate.

Further information can be found in relation to ATAS and applying for clearance in the University's student visa guidance.