Part-time work can help with living expenses and experience, but it should not be the foundation of your tuition plan. Your actual visa conditions govern what you may do. Check the Department of Home Affairs rules and your grant notice before accepting a shift. This guide was checked against official sources on 23 September 2026.
How many hours can you work?
For most Student visa (subclass 500) holders, the current limit is 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session; unrestricted hours may apply during scheduled study breaks. The rule has exceptions, including for students who have started a master’s by research or doctoral degree. Do not assume a holiday, placement or online shift is exempt: read your own conditions and the Home Affairs subclass 500 page. The official Study Australia work overview is a useful plain-language check.
Know the terms of a job
Australia’s workplace protections apply to international students. Ask for the role, rate, roster and employment arrangement in writing; keep your own hours record and review each payslip. Pay can depend on an award, enterprise agreement, age, classification and hours, so a headline national minimum is not enough to check every job. Use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s international student guidance and its pay tools. If someone offers unlawful cash-in-hand work or asks you to surrender your passport, seek help rather than accepting the arrangement.
Finding work without losing study time
Start with the institution’s careers service, student job board and local networks. Verify any employer and beware of requests for upfront recruitment fees or personal documents through an unverified channel. Plan around assessments and your visa limit; keep a buffer in your budget because hours and job availability vary. Study Australia’s job-search guidance explains common part-time and casual arrangements.
Where to get help
If you believe your pay or conditions are wrong, the Fair Work Ombudsman offers free information; the institution’s international student team can also point you to support. Reporting workplace exploitation does not itself give an employer power to cancel your visa. For immigration questions about your individual situation, check Home Affairs or qualified advice. Explore other Australia guidance as you plan accommodation and study.
Sources checked 23 September 2026: Home Affairs, Student visa; Study Australia, work; Fair Work Ombudsman, international students; finding work. Recheck visa conditions before starting work.
