Job Opportunities in UK for Indian Students: Work Permit, Top Recruiters, Top-Paying Sectors & Degrees

Highlights -

• Recruiters - The top Job recruiters in the UK are Bain & Company, Equinix, Mastercard, Google, Adobe, Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, Phoenix Group, Capgemini Invent, etc.
• Demanding Job sectors - The most demanding Jobs in UK for Indian students are Accountancy, Banking, and Finance, Business Services, Construction, Creative Arts and Design, Education, Engineering, Healthcare, Hospitality, and IT.
• Part-time Jobs - You are allowed to work 20 hours per week during semesters and full-time during breaks. The high-paying part-time jobs are tutor, dog sitter, librarian, etc.
• Degree - The highest paying degree in the UK is an Executive MBA with an average salary of 100,000 GBP, annually.
• Salary - The salary range for the highest paying jobs in UK for Indian citizens ranges from 46,000 GBP to 180,000 GBP.
• Work permit - You must have a post-study work visa to be eligible to work in the UK. This visa allows you to stay in the UK for 2 years after PG course completion and 3 years after a PhD.

The UK has an abundance of employment opportunities, owing to its wide variety of courses that are open to students. The best jobs in UK for Indian students are in sectors like - IT, Accounting, Finance, Banking, Engineering, Education, Marketing, Healthcare Recruitment, and HR. According to recent data, in July 2023, logistics, legal, and retail experienced the most significant growth in vacancies.

• The most demanding jobs in UK for Indian students are for Nurse Practitioners, Data Scientists, Software Engineer, Web Developer, Information Security Analyst, and Architects.
• You can be hired by many top companies in UK such as Unilever, AstraZeneca, Barclays, HSBC Finance, Rio Tinto, GlaxoSmithKline, Deloitte, and Reckitt Benckiser
• You can work while you study in the UK if you have a tier 4 visa and are a student in a short-term study program.
• With jobs in the UK, you can expect to earn as much as 100,000 GBP a year. Graduates with MBA jobs in UK, among the highest-paid degrees, are offered a minimum of 80,000 GBP in the industry annually.

The most common visa for securing a job in the UK is a General tier 2 UK visa, which caters to skilled professionals and enables temporary work in the country.

Benefits of Working in UK

Grabbing a job opportunity in the UK also comes with its share of benefits, leading to being a more preferable destination for working. Some of the benefits are listed below -

Mandatory benefits

• Retirement Plans: You can save money for your future when you retire.
• Pension Schemes: These are special savings plans for your retirement.
• Holiday Pay: You get paid when you take time off for holidays.
• Maternity or Paternity Benefits: If you have a baby, you can get some time off work with pay.
• Sick Pay: You'll still get paid if you get sick and can't work.

Supplementary Benefits

• Life Assurance: This provides financial help to your family if something happens to you.
• Income Protection: It ensures you have money coming in even if you can't work.
• Critical Illness Insurance: If you get sick, this can help you with the costs.
• Private Medical Insurance: This covers your medical expenses.
• Dental Insurance: It helps pay for dental care.
• Health Cash Plans: These plans help with everyday health costs.
• Employee Assistance Programs: They offer support for personal or work issues.
• Virtual GP Services: You can talk to a doctor online.

Jobs in UK: Top Recruiters

With over 27,700 recruiting agencies, the UK sits at a high record number. Students wishing to study in the UK often sought out by top employers in the country. With an entry level jobs in UK for foreigners, these top recruiters can make as much as 80,000-300,000 GBP in a year. According to the latest reports, the most popular graduate employers include Google, EY, Amazon, Pfizer, PwC and GlaxoSmithKline. Discussed below are some of the top recruiters that offer high-paying Jobs in UK for Indian students -

Jobs in UK: Popular Sectors

Major industries providing jobs in the UK include a diverse range, including accounting, banking, finance, construction, education, engineering, healthcare, and retail. The country's economy is predominantly driven by the services sector, with banking, insurance, and business playing crucial roles in its growth.

Additionally, some of the top industries contributing to the UK's economic landscape involve metals, chemicals, aerospace, shipbuilding, motor vehicles, food processing, textiles, clothing, design, the arts, and electronic and communications equipment. While the manufacturing industry has seen a decline in recent years, this sector still provides jobs in UK for a significant number of workers. Some of the popular job sectors in UK in various regions for finding job for international students are:

Job Vacancies in the UK Post-Completion of Studies

With the Graduate Route, you can stay in the UK to work or explore work opportunities post-completion of your higher education. So, with this Post-graduate Work Permit (PGWP), PG students can stay for 2 years, and PhD students can live for 3 years in the UK. Whether you want to find jobs in Britain, jobs in London UK, or anywhere in the UK, the PGWP will help you immensely.

Here are some flourishing domains to find jobs in the United Kingdom

• Business Management
• Digital Marketing
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
• Data Analytics

Top High-Demanding Jobs in UK for Indian Students

From January to March 2024, the number of people aged 16+ in employment was 33.0 million, and the employment rate for people aged 16-64 was 74.5%. In 2023, there were over 4.77 million filled jobs in human health and social work in the United Kingdom, the most of any industry. In wholesale and retail, there were around 4.74 million filled jobs, making it the second most common industry in terms of employment.

Engineers

• Beyond AI & ML, there's a huge demand for traditional engineering roles in the UK. Civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics engineers and design/development engineers are the most in-demand jobs in the UK.
• The engineering industry in the UK is projected to grow at a rate of 2.7% annually from 2022 to 2027.
• Top recruiters - Google, Microsoft, Meta, Arup, Accenture, Bloomberg, Barclays, IBM, J.P. Morgan

IT Business Analysts, Architects, and Systems Designers

• IT business analysts, architects, and systems designers are essential for developing and implementing IT systems.
• Positive growth, with a 4.2% increase in jobs by 2027, creating 5,200 new positions.
• 39.6% of the workforce is expected to retire, leading to 49,600 job openings.
• Top employers are Adobe, Microsoft, Google, Tesco, and KPMG.

Programmers and Software Development Professionals

• The programming and software development sector is experiencing significant job growth.
• Anticipated 4.2% growth by 2027, creating 12,500 new jobs.
• 118,900 job openings are expected due to retirements in the same period.

Jobs in UK: Actuaries, Economists, and Statisticians

• Actuaries, economists, and statisticians are crucial for solving problems in various industries.
• Anticipated 4.3% growth by 2027, resulting in 1,800 new jobs.
• 55.3% of the workforce is projected to retire, creating 23,200 job openings.
• Top hiring companies include - PwC, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, Smith and Williamson

Human Resources

• HR Professionals help in recruiting the human assets of a company playing a vital role in the organization’s success.
• You need a degree in either of these - An MSc in Human Resource Management, MSc in Global International HRM, MSc in Human Resources and Organizations.
• The most demanding job titles are - HR Manager, HR Officer, Personnel Manager, and Recruitment Manager.
• Top employers that you can get hired by - Department of Education, NBCUniversal, Transport for London, Network Rail, Barclays, J.P. Morgan, GlaxoSmithKline, PwC

Highest Paying Jobs in UK for Indian Students

The highest-paid jobs in the UK for Indians cover various sectors including medicine, aviation, business, and technology. Salaries range from approximately £46,000 for cybersecurity experts to over £180,000 for successful marketers. The list below shows the top 10 high-paying jobs in London for Indian students-

Note - 1 GBP = 106.21 INR, as of 28th May, 2024

Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare is a rewarding and high-demand field in the UK, offering a diverse range of job roles with competitive salaries. Here are some of the top-paying healthcare jobs and their average salaries:

• Nephrologist: Average Salary is approximately Rs. 95.3 lakhs
• Anaesthesiologist: Average Salary is approximately Rs. 94.3 lakhs
• Pediatrician: Average Salary is approximately Rs. 94 lakhs
• Doctor: Average Salary is around £80,000
• Nurse Practitioner: Average Salary is around £32.86 per hour
• Registered Nurse: Average Salary is around £29,453
• Healthcare Assistant: Average Salary is around £8.69 per hour

IT and Tech Roles

The UK's thriving IT and tech industry offers a diverse range of well-paying job opportunities for skilled professionals. Here are some of the top in-demand and highest-paying tech roles in the UK:

• Chief Information Officer (CIO): Average Salary ranges from £105,000 to £176,000
• Front-End Developer: Average Salary ranges from £44,000 to £76,000
• Software Developer: Average Starting Salary ranges from £27,500 (starting) to £80,000+ (experienced)

Engineering

The field of engineering in the UK presents a broad spectrum of well-paying job opportunities across various specializations. The engineering industry offers a competitive starting salary for a fresher in the UK. Here are some top engineering roles along with their average salaries:

• Chief Information Officer (CIO): Average Salary ranges from £105,000 to £176,000
• Front-End Developer: Average Salary ranges from £44,000 to £76,000
• Software Developer: Average Starting Salary is around £27,500
• Mechanical Engineer: Average Salary ranges from £35,000 to £50,000
• Electrical Engineer: Average Salary ranges from £35,000 to £55,000
• Civil Engineer: Average Salary ranges from £35,000 to £55,000

Skills Needed for High-Paying Jobs in UK

You need to have some expertise in some of the key areas for getting a high range salary -

• Data Analysis: Proficiency in tools like Excel, SQL, Tableau, R, Python
• Software Development: Coding, programming, and software engineering skills
• User Experience (UX): Design, research, and testing abilities
• Web Development: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and web frameworks
• Project Management: Planning, organization, and leadership skills
• Cybersecurity: Expertise in network security, risk assessment, and incident response
• Leadership and Strategic Thinking: Decision-making, problem-solving, and adaptability

Jobs in UK After studies

A survey done by Emoluments.com has shown that the initial salaries for the graduates of top universities and colleges almost doubled in the period of five years. The graduates of London School of Business started at 38,000 GBP and in a five year period reached 69,000 GBP. Similarly, an Oxford graduate starting with 34,000 GBP reached above 54,000 GBP within 5 years from graduation.

The average salaries of some of the best jobs for immigrants in UK are as follows:

Part-Time Jobs in UK

For full-time students, there is a possibility to work in the UK for 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during university breaks. However, for students studying full-time below a degree level, the allowed work hours are limited to 10 per week. Some of the top part time jobs in UK for Indian students, along with the part time jobs in UK for Indian students salary are tabulated below:

Highest Paying Degrees in UK

International students choose the UK for management and STEM subjects along with cyber areas. Undergraduate, graduation, and doctorate levels of education are quite popular and some courses stand out in preparing students for the job market also. The highest-in-demand degrees based on the average earnings are as follows in UK:

Region-wise Salary for Jobs in UK

The average salary for jobs in the UK for Indian citizens also varies according to the regions in the UK. The table below shows a list of some of the demanding places for jobs and their average annual salary-

Post-Study Work Visa in UK for Indian Students

If you are an international student working in the UK, you must have a post-study work visa for two years, or the Graduate Route that allows you to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing a course in the UK. The post-study work visa allows to study and work in UK for Indian students

You are eligible to apply for the Graduate visa if you -

• You are in the UK
• Your current visa is a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
• You studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, or other eligible course for a minimum period of time with your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
• Your education provider (such as your university or college) has told the Home Office you have successfully completed your course

You must note that the Graduate visa lasts for 2 years. However, if you have a PhD or a doctoral degree, it can last up to 3 years. The validity of your visa starts from the day your application is approved.

• You must apply before your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa expires.
• You can apply after your university or college has told the Home Office that you’ve successfully completed the course you took with your Student or Tier 4 (General) student visa
• You need to pay an application fee of £822 for the study work visa in UK.

Documents needed for Graduate Visa

To apply for the post-study work visa, you need the following documents -

• A valid passport or other travel document that shows your identity and nationality.
• Your biometric residence permit (BRP), if you were given one when you applied for your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa.
• Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from when you applied for your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa.
• A letter from your scholarship or sponsorship provider approving your application, if they paid for both your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months.

Things You Can and Cannot do with a Graduate Route Visa

With a graduate route visa, there are certain things you are allowed to do and few things which you are not permitted to do.

What you can do -

• work in most jobs
• look for work
• be self-employed
• continue living in the UK with your partner and children, if they’re eligible
• do voluntary work
• travel abroad and return to the UK

What you cannot do -

• apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
• work as a professional sportsperson

Working culture in the UK

• The country believes in peaceful workplaces that help build a social bond between employees, which leads to better performance and efficiency.
• Working after hours is not the norm in the UK unless the work is of utmost urgency.
• Work-life balance is given a lot of importance there. The workplaces in the country focus on maintaining the emotional and mental well-being of their employees.
• People working at every level of the company socialize and get together after work hours

There is no dearth of blue or white collar jobs for international students depending on their qualifications and areas of interest. The United Kingdom has some top-class universities providing world-class education and preparing the best job market talent. The country has many areas like Scotland emerging as a world business hub and England has not yet lost the charm. Considering this, the country has a lot to offer to the international students and communities.

FAQs

Ques. Can Indian students work part-time while studying in the UK?

Ques. What types of jobs are available for Indian students in the UK?

Ques.Are there any restrictions on the number of hours Indian students can work in the UK?

Ques.Do Indian students need a work visa to work part-time in the UK?

Ques.What are the typical wages for part-time jobs for Indian students in the UK?

Ques. Are there any resources or platforms specifically for Indian students looking for jobs in the UK?

Ques. Can Indian students undertake internships or placements in the UK as part of their studies?

Ques. Are there any cultural differences Indian students should be aware of when applying for jobs in the UK?

Ques.Do Indian students need to pay taxes on their earnings from part-time jobs in the UK?

Ques. Can Indian students extend their stay in the UK after graduation to seek employment?

Ques. Are there opportunities for Indian students to work remotely for companies in the UK?

Ques. How can Indian students balance work and studies effectively while in the UK?