BUNAC

Types of jobs

Many Work in Britain participants work in the business sector, in career or course-related postions, as interns or in clerical and secretarial positions. About 25% of participants worked in career or course-related positions in 2007. Other participants take service industry jobs in restaurants, hotels, pubs and shops. This sort of work is generally plentiful and is especially popular outside the London area.

You can do any type of job (except professional athlete or entertainer) and have as many jobs as you wish at any given time. You can also work as many hours a week as you like at any time of year. However the job must not last longer than six months and you cannot be self-employed.

Finding a job

Most participants do not find it difficult to locate a job. BUNAC provides help and assistance before you leave the US and once you arrive in the UK. About 30% of participants pre-arrange their jobs using such resources as BUNAC’s Work in Britain Handbook, campus Study Abroad and Careers offices, personal contacts and the internet.

In 2007, 70% of participants waited until they arrived in Britain to do their job-hunting with the vast majority finding work within the first seven days and half within the first three days. Most people use the BUNAC job boards, but participants have used a variety of resources including walk-in, local newspapers and the internet. Finding work shouldn’t be too difficult if you focus on the search and are prepared to be flexible!

Housing Short-term: BUNAC has special arrangements with high-quality student hostels for pre-booking your first few night’s accommodation. These are popular places to meet other participants and other international young travelers. Prices range from £15 to £25 per night. Full details are available in the Work in Britain Handbook.

Long-term: previous participant advice is to wait until you get to Britain. Rental accommodation is plentiful and the BUNAC offices in London and Edinburgh have housing listings. Geographical flexibility is a job hunting asset and you need to know your income and commuting needs before signing leases.

Some jobs are live-in. ‘Flat-shares’, house-shares and room-mates can be found through BUNAC’s listings. Naturally, housing quality varies, but this type of accommodation is broadly comparable to off-campus housing in the US.

Living costs

2007 examples

  • London (Program fee 2008, US $290)
  • Average weekly wage, live out (office) £300
  • Average weekly wage, live out (non-office) £250
  • Average weekly wage, live-in £200
  • Average weekly rent, single room £110
  • Average weekly rent, shared room £80
  • Average weekly food bill (cooking at home) £35
  • Wages and prices outside London are lower.

Job facts

2007 examples

  • 30% pre-arranged work before arrival in Britain (25% in career jobs, 5% in casual jobs)
  • 70% found work after arrival
  • 4% live-in
  • Of those who did not pre-arrange work from the USA, finding a job took:
  • 42% 3 days
  • 19% 4-6 days
  • 18% 7-10 days
  • 21% 10 days.

Tax and national insurance

National Insurance is deducted from all workers in Britain at a rate of 11%, so while working you will be entitled to emergency National Health treatment.

Participants also pay income tax. However, a special government concession means that if you earn less than £5225 and expect to return to college until after the 5th of April following participation, you may not pay tax.

Otherwise you will pay tax throughout your stay. The British Government reviews this figure each April and it may change (often to your advantage). BUNAC will advise you at orientation.

From October 2007, the minimum hourly wage in the UK is £4.60 for people under 22 and £5.52 for those over 22.