The student job that pays £12.71 to £25 an hour

Security shifts run evenings and weekends, exactly when you are free. Train in 3 to 6 days, get your SIA licence, and pick the shifts that fit your timetable.

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Two students in security uniforms in front of the London Eye and Big Ben

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3 steps to get job ready in 3 weeks

Train in 3 to 6 days

Book a course near your campus or your home town. Run it in reading week or across two weekends of teaching-free days.

Get your SIA licence

We guide the application. It costs £204 and typically completes in around 3 weeks.

Work when you want

Apply to live vacancies on our job app, GuardPass, and accept the shifts that fit your timetable. Exam season quiet, holidays full time.

Security against the usual student jobs

Most student work pays close to the minimum wage. Licensed security starts at the National Living Wage and climbs fast on weekend nights.

Bar, retail and hospitality

£12.21 to £13

An hour, mostly at or near minimum wage. Late finishes without the late-shift pay, and rotas you rarely control.

Licensed security work

£12.71 to £25

An hour. Door supervision on weekend nights pays the most, and you choose the shifts you accept through the app.

A licensed security officer on duty at a busy train station

How many hours you can work

UK students

Home students can work as many hours as they choose. The licence is yours for the whole of your studies and beyond: it stays valid for three years.

International students

Most Student visas allow up to 20 hours of work a week during term time and full-time work in vacations. Your exact limit is printed in your visa conditions, so check them before you book shifts. You need the right to work in the UK to apply for an SIA licence.

SIA Door Supervisor Training (6 days)	£259.99
Emergency First Aid at Work (required)	£99.99
SIA licence application	£204
Estimated total to become job ready	£563.98

Two weekend door shifts a week at £14 an hour returns the whole cost in around five weeks. Final cost may vary.

Pay in three, starting today.

Choose either Klarna or PayPal, split it into three instalments. Prefer a cheaper start? The Security Guard course runs 4 days at £209.99, with no first aid requirement. Learn more

Book your course

Why students pick security

Security shifts run when lectures don't: evenings, weekends and holidays, so the job fits around your timetable instead of fighting it. The pay reflects the real responsibility that comes with an SIA licence.

Evening and weekend shifts fit around lectures
Higher rates than most student jobs
Pick your shifts through the GuardPass app
A licence that earns through every holiday
Real responsibility for your CV

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Help centre

Can I work in security as a student?

Yes. You need to be 18 or over, pass the SIA training course, and hold the right to work in the UK. Home students have no work-hour limits. Student-visa holders usually have a 20-hour weekly limit in term time, printed in their visa conditions.

How much can I earn?

Licensed security pays £12.71 to £25 an hour. Door supervision on weekend nights pays the most. Two weekend shifts a week typically earns £220 to £350.

Will shifts fit around my lectures?

Yes. Security demand peaks on evenings and weekends, which is when students are free. You accept shifts through the GuardPass app, so exam weeks can stay empty and holidays can run full time where your visa allows.

How long does it take to start?

Training takes 3 to 6 days with a 95% first-time pass rate and same-day results. The licence application takes around 3 weeks. Most students book their course in one academic break and work from the next.

Which course should I pick?

The Door Supervisor course opens the widest range of jobs, including bars, events and retail. The Security Guard course is a cheaper, 4-day start for static and campus guarding.