Work Rights by Country
USA (F-1 visa): 20 hours/week on-campus only during semester. Off-campus work requires CPT/OPT authorization. Average campus job pays $12-18/hour.
UK (Student visa): 20 hours/week during term, full-time during holidays. Average student job pays £10-13/hour. Popular: retail, hospitality, tutoring.
Canada (Study permit): 24 hours/week off-campus during sessions, full-time during breaks. Minimum wage CAD 15-17/hour.
Australia (Subclass 500): 48 hours per fortnight during sessions, unlimited during breaks. Minimum wage AUD 23.23/hour — the highest in the world.
Germany (Student visa): 120 full days or 240 half-days per year. Student jobs (Werkstudent) in your field of study pay €12-20/hour and provide valuable experience.
Best Jobs for Students
Research/Teaching Assistantship (pays well + relevant experience), Werkstudent/Working Student (Germany — part-time in your field), tutoring (especially English, math, or programming), freelancing on Upwork/Fiverr (translation, writing, design), and food delivery (Uber Eats, Deliveroo — flexible hours).
How Much Can You Realistically Earn?
At 15-20 hours/week, expect to earn: USA $800-1,200/month, UK £600-900/month, Canada $900-1,200/month, Australia $1,200-1,600/month, Germany €600-1,000/month. This can cover a significant portion of living expenses but usually not enough for tuition.