Australia Student Visa Work Hours: What 48 Hours a Fortnight Allows

TL;DR: On an Australia student visa you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. The fortnight starts on a Monday. You cannot start paid work before your course starts, work that is a required part of your course does not count, and master's by research and PhD students have no limit once they begin.

The Australia student visa work hours rule sounds simple: 48 hours a fortnight. Most problems come from the detail. Students count the hours by week instead of by fortnight, start a job before their course begins, or plan their budget around wages they are not allowed to earn in term time. This guide explains what the rule allows, how to count it, and why it is not a funding plan.

Planning your Australian budget around part-time work? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

Australia student visa work hours: the 48-hour rule

Every Student visa (subclass 500) carries a work condition. The Department of Home Affairs sets it out in plain terms:

• During your course: up to 48 hours of work per fortnight while your course is in session.
• During scheduled breaks: no limit on hours when your course is not in session, such as the official break between semesters.
• Before your course starts: no paid work at all. Work rights begin when your course begins.

The 48-hour cap has applied since 1 July 2023, replacing the old limit of 40 hours a fortnight.

"In session" means the teaching period your provider publishes, including exam periods. A gap you choose to take yourself is not a scheduled break.

How to count a fortnight

Home Affairs defines a fortnight as a period of 14 days starting on a Monday. Your hours are counted across any such 14-day period, not per week. That gives some flexibility, but it also catches people out.

Keep your own record of every shift, including second jobs. If you work for two employers, the 48 hours is your combined total, not 48 hours each.

Want to check whether your course and budget fit together before you commit?

Check your eligibility ›

What does not count toward the 48 hours

Some work sits outside the limit:

• Work that is a registered part of your course. A required clinical placement, practicum or internship that is part of the course you enrolled in does not count toward the 48 hours.
• Research degree students. If you are enrolled in a master's by research or a doctorate, you have unlimited work rights once your course has started.

Everything else counts, including casual shifts, gig work and paid work for a university.

What happens if you go over

Breaching your visa conditions can lead to your visa being cancelled. A cancelled visa can also affect future visa applications to Australia. An employer telling you "it is fine this week" does not change your visa conditions.

You can check the exact conditions on your own visa using VEVO, the Home Affairs visa conditions check.

Your rights at work

International students have the same workplace rights as everyone else in Australia. The Fair Work Ombudsman states that visa holders are entitled to minimum wages, correct pay slips and safe workplaces. You will also need a Tax File Number from the Australian Taxation Office before you are paid, so that tax is not taken at the highest rate.

Why work is not a funding plan

Part-time work helps with day-to-day costs. It does not replace the money you must show for your visa. Home Affairs expects you to prove you can cover tuition, travel and living costs before you arrive, as we explain in our guide to Australia student visa genuine access to funds.

There are three practical reasons to plan without wages:

1. It takes time to find work. Many students take several weeks to find their first job.
2. Term time is busy. Assessment periods leave less room for shifts.
3. Costs arrive first. Your visa charge, health cover and first rent are paid before your first pay slip. Our guides to the Australia student visa cost and OSHC cover those amounts.

If you are comparing countries, the limits differ: the UK allows 20 hours a week in term for degree students, as our guide to UK student visa work hours explains.

Applying from Sri Lanka

• Show your living-cost funds in your visa application in full. Do not count on wages in Australia to close a gap in the funds you show.
• If your sponsor sends money from Sri Lanka after you arrive, keep the bank records. They help explain your income if you are ever asked.

FAQ

How many hours can I work on an Australia student visa? Up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.

Is it 24 hours a week? No. The limit is 48 hours across a fortnight that starts on a Monday. You can work more in one week and less in the other, as long as the 14-day total stays at 48 or below.

Can I work before my course starts? No. Your work rights begin when your course begins.

Does an internship count toward the 48 hours? Not if it is a registered, required part of your course. Other paid work, including a voluntary internship you arrange yourself, counts.

Do PhD students have a limit? Students in a master's by research or a doctorate have unlimited work rights once their course has started.

Can I rely on part-time work to pay my fees? No. You must show the funds for tuition and living costs when you apply. Treat wages as help with daily costs, not as your plan.

PS: The right course decides more than your degree. It decides your term dates, your placements and how much time you will have for work. If you want a clear view of courses that fit your budget and your plans, check your eligibility with Prosper.

Check your eligibility ›