Having a Job whilst Studying Vet Med?

How realistic is it to have a job of some sort whilst studying veterinary science?

I don't have anyone in my family who can really support me and no savings to speak of so it would be good to have a little bit of income a week if possible..... but I'd obviously rather pass my course if it came down to it!

If working is kind of impossible, how hard is it to get by with your grants/loans and things?

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Reply 1

Powersymphonia

Phoebe_Vet

Hi there. When I was at university, I found it really hard to get by on just a loan, because it just about covered my accommodation costs. I did not qualify for a grant. I worked every Saturday and Sunday and did some overtime throughout the week when I didn't have lectures or an excessive amount of coursework. This ranged from 8-25 hours a week. It is possible to work and study without putting too much strain on yourself. I did make the mistake of sometimes working when I had exams, but desperately needed money. I would really recommend a part-time job, because you will really need the money. You should get a job with a contract that has low hours. You can get them as low as 4 hours a week. This means that you only need to do this some weeks if you are struggling to get your work done and you can do overtime to cover the times when you need more money and have more time free.

Reply 2

J_E_N_N_Y

i know some people in halls atm who work at asda, which is on the 699 bus route. also we have a big tesco and 2 mini tescos near by. so supermarket work is probably alrite to get. i also know some people who work in bars or clubs or resturants as well, i think you just have to look around. I think its defo possible in first year if your hours arnt to big!

Reply 3

HannahUVM

Powersymphonia

Hi there.

Totally off topic but i completely agree with the statement under your name :biggrin:

On topic, although I don't have a job because I don't speak the local language I would say I definitely have time for a job as long as it's not around exam times. You just have to be organised and get your work done so that you have the time.

Reply 4

batty_hatty

Phoebe_Vet

It is very realistic to have a job during a vet course, as long as your are organised.

I too have no support of my parents, and actually live full-time at university, thus costing even more money :frown:

I've worked 8-16 hours in term time consistently through the first two years, and I worked full time (40-50 hours a week) during the holidays. You normally get at least 4 weeks off a year when working for a shop/supermarket so I used to use these for when we were on exams in the summer.

Even now in third year I've been doing odd jobs here and there, and (fingers crossed and wish me lots of luck) I will hopefully get the QMH out of hours receptionist job so that will be more hours.

The key is organisation, budgeting fiercely and not drinking away your money. I eat good food, cook mainly from scratch, but I don't go out and drink very much. Also, with your university work you have to be organised and do it during the week rather than the weekends (as you'll be working probably at least one day). the wednesday afternoon is very helpful (if you dont want to play sports) as you can have the entire afternoon and evening to work.

I hope that helps, I know some people may disagree with me and say you should completely devote your time to study but if you are going to be in a similar financial state to me, there isnt a choice.

Reply 5

x_Bex_x

A friend of mine works handing out leaflets 3hours a week, its not amazing money but its a great help for her and minimal time. if your worried bout money look in to finding burseries, scholoraships and grants, many get left unclaimed each year coz no one applies, and if you got in to vet med then the chances are your an outstanding applicant, and well in with a chance, its not just universities, my sister got a grant from a local business charity group, and a friend one from a farmers group/ organisation thing. get looking and apply to loads and you could well find yourself with a nice little extra.

Reply 6

moo-moo

Powersymphonia

Hi there.

Totally off topic as well but how exciting to find another Finn from Sheffield! :p:

Reply 7

Egglet

Yeah, what Bex said. I get no parental help what so ever, but did well last year on uni bursary and hardship allowance things. I got a job at Christmas as well as EMS (that was mad, 8-5 sheep then 6-1 pub, yay!) so that helped me a bit.
My mate works in Sainsburys 9-5 all saturday and sunday, and hes not doing too great. Not neccessairly because of the job, I think hes a bit weaker in general and he couldve done with the time to write decent notes. Plus he works the weekends before exams because he cant get time off :s-smilie:

I wouldnt get a job straight away, see how you study and cope with the course. Personally I couldnt get a job, I write all my own notes, and its approx 1hrs of note typing = 1 hr lecture. heh. Then I use my evenings to relax with my boyfriend.
I think it depends on the person. To do with all that budgeting and everything, Im not a big spender but i like to drink and buy sweets etc when I fancy, I would hate the constraints of a budget.

Reply 8

Transatlanticdrawl_

You're reassured me quite alot with that post. I defo didnt intend to get a job when I start, I need to gauge how much time I'll have free, might not be alot tbh who knows. I've been told by most that if you want to put plenty of time into your studying, a job really isn't feasible. I won't have any parental help but I have managed to get some savings through my gap year, and if I can manage bursaries/grants etc (I think I qualify) then I might be alright, I think

Reply 9

Egglet

Usually to qualify, all you need is the maximum grant from the student loans company =)

Reply 10

Sologirl

I'm going to try and get a job with just a few hours if I can, an animal-related one would be ideal but I can't be too choosy LOL. Coming straight from having a full-time wage is going to be a bit of a culture shock!!

Reply 11

Floob

I should be managing on holiday work alone, but think as long as you're pretty good at time management you can manage a part time job with vet med.
Still undecided about next year, but its looking like i might need to get a part time job or other source of income.
Am going to have another look at all bursaries/ grants/ scholarships available, but there dont seem to be any that i can actually apply for

Reply 12

Egglet

Floob... er do you read my posts?!! ask me. haha. If you want help applying, Ive applied for 2, and as long as you apply before end of june you can get them.
PS 2nd year is crazier than first, Id doubt you could squeeze one in, in Glas, but then you might have a lot more time than me! But for me, second year was about 1 and a half times as hard as first.

Reply 13

Phoebe_Vet

Thanks guys, you've been really helpful. I'd been told alot that it's not really feasible to have a job if you want to do well but I think I'll see how I go and how organised I am and go from there..

Reply 14

Floob

Egglet

i did read your post lol,

if you can find me a bursary feel free...
part time in my case would literally be up to one day a week and no more.

Reply 15

clair0511

Hi
I work 11hrs a week and it is doable (I have 2 kids aswell ;-)) but you have to be organised as the others have said. My biggest problem at the moment is that I have a big deadline coming up at work for the end of June and my end of year exam (we have 1 oral exam in everything: anatomy, physiology and histo with 3 professors, takes at least 90 mins per student!!!) is sometime between the 22nd June and 4th July.....I could get time off work but we don't get our exam date until the 19th June! I'm sure vet schools in the UK are more organised with exam dates than over here though!

When I did my Bachelor I got a minimal grant, my parents paid just enough for me to have the equivalent of a full grant, and I had an overdraft (there weren't student loans back then!) - anyway I worked every single holiday we had full-time, for the post (much preferred being outside to being in a supermarket!), safeway on the check out (god how I hated that!) and as a waitress/in the kitchen of a pub. It worked out OK for me....

Reply 16

mini_mad

I personally would find it hard to work a job around vet school. Especially with ems to fit in during holidays. My parents have been pretty generous with supporting me but my younger brother is starting uni in september so things are going to get a little tighter money wise.

I've finished all my pcems and have hopefully landed myself a pretty awesome job doing night shift nursing at the small animal hospital (£12 an hour woop) so that should help a lot. I also still have savings from my gap year.

I guess it depends on the person. I probably could have managed in first year but I wouldnt have wanted to miss out on socialising then. I think I would have struggled in 2nd year with the workload especially the month before exams I barely found time to buy food never mind do anything else.

Reply 17

Egglet

mini_mad

I've finished all my pcems and have hopefully landed myself a pretty awesome job doing night shift nursing at the small animal hospital (£12 an hour woop) so that should help a lot. I also still have savings from my gap year.

Howd you find out about that? Id thought they'd only accept final years or qualified nurses. (or is it a case of making sure everything's alive?!)
It'd be awesome to get a job like that ... are there any more? haha.
Just sorting out my CV atm, going to be prowling the shops next week to try and get something, an animal job would be more ideal though. I saw a dog walking company's van the other day, might ring them to see if they want cheap help!

Reply 18

Annaconda

Egglet

well at my local vet practice neither of the nurses are qualified, its not a requirement

Reply 19

mini_mad

Egglet

They sent an email the other day. Think its pretty full now though. I enquired the day after they sent out and they'd already filled most of the shifts. I've done it before once or twice. I'm not qualified but I did work as a vet nurse at my practice back home during my gap year so have some experience which helps quite a bit. I wasnt sure if they'd take me when I first applied but they did. I think its mainly older years/americans who do it though. A lot of the americans have done nursing work before it seems.