Pay and Conditions
Information on pay and conditions for student workers.
Pay levels for student work assignments
Student casual worker pay levels are set according to the Student Worker Pay Levels Document - April 2026. The pay level assigned to a role reflects the type of work being undertaken and the responsibilities involved.
Pay levels range from Level 1 to Level 6. The University introduced the Real Leaving Wage for all colleagues from 1 August 2019 and this applies to student casual workers.
When viewing roles through Unitemps, you will see a basic hourly rate and a holiday rate displayed separately. Holiday pay is calculated separately based on the actual hours you work and is paid automatically through payroll in addition to your basic hourly rate.
The breakdown of your hourly pay and holiday pay entitlement accrued will be clearly shown on your payslip.
How can I check my pay level?
The basic hourly rate for your role is displayed in the Unitemps job advert and assignment details.
You can compare this rate with the University's Student Worker Pay Levels Document - April 2026 to confirm that the role has been assigned to the correct pay level.
Why is the pay on Unitemps displayed in this way?
Unitemps 缅北禁地 is our very own recruitment agency based in the Careers Service. As a recruitment agency, Unitemps must follow UK employment regulations and legislation.
The way pay is displayed on the Unitemps system is designed to provide transparency, showing clearly how much of your total pay relates to holiday pay.
Accessing your payslips
To access your payslips, you need to register with Elementary, a secure online platform.
You will receive an invitation email from donotreply@elementary.co.uk with instructions on how to register.
What is Elementary?
Elementary is a secure online portal where you can:
- View and download your payslips
- Access important documents such as automatic enrolment letters
- Stay updated with pay-related communications
Registering with Elementary
- Click the button in your invite email to visit the login page
- Select ‘Create account’
- Follow the prompts to set up your account
- Verify your identity using:
- Your National Insurance number
- The last 4 digits of your bank account number
- Your date of birth
If you already have an Elementary account, you can log in and select ‘Add Employer’ from your dashboard. Follow the prompts to link 缅北禁地 to your account.
Protecting your rights when working on campus
We care about protecting the rights of all students working on campus, which is why the Student Employment on Campus Policy seeks to ensure that our processes and engagement terms are fair, transparent, equitable and inclusive.
Students completing casual work on campus (through the SEOC policy) are covered under the Casual Worker Agreement and should familiarise themselves with the People Services Privacy Notice. Before undertaking any work, you should ensure that you have read, understood and agree to the terms of this agreement. If you have any questions about this agreement, contact seoc@ncl.ac.uk.
Statutory Sick Pay eligibility
Information on sick pay eligibility can be found on page four of the Casual Worker Agreement.
Additional information is available on the on the UK Government's website.
Do I have to pay tax or National insurance (NI)?
Students will pay Income Tax and NI when their wages reach the required threshold.
National Insurance:
- Payable on all income over £1,048 per month. NI is calculated as 8% of any earnings between £1,048 and £4,189 per month and 2% on earnings over £4,189.
- This includes all payments made to an individual in the month, including payments spread over multiple work assignments that are paid within the same period.
Income Tax:
The tax calculation will depend upon the tax code assigned to the student. When registering with Unitemps, a Tax declaration is chosen, and a Code assigned depending on the choice. HMRC may also issue codes or amendments to us.
The following is assuming the student is on a standard cumulative tax code of 1257L
- For the tax year 2026/27 a student can earn up to £12,570 per year before they start paying income tax
- Above the Personal Allowance (£12,570), the amount the student pays depends on the amount they earn:
- the first £12,570 is tax-free
- 20% is deducted on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270
- 40% is deducted on earnings between £50,270 and £125,140
- 45% is deducted on earnings above £125,140
- Tax is calculated on a pro-rata basis. Although the annual tax free amount is £12,570 the payroll pro-rates the allowance soa tax free portion (£1,048) is received every month. If a student was to earn a lot in one month they may be deducted tax, however that may be refunded in subsequent months if their year to date earnings are below the pro rate tax free allowance
You can find out further information on the