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UK employment rules for international students
I wanted to ask you if you could guide me regarding employment laws for full time international students. According to what I understand, the major clauses are that they can not be self-employed, they can work a maximum of 20 hours and they can only work part-time. I wanted to practise hypnotherapy which to my knowledge is not a licensed profession, meaning a license is not required in the UK to practise it. Is there any way I could practise hypnotherapy on my own as it is a public service? Do I need to get someone to hire me as an employee for hypnotherapy practise? Are there any other possible ways?
Assuming you are not from the European Economic Area (when you would face no restrictions on working), you are permitted to work part time in term time and full time in vacations unless your visa or passport stamp says "no work" or "employment prohibited" or "must not engage in employment".
There is no need to obtain a specific permission. You need to apply for a National Insurance number by producing two forms of identity at the local benefits agency but you do not need to have received it before you commence work.
You can work a maximum 20 hours a week in term time but the rules specifically prohibit starting a business or self employment so if you were to be a hypnotherapist you would need to find someone to give you employment.
There is a register of hypnotherapists at http://www.hypnotherapistregister.com/ but you should also search for complementary therapists close to where you are planning to study as these may also be willing to take on a hypnotherapist on a part time basis.
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