Section outline

    • Right to work checks  

      All students require a right to work check even if you have held a demonstrator contract in the past. HR require a new right to work check every academic year. You will be requested to provide a copy of your passport so that it can be verified. You will also need to complete a personal details form form and input Dale Breame (d.breame@qmul.ac.uk) under line manager. 

      EU Nationals with pre-settled and settled status

      From 1 July 2021, the majority of EEA citizens will prove their right to work using the Home Office online right to work service. Those who have made a successful application to the EU Settlement Scheme will have been granted their immigration status digitally and can only prove their right to work using Home Office online service ‘prove your right to work to an employer’ available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work.

      To prove their right to work from 1 July 2021, individuals will provide the University with a share code and their date of birth, which will enable us to check their Home Office immigration status via the online service available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work.

      Student Visa

      If you have a Student Visa visa then you will need to provide a copy of your biometric residence permit card. You will also need to complete a Student Visa Holder declaration.   

      This will need to be done once per academic year before you start doing any work and you will be informed of the deadline. 

      National Insurance (NI) Number  

      UK nationals normally receive their NI number at the age of 16.

      Non-UK nationals who want to work must apply for an NI number. 

      The whole process of applying for an NI number is explained online.

      To apply for an NI number, contact the National Insurance application line 0800 141 2075. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. You must know your home postcode when you ring.

      When you ring, you will either be asked to attend an ‘evidence of identity’ interview at your local Job Centre Plus, or you will be sent a postal application. If you are asked to attend an interview, check exactly what documents you will need to take with you: this is usually a range of original documents such as your passport, national identity card, birth certificate or driving license. International students may need evidence that they are enrolled at QMUL. If you need evidence of enrolment you should email researchdegrees@qmul.ac.uk to request a letter, and then go in person to collect the original. Alternatively you can request the letter in person by going to the Research Degrees Office, room 2.13, Second Floor, Graduate Centre, Mile End campus.

      If you are looking for work or already working you may also need to provide evidence of this such as job applications or a letter from your employer. It might take up to 12 weeks before you receive your NI number through the post, but you can work, and be paid, while you are waiting.


      Pay

      All PGR students will receive payment for the work that they do for the School. Demonstrators are paid at a rate of £17.97 per hour (March 2025 QMUL spinal point 19). Standard theory modules are paid for 1 hour prep time (per week) and lab/PC based modules are paid for training instead. 

      The QM pay day is the 24th of each month. If this date falls on a weekend, you will be paid the first working day before.

      Contracts and Pensions 

      As you will be employed by QMUL as a member of staff, you will receive a contract once HR have received your right to work check, personal details form and contract details. Part 10 of the personal details form you are required to complete relates to pension details. All staff are automatically entered into a pension scheme. If you do not want to be part of this then you need to inform HR in writing that you wish to leave. Please send an email to Pension@qmul.ac.uk
      This will take up to 28 days to be processed.
      More information can be found here: http://hr.qmul.ac.uk/workqm/pensions/


      Timesheets  

      You will be contracted for a minimum number of hours per academic year. All hours will be paid by submitting a timesheet to MyHR and remuneration is normally paid in arrears. Any timesheets submitted after the 1st day of the calendar month will be paid in the next month. For example, timesheets submitted/worked after the 1st October will be paid in November. Dale will approve timesheets on MyHR and contact you if there are any discrepancies with what was expected vs what has been submitted.


      For those of you who had contracts last year, Dale will request for your MyHR access to be reactivated so you can use the same credentials as last year. For new demonstrators, a new college username will be created for you for use on MyHR. These credentials are different to your PhD student QMUL account. If you have any problems accessing MyHR, please contact IT Serviceshttp://www.its.qmul.ac.uk/