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OT and/or other allied health. Is it possible to work part time while studying?

I'm concerned about how much time there is for part time work while studying for occupational therapy - especially during placements seems like it would be very difficult due to time constraints.

I'm considering studying OT either at bsc or msc level. I've done a bachelor's before in psychology and counselling and worked part time throughout. However I only had like 12 hours contact time a week, plus long holidays in summer st Christmas etc.

How does everyone cope with either surviving off the loan or managing to fit in paid work while studying?

Would love to hear your experiences

Reply 1

Harrymcleod

Bumping this in case anyone sees and would like to share

Reply 2

normaw

It might be worth asking Bradford's rep in this thread:

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7489199

:smile:

Reply 3

Turning_A_Corner

Depends on the work really. What kind are you thinking?

Reply 4

Whatswhat

You are best contacting your intended unis. Not an OT but I I did physio degree…placements on my course were 35 hrs / week plus associated studying around that, plus placements meant either living away or possibly long travel times if within same city . Uni hours were also significant as health degrees are intensive with lots to cover. Hence very few of my cohort worked in term time. We also had very short holidays but I worked in care homes during this time as they were always in need of staff!

Reply 5

Turning_A_Corner

All AHP degrees have been condensed from 4 to 3 years which makes the possibility of work that much more challenging. When I did mine it was 4 years and I think I definitely had more free time than most people on 3 year courses now. I don’t think I’d have been able to work at all on a 2 year masters degree.
I did tutoring back then, which was at an hourly rate and could be squeezed in here and there. I managed around 10-12k a year. Online tutoring wasn’t really a thing then but it is now, so that’s a possibility. The issue is always the fact that timetables aren’t fixed in most AHP degrees and they throw in random sessions that can make it difficult to commit to regular days or half days. Placement is also challenging because you’re often so exhausted and those weeks where you’re on block you are in that much longer. You’re restricted to evenings and weekends then, although you often are the rest of the time as well. Wednesday afternoons are nearly always free and I know a lot of people fill up those half days or full days when they’re available. Holidays do offer the opportunity to pull in a bit extra.
It also just depends what kind of student you are. If you’re able and organised you’re going to manage better than if you’re neither or just one of those things.

Reply 6

FourLeggedFriend

As the above poster says, you might be able to do ad-hoc, bank type work on the 3 year BSc but the 2 year MSc is too intense to juggle everything.

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 7

jessica045

The BSc is less intense than the MSc so it has been possible to work - I'd say a flexible job is much better as it can be fitted in around placements. Mine was 0 hours. I worked two days a week in non-placement university terms and once a week in placement. It was challenging to work one day at the weekend when I'd been on placement all week but as placements were 10 weeks at a time, this was for 10 weeks only at a time so I found it do-able albeit that's my personal experience.

Reply 8

hayfever32

Yes it's possible, there's students on my BSc OT course who are working part-time along side studying.

But the placements are full-time, so you won't be able to work for that period of the academic year.

Reply 9

Nv17xx

Original post

by Harrymcleod

I'm concerned about how much time there is for part time work while studying for occupational therapy - especially during placements seems like it would be very difficult due to time constraints.
I'm considering studying OT either at bsc or msc level. I've done a bachelor's before in psychology and counselling and worked part time throughout. However I only had like 12 hours contact time a week, plus long holidays in summer st Christmas etc.
How does everyone cope with either surviving off the loan or managing to fit in paid work while studying?
Would love to hear your experiences

Late response so I realise someone else may have answered the question already so I apologise.

It is very possible, I do Physiotherapy and I would say at least 60-80% of the class have a part-time job alongside studies. OT (from what I have heard from all my OT friends) seems to be an easier course than all the other allied health too so you would definitely be fine

Reply 10

LancashireRep5

Official Rep

Original post

by Harrymcleod

I'm concerned about how much time there is for part time work while studying for occupational therapy - especially during placements seems like it would be very difficult due to time constraints.
I'm considering studying OT either at bsc or msc level. I've done a bachelor's before in psychology and counselling and worked part time throughout. However I only had like 12 hours contact time a week, plus long holidays in summer st Christmas etc.
How does everyone cope with either surviving off the loan or managing to fit in paid work while studying?
Would love to hear your experiences

Hey there 👋

My name is Siobhan and I’m a third year physiotherapy student at the University of Centeal Lancashire. This is a great questions and I completely get your concerns.

It’s very possible that you can work a job whilst doing your course as me and a lot of my class have done this over the last three years of physio and still managed to perform well. Your timetable will be fuller than 12 hours, especially when you are on placement but there are flexible jobs you can look for:

Bank: Have a look at bank jobs within local trusts and see if any catch your eye. These are 0 hour contact jobs which means that you have no commitment to set shifts and can choose when you are in or not. You typically only have to work once every three months to keep the position, which means that you won’t have any issues being on placement. I have done this and was able to still get a steady income on placement due to the enhancement rates on weekends and bank holidays.

Student Ambassador: See when your uni will be hiring a new batch of student ambassadors when you start your course. This is typically a 0 hour contact too and because you will be working with the university, they will understand when you need to prioritise your studies. I’ve done this and found it to be very flexible and helpful when managing my finances.

I would try and attend a career day at your uni or they have one coming up as they normally have different companies coming in looking for students to work for them.

You could also speak to a career day advisor who can help you look online and show you the appropriate resources to be looking at when looking for jobs. They can also help you write your CV!!

If you are worried about finances, then I would get in contact with your university financial team who can help you look at budgeting and also see if you are eligible for any additional funds from bursaries or scholarships.

I hope that helps and please let me know if you have any questions 😊

Siobhan (Student Ambassador for the University of Central Lancashire)

Reply 11

AlliedNations

On my OT degree you are in uni for 4 hours, 3 days a week. And the placement is only for 6 weeks in first year and 10 weeks in year one and two.

Reply 12

Kirsty2025

Original post

by Harrymcleod

I'm concerned about how much time there is for part time work while studying for occupational therapy - especially during placements seems like it would be very difficult due to time constraints.
I'm considering studying OT either at bsc or msc level. I've done a bachelor's before in psychology and counselling and worked part time throughout. However I only had like 12 hours contact time a week, plus long holidays in summer st Christmas etc.
How does everyone cope with either surviving off the loan or managing to fit in paid work while studying?
Would love to hear your experiences

Hi.
I wanted to share my experience so far. I’m a mature student starting BSc OT in September.
I also studied before so I could have done a masters but I opted for the BSc as it’s not as intense ( studying through all the breaks). I have two young children so thought it would be better .as I might also have time off at Christmas and Easter .

So far Iv learnt the timetable of uni will be 2/3 days a week… meaning if need or want to there’s plenty of time to work par time. However burseries are available through the nhs funding meaning I may not need too .

Placements will be hard to work as it’s a full time placement for 10 weeks where I’m going . Hope this helps your decision

Reply 13

AlliedNations

Original post

by Kirsty2025

Hi.
I wanted to share my experience so far. I’m a mature student starting BSc OT in September.
I also studied before so I could have done a masters but I opted for the BSc as it’s not as intense ( studying through all the breaks). I have two young children so thought it would be better .as I might also have time off at Christmas and Easter .
So far Iv learnt the timetable of uni will be 2/3 days a week… meaning if need or want to there’s plenty of time to work par time. However burseries are available through the nhs funding meaning I may not need too .
Placements will be hard to work as it’s a full time placement for 10 weeks where I’m going . Hope this helps your decision

I’m a mature student too, doing the bsc instead of msc. I’ve already started. Our placement is 6 weeks in first year at UCLAN.

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