If you hold a Subclass 500 student visa, you can generally work a maximum of 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. That single rule trips up more students than almost any other visa condition, because the cap is counted per fortnight, not per week, and going over it even once can put your visa at risk. This post is for international students already in Australia, those planning to study here, and the employers hiring them. We will walk through what the cap actually means, when it lifts, the condition number behind it, and the separate question of how much money you need to show before you arrive.
How many hours can a student work in Australia?
The short answer is up to 48 hours per fortnight when your course is running.
A Subclass 500 (Student) visa lets you study and work in Australia, but the work side comes with a limit attached to your study. While your course is “in session”, meaning during your study terms and semesters, you can work no more than 48 hours in any fortnight. The Australian Government confirms this on the official Student visa (subclass 500) guidance, current as of June 2026.
A fortnight here means a period of 14 days. The important detail is that the cap is measured across the whole fortnight rather than topped up week by week. So you cannot work 10 hours one week and then 40 the next on the theory that each week is “under” some weekly figure. What counts is the 14-day total.
The 48-hour limit also applies across every job you hold, not per employer. If you have two part-time roles, the hours from both are added together. That catches a lot of students who assume each job is counted separately.
What “in session” means, and when the cap lifts
The cap only bites while your course is in session.
When your course is out of session, you can work unlimited hours. According to the official Subclass 500 guidance, the work restriction does not apply during scheduled course breaks, after you have completed your course while you still hold a valid visa, or if your enrolment is cancelled because your education provider defaulted.
A few situations to keep straight:
- Scheduled breaks, such as the holiday period between semesters, are out of session. You can work full time during them.
- Exam periods are usually still in session, because your course has not finished even though classes may have stopped. Treat exam weeks as capped unless your provider tells you otherwise.
- Before your course starts, you generally cannot work yet on a student visa. The right to work is tied to your enrolment commencing.
If you are unsure whether a particular week falls inside a break, your education provider’s published academic calendar is the reference point. Home Affairs looks at when your course is formally in session, not at how busy your personal study schedule happens to be.
The exception for research students
Postgraduate research students sit outside the 48-hour cap.
If you have started a masters by research or a doctoral (PhD) program, you may work more than 48 hours per fortnight at any time once your course has commenced. This carve-out is set out on the official Student visa (subclass 500) page. It reflects the fact that research candidates often work as part of their academic role.
The exception applies after the course has started, not before. If you are about to begin a research degree, the usual pre-commencement rule still applies until your program is underway. Coursework masters and undergraduate students do not get this exception and stay subject to the 48-hour cap.
Condition 8105 and what it actually says
The work limit is enforced through a visa condition, not a guideline.
Most student visas carry condition 8105, which is the legal condition that restricts how much you can work. It sits within Schedule 8 of the Migration Regulations 1994 and is attached to your visa grant. When people talk about “the 48-hour rule”, condition 8105 is the rule they mean. There is a related condition, 8104, that applies to some other visa holders, including certain family members on a student visa, so it is worth checking which condition appears on your own grant letter.
You can see the work conditions that attach to your visa listed in your grant notification and on the Subclass 500 visa listing. Because the wording of conditions can be updated, we would rather point you to the official page than reproduce the legal text and risk it going out of date. If your circumstances are unusual, for example you are on a bridging visa linked to a student application, the conditions can differ, and that is worth confirming before you take on work.
Here is a quick reference for the work rules at a glance.
| Situation | Work allowed |
|---|---|
| Course in session (terms, semesters) | Up to 48 hours per fortnight |
| Scheduled course breaks | Unlimited hours |
| Before course commences | Generally no work |
| Masters by research or PhD, after course starts | More than 48 hours per fortnight permitted |
| After completing your course (valid visa still held) | Unlimited hours |
What happens if you work too much
Breaching the work limit is a visa condition breach, and the consequences can be serious.
If you work more than 48 hours in a fortnight while your course is in session, you may be in breach of condition 8105. A breach of a visa condition can lead to your student visa being cancelled, which in turn can affect your ability to remain in Australia and to be granted future visas. We are not saying a single mistake guarantees cancellation, because the Department weighs the circumstances, but the risk is real and we have seen students caught out by it.
A separate point worth knowing: the Australian Government has said it will not cancel a student’s visa for reporting workplace exploitation, even where the student had worked more than the allowed hours. That protection exists so that students are not too afraid to report underpayment or unsafe conditions. It is not a free pass to ignore the cap, but it matters if you are being mistreated at work. Fair Work Australia is the body that handles workplace rights, separate from your visa status.
If you think you may have breached, or you have received a notice from Home Affairs, that is the point to get advice quickly rather than waiting. Our team regularly advises on student visa matters, including condition compliance, and acting early usually leaves more options open.
The money side: financial capacity you must show
Work rights and the funds requirement are two different things, and students often blur them.
When you apply for a Subclass 500 visa, you have to show you can genuinely support yourself. The financial capacity requirement for an individual student was AUD 29,710 to cover 12 months of living costs, with AUD 10,394 on top for a partner coming with you and AUD 4,449 for a child, as set out on the Department of Home Affairs Student visa (subclass 500) page, current as of June 2026.
That AUD 29,710 figure is for living costs, and it sits alongside the money you need for tuition and travel. It is also distinct from the visa application charge itself, which was set from AUD 2,000 per application from 1 July 2025 on the Subclass 500 guidance. The financial capacity amount is not a fee you pay. It is evidence you must be able to access, and the Department generally wants to see that the funds are genuinely available to you on the date of decision.
The reason this matters for a post about work hours is simple. Your part-time earnings, capped at 48 hours a fortnight in session, are not meant to be how you fund your stay. The visa is built on the assumption that you have the means before you arrive, and the work cap reinforces that your studies come first. If your finances are borderline, that is a conversation to have before you lodge, not after a refusal.
How work rights fit into your wider student journey
The work cap is one piece of a longer pathway.
For most students, part-time work supports study while you build toward graduation and, often, a longer stay. If you are thinking past your studies, the rules shift again under a post-study work visa, which can allow full-time work once your course is complete. Your access to healthcare also differs from permanent residents, and our explainer on Medicare eligibility for temporary visa holders is worth a read if you are budgeting for life here.
The work cap is also separate from the test that decides whether your visa is granted in the first place. That is the Genuine Student requirement, which we cover in our guide to the Genuine Student test and student visa requirements. Getting the application right and then staying compliant once you are here are two different jobs, and both matter.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 48-hour student visa cap per week or per fortnight?
It is per fortnight, counted over a 14-day period, not per week. You cannot average it out or carry hours forward. The total hours you work across all your jobs in any fortnight while your course is in session must not exceed 48, as confirmed on the official Subclass 500 guidance.
Can I work full time during semester breaks?
Yes. During scheduled course breaks your course is out of session, so the 48-hour cap does not apply and you can work unlimited hours. The same applies after you have finished your course while you still hold a valid visa. Exam periods, by contrast, usually count as in session, so the cap still applies then.
What is condition 8105 on a student visa?
Condition 8105 is the work condition attached to most Subclass 500 visas. It limits work to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session and is found in Schedule 8 of the Migration Regulations 1994. Check your grant notification to confirm which work condition applies to you, as some visa holders carry condition 8104 instead.
How much money do I need to show for an Australian student visa?
From 10 May 2024, an individual student had to show AUD 29,710 for 12 months of living costs, with extra amounts for a partner and children, per the official 2024 visa changes announcement. This is separate from tuition fees, travel costs, and the visa application charge.
What happens if I work more than 48 hours in a fortnight?
Working over the cap while your course is in session can breach condition 8105, and a condition breach can lead to your student visa being cancelled. The Department considers the circumstances, so outcomes vary, but the risk is genuine. If you have breached or received a notice from Home Affairs, get advice promptly.
Do my hours count across more than one job?
Yes. The 48-hour fortnightly limit applies to your total work across every employer, not to each job separately. Two part-time roles are added together. If the combined hours go over 48 in a fortnight during term, that is a breach even if no single job exceeds the cap.
If you are unsure whether your work pattern keeps you within condition 8105, or you have already gone over and want to understand your options, you can book a consultation with our migration lawyers to talk through your circumstances.
About the author: Tina Nematian is the Principal Lawyer at One Planet Migration Law. She is an Australian Legal Practitioner and a Registered Migration Agent, and has guided clients through partner, skilled, employer-sponsored, student, and humanitarian visa applications across Australia.
This article is general information only and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Visa rules change frequently and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Speak with a registered migration lawyer or agent before making any application. Figures were current as of June 2026; always check immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging.
