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Work and Uni life

Anonymous #1

Can a student take on a full time course and work full time?

Which job roles are best during uni?

Reply 1

University of Kent

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Can a student take on a full time course and work full time?

Which job roles are best during uni?

Hi,

It does depend on your circumstances/priorities but I know a lot of students who work part time alongside studying. Some courses require more in person time, more independent hours etc. I would consider talking to a staff member at University such as a supervisor or advisor or the student support system that is available to you.

As for which jobs are best, I would say any! All jobs that you do will teach you something. Many universities hire students to work in cafes/libraries/reception/student ambassador, your work and study balance is understood by the University so it might be more helpful in trying to figure out how to balance studying and working. If it is possible for you, I would try seeking out a job working for your university. This is also a good way to make more friends and network.

You could consider your degree, your career goals or what you actually enjoy the most. One of the jobs I have is working as a research assistant. This is great for me as I want to pursue research in the future so the experience helps and the fact I get paid helps too! Which course are you studying?

Let me know if you have any more questions. :smile:

Alia
University of Kent Student Rep

Reply 2

Cheesybread

It depends on yourself, a lot of people take part-time jobs in shops, cafes hospitality etc. But you cannot work full time and attend university unless you did online only. As you have to go into uni for the lectures and seminars, plus study and social time.

Reply 3

hallamstudents

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Can a student take on a full time course and work full time?

Which job roles are best during uni?

Hey there!

I could sit here and say 'yes you can make anything work if you want to' but realistically I don't think that would work. University isn't all about your timetabled sessions and there's a lot of outside reading and research that goes into getting a solid grade. A lot of the time employers who see students working more hours than they usually would will end up chucking extra hours onto them that they feel like they can't say no to. That's not all the time but some of the time. My course in particular has got more outside study hours than timetabled sessions, it just completely depends on your course. Even then you'd be missing out on opportunities to socialise and meet new people and really take in the university experience. You may end up starting to skip lectures to work which ends up as a nightmare because at the end of the day you're the one paying for it.

All in all, not the best idea. If you were doing a part-time course I'd be more inclined to recommend it but from an outsiders perspective I don't think it's worth the exhaustion and the missed opportunities (I'm assuming you mean a full-time job that's 5 days a week but correct me if I'm wrong). I got a job as a student ambassador for the university as a part-time job and also took up a part-time bartending job alongside that. I chose to be a bartender in a restaurant as it would mean I'd be leaving work no later than 11PM which worked great for me and wasn't affecting my studies. By being employed by a chain restaurant it also meant the hours were shared out more fairly and they understood that students had responsibilities before hiring them. Not saying this wouldn't be the case for small businesses, I've never worked in one whilst at university so can't comment on that.

Hope this helped!
Lucy - Digital Student Ambassador SHU

Reply 4

FayeYSJ

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Can a student take on a full time course and work full time?

Which job roles are best during uni?

Hi,
Although it is very common for students to work part time jobs alongside their degree I would say a full time job would be too much and either your job or studies would suffer.
In terms of which job roles are the best during university, I would say a job with flexible hours as come exam season you will likely want to spend a lot of time studying. I have found working for my university has meant that they are very understanding that studies come first and there are many different opportunities so the work is varied. However, I also have friends who work in local restaurants and have regular hours, this suits them well as they know they have set hours every week. Consider what suits your lifestyle best.
Hope this helps! Faye :smile:

Reply 5

UCLan Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Can a student take on a full time course and work full time?

Which job roles are best during uni?

Hi there,

I would say that a part time job around your studies is a much more realistic approach as a full time job is likely to have an impact on your studies. Something like a weekend job in the retail or hospitality sector or a role within the university as a student ambassador allows that flexibility around your studies and also gives you a social life. Becoming a Student Ambassador will also look good on your CV and will help you meet new friends. Getting a part time job with low or 0 contracted hours allows you the flexibility to say no to extra shifts or to pick up shifts when you can.

All the best, :smile:

Sarah