Scholarships That Let You Work Part-Time

The best scholarships in 2026 will be those that see you as a professional instead of just a student. Many of the best global awards now let you work part-time (usually up to 20 hours a week) to get local experience, make connections, and make extra money.

The most important thing is to make sure your job doesn’t get in the way of your “primary purpose,” which is finishing your degree on time.

1. Chevening Scholarships (UK)

Chevening clearly lets students work part-time because they know that having work experience in the UK can help your career in the long run.

• The rule is that you can work up to 20 hours a week during the school year and full-time during university holidays.
• You have to make sure that the work doesn’t hurt your studies. You can’t work for yourself as a freelancer or get a full-time job that lasts forever.
• Pro Tip: Before you start a job, you should tell your Chevening Program officer so they can make sure it fits with your visa requirements.

2. Scholarships from the DAAD (Germany)

In 2026, Germany has some of the most flexible work-study laws. The DAAD supports these opportunities as long as you keep up with your schoolwork.

• The Rule: Students from outside the EU who are studying in another country can work 140 full days or 280 half days a year.
• The “Income Limit”: You can work, but if your gross monthly income is more than €556, you might have to pay social security taxes. If your total income (from work and your scholarship) is more than €1,311 a month, your scholarship amount may go down.
• Tip: Check your university’s job listings for “Academic Assistant” (HiWi) jobs. These jobs often don’t have the same day limits as other jobs, and they look excellent on a research CV.

3. Scholarships for Australia Awards

The student visa (subclass 500) that the Australian government gives students includes “work rights.”

• The rule is that starting in 2026, most student visa holders can work up to 48 hours every two weeks (about 24 hours a week) while their course is in session and as many hours as they want during breaks.
• If you obtain a job, you have to tell your Student Contact Officer (SCO) at the university so they can make sure you are meeting your scholarship contract obligations.

4. Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary)

In 2026, many students will choose Hungary because it is a good place to work and study in Central Europe.

• The rule says that people who get scholarships can only work part-time for a maximum of 30 hours per week during the school year and for a maximum of 90 days or 66 working days outside of school.
• Note on efficiency: In Hungary, working part-time usually doesn’t lower your monthly stipend as long as you keep your “scholarship status” by passing your exams. This situation is different from Germany.

5. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (Europe)

Erasmus Mundus requires students to move between different European countries, so the rules for work depend on which country you are in for that semester.

• Most EU countries, like France, Spain, and Italy, let international students work about 20 hours a week.
• The “Visa Type” Secret: Make sure you have a “Long-Stay Student Visa” instead of a short-term study visa, which often doesn’t allow you to work for pay.

6. “Think Big” Scholarships for specific universities in the UK

Some colleges and universities, like the University of Bristol, have their own flagship awards, like Think Big, which are just cash grants or discounts on tuition.

• The Rule: Since these awards are not “bonded” by the government, you can only work the usual 20 hours a week that UK student visa holders are allowed to.
• Deadline: The Bristol Think Big application for the 2026 intake ends on April 10, 2026.

7. The Fulbright Programme (USA)

The Fulbright Program is usually the most strict about working outside of school.

• The Rule: There are strict rules about work. Most of the time, you can only work on campus (like as a teaching or research assistant) for 20 hours a week.
• Constraint: You need to get written permission from the Fulbright Commission before you can do any work outside of school (academic training). Such permission is usually only given if the work is directly related to your field of study.

Summary of 2026 Work Limits

Final Thoughts

In 2026, Australia and Hungary will let you work the most hours each week if you want to make extra money and gain experience. Germany’s DAAD is the best choice for research-related work because of the “Academic Assistant” exemptions. Your visa is the official document that allows you to work, and the scholarship contract tells you if you can keep your money while doing so.