According to the National Student Money Survey, a huge 66% of students are working part-time to help supplement student loans. Worryingly, over a third of respondents said they felt their grades were lower due to financial worries.

So although going to university should be a way of studying your favourite subjects, expanding your horizons and making friends for life, for some it appears financial issues could be a concern.

It’s not surprising, therefore, that as an education and careers adviser, many students commonly ask me the question, ‘Should I get a job at university?’ Or if there are any benefits to working while studying.

Before we delve into details, let’s take a look at the short answer so you can get an idea of the pros and cons.!

If your university allows you to work during term time, getting a job has many benefits. It gives you an edge over peers, and important work experience boosts CV skills, increases professional contacts, expands social circles and means you worry less about paying for the things you need or want.

Needless to say, there are always more aspects to take into account that can be summed up in a quick answer.

With the summary answer in mind, so you can understand a little more easily whether you should get a job at university, let’s start by looking at whether you do need to work.

Do I really need a job while at university?

According to UCAS, there are a wealth of benefits when working as a university student.

It can be a great way of getting crucial experience in the world of work, can help with any financial debts you have and also add to your CV.

Providing it doesn’t affect your study time, having a job at university allows you to relax a little more about money and also get a brand new set of work skills.

This can help you to stand out among a crowd of other job applicants when you leave university, giving you a head start over your peers.

Before you decide whether or not you need a job at university, do a few sums.

Establish a monthly budget

See if you can look at your monthly budget, establish your incomings and any outgoings and decide if there is a shortfall. It might be that there isn’t a shortfall but the remaining leftover cash isn’t enough for you to buy the things you need or want.

Or it could be that you had more money left over than you thought and you are happy to live on the surplus.

Do you have a heavy workload?

Depending on the type, of course, you are studying, it could be that your volume of work means it’s impractical to try squeezing in a part-time job.

Am I allowed to work while at university?

It’s worth checking with your university as the rules do vary.

Some universities, for example, don’t allow students to work during term time, and others might simply make recommendations to limit student working hours to 10 hours a week.

Of course, depending on your own university’s rules and the type of course that you are enrolled on, it could be that you could reasonably work for 15 to 20 hours a week.

“Some universities, for example, don’t allow students to work during term time,”

The benefits of getting a job while at university

So if you have decided you’d like some extra help with finances or simply that you would like some more spending money, what are the benefits of getting a job while at university?

An advantage over your peers

As you are likely to graduate with the same kind of qualifications as the rest of your study group, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd.

Having some basic work experience on your CV could make the difference between who ultimately gets hired.

By putting effort in while you are studying for a degree to seek out work you are likely to reap rewards further down the line when job hunting as a graduate.

Work experience

Combining any working experience, whether relevant to your degree or not, will add important work skills to your CV.

Any graduate, with any kind of work experience, shows a level of commitment and a work ethic that will be important to recruiters.

Prospective employers understand that combining studying for a qualification while balancing a part-time job requires certain organizational skills, dependability and other essential qualities necessary in a full-time role.

Financial benefits

Naturally, one of the main benefits of a paid job is the financial reward.

Having a little extra cash each month or week can help you to buy the things you need or want and also be able to concentrate more on your studies without worrying so much about money.

What to consider if you’re getting a job while at university

Be mindful of deadlines

Understanding your assignment deadlines, exam timetable and even your social calendar is important to successfully balance university life with a part-time job.

Finding out you’ve missed an important deadline when both studying and working part-time could simply create more stress than it solves.

Make sure you have a good handle on any important target dates for handing in assignments and crucially turning up for an exam!

If you have a flexible part-time role then you can see at a glance when your busiest times are and plan accordingly.

It might also help to get a role with regular shifts that aren’t likely to alter much in the short term, so you know exactly when you are required to work.

If you can pinpoint important dates well in advance you may also be able to swap shifts or ask for time off. Employers will always look more favourably on staff who can give a reasonable warning for any requests.

Socialising

Along with of course becoming qualified in your chosen profession or heading into your career of choice, university life is well known for its sociability.

If you spend too much of your university downtime at work, you could look back on your university years regretting missed opportunities for enjoyment and the busy social life a university offers.

So it’s important to balance this when you are looking at any type of part-time work while studying.

Too much pressure

It’s all too easy to add to your pressure at uni by cramming in too many activities along with studying and this includes part-time jobs.

If you have an exceptionally busy term coming up, your degree requires long study periods or is in any way demanding, adding in the commitment of a part-time job may add too much pressure.

What job you can have while at university

The ubiquitous bar job or waitress is one that’s often associated with students.

However, there are a wealth of other paying roles which may come with less commitment in terms of regular hours, along with some with more flexibility where you can set your own hours, such as pet/house sitting, tutoring or even working as film or tv extra.

• Pet sitter
• Brand ambassador
• Personal tutor
• Resident assistant
• Work for the university
• Babysitting
• Film or tv extra
• Run an online store
• Temporary work such as for festivals and other events

Should I get a job at university …more help

So I hope this has given you some useful information on whether working while studying at university is right for you.

If you are organized and well prepared it doesn’t mean you can’t have a part-time job and get a first-class degree!

It’s also worth talking to employers as you get closer to exams about reducing your hours for a while. Good luck with your job hunting!