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Can you realistically balance university work and Part time work?

Hey everyone so I'm going to get into university next year, so just wanted to know some things beforehand.
For anyone doing a heavy degree like engineering, is it actually realistic to balance uni work and a 20-hour part-time job?, especially as an international student who needs and extra income? I’m aiming for good grades, not just passes, so I’m wondering if working that much affected your results or overall stress.
Would love to hear what’s actually doable.
Thanks!

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Depends on many things. My daughter knew she would struggle with working while studying so she took a gap year and worked and saved during that time before starting uni.
Other people manage to hold down a part time job quite well whilst at uni.
Original post
by lyric-ex-Preside
Hey everyone so I'm going to get into university next year, so just wanted to know some things beforehand.
For anyone doing a heavy degree like engineering, is it actually realistic to balance uni work and a 20-hour part-time job?, especially as an international student who needs and extra income? I’m aiming for good grades, not just passes, so I’m wondering if working that much affected your results or overall stress.
Would love to hear what’s actually doable.
Thanks!


It really depends. Some people are machines that find a way to get all their uni work done, of good quality, and balance a part-time job on the side. I know one or two people like this. But others struggle. I know more people that work and you can tell that their work eats into their university time and they end up sacrificing academic performance for because of their work. It can also be very stressful. I worked part-time during my second year and I was stressed like I've never been before, and I decided that while I could just about manage it, I'd rather not put myself through that in year 3, thank you very much. So up to you to see how you handle it. I think 20 hours might be excessive for an engineering degree though.

Reply 3

Original post
by Scotland Yard
It really depends. Some people are machines that find a way to get all their uni work done, of good quality, and balance a part-time job on the side. I know one or two people like this. But others struggle. I know more people that work and you can tell that their work eats into their university time and they end up sacrificing academic performance for because of their work. It can also be very stressful. I worked part-time during my second year and I was stressed like I've never been before, and I decided that while I could just about manage it, I'd rather not put myself through that in year 3, thank you very much. So up to you to see how you handle it. I think 20 hours might be excessive for an engineering degree though.

thank you very much!!. I'll have to look through it.

Reply 4

Original post
by lyric-ex-Preside
Hey everyone so I'm going to get into university next year, so just wanted to know some things beforehand.
For anyone doing a heavy degree like engineering, is it actually realistic to balance uni work and a 20-hour part-time job?, especially as an international student who needs and extra income? I’m aiming for good grades, not just passes, so I’m wondering if working that much affected your results or overall stress.
Would love to hear what’s actually doable.
Thanks!

Hey there,

It can be done, but it really depends on your time management, the structure of your degree, and how disciplined you are with your schedule. Engineering is one of the heavier workloads, so you should expect periods where uni will need to come first (especially around deadlines and exams)!

The key is keeping your job flexible, as well as making sure your employer understands you’re a student first. If your shifts can adapt during exam season, it can make a huge difference.

Also, be prepared to plan your weeks precisely, stay organised, and “protect” your study time. If you’re aiming for good grades, it’s absolutely achievable, you just need consistency and a bit of balance in my opinion.

From my own experience, it’s possible. I’ve been working part-time (15 hours a week), alongside my studies, and it does get intense at times. However, I always have a planner on me, so I can make the most of my remaining free time, as well as excel in my studies. What helped me the most was treating uni like a full-time job and planning my week in advance, so my shifts fit around lectures and deadlines!

Let me know if you have any more questions, and good luck!!

Sabina :smile:

Reply 5

Original post
by ARUStudents
Hey there,
It can be done, but it really depends on your time management, the structure of your degree, and how disciplined you are with your schedule. Engineering is one of the heavier workloads, so you should expect periods where uni will need to come first (especially around deadlines and exams)!
The key is keeping your job flexible, as well as making sure your employer understands you’re a student first. If your shifts can adapt during exam season, it can make a huge difference.
Also, be prepared to plan your weeks precisely, stay organised, and “protect” your study time. If you’re aiming for good grades, it’s absolutely achievable, you just need consistency and a bit of balance in my opinion.
From my own experience, it’s possible. I’ve been working part-time (15 hours a week), alongside my studies, and it does get intense at times. However, I always have a planner on me, so I can make the most of my remaining free time, as well as excel in my studies. What helped me the most was treating uni like a full-time job and planning my week in advance, so my shifts fit around lectures and deadlines!
Let me know if you have any more questions, and good luck!!
Sabina :smile:

Thanks a lot for the information.what high paying part time jobs can international students do? There's a clear restriction that we can't be self employed, so?
thank you!!

Reply 6

Original post
by lyric-ex-Preside
Hey everyone so I'm going to get into university next year, so just wanted to know some things beforehand.
For anyone doing a heavy degree like engineering, is it actually realistic to balance uni work and a 20-hour part-time job?, especially as an international student who needs and extra income? I’m aiming for good grades, not just passes, so I’m wondering if working that much affected your results or overall stress.
Would love to hear what’s actually doable.
Thanks!


Hi,

It’s definitely possible to balance university work with a part-time job, but it really depends on your course, your timetable, and how well you manage your time. For heavier degrees like engineering, a 20-hour job is generally not recommended because it can be very demanding alongside lectures, labs, independent study, group work, and deadlines. It often leaves very little time to study and rest, which can lead to burnout and have an impact on your results.

If you do want to work, weekend shifts or a smaller number of flexible hours are usually much more manageable. Many students start with fewer hours to see what feels realistic and then adjust once they understand their workload. Hospitality, retail, cafes, or any roles offered through your university’s own recruitment service can be helpful, as they tend to fit around your studies more easily.

Hope this helps,

Tayba
Student Rep
Original post
by lyric-ex-Preside
Thanks a lot for the information.what high paying part time jobs can international students do? There's a clear restriction that we can't be self employed, so?
thank you!!

This depends on what your mother tongue is, but teaching languages can be very lucrative and not too time consuming.

Reply 8

Original post
by lyric-ex-Preside
Hey everyone so I'm going to get into university next year, so just wanted to know some things beforehand.
For anyone doing a heavy degree like engineering, is it actually realistic to balance uni work and a 20-hour part-time job?, especially as an international student who needs and extra income? I’m aiming for good grades, not just passes, so I’m wondering if working that much affected your results or overall stress.
Would love to hear what’s actually doable.
Thanks!

Hi @lyric-ex-Preside 👋

Hope you are well. To answer your question, yes it is manageable honestly. It really depends on how you split your time though. Some people tend to work part time for 20 hours or more and still manage all the university things as well and do well whereas some people find it more difficult to cope with! If you do get a part time job, it is important to schedule your time wisely so you do well in your course especially if you are aiming for the top grades 😀

Hope that helps 🙂

Essex Student Rep- Lavanya 💜
Original post
by lyric-ex-Preside
Hey everyone so I'm going to get into university next year, so just wanted to know some things beforehand.
For anyone doing a heavy degree like engineering, is it actually realistic to balance uni work and a 20-hour part-time job?, especially as an international student who needs and extra income? I’m aiming for good grades, not just passes, so I’m wondering if working that much affected your results or overall stress.
Would love to hear what’s actually doable.
Thanks!

If you're studying full-time I would absolutely not recommend working 20 hours a week. I probably wouldn't suggest working more than 15 hours a week max, and ideally probably less than 12. Bear in mind for full-time study, you're expected to spend approximately the same amount of time as a full-time job on it (i.e. ~30-40 hours a week on average). I simply don't it's realistic to work that many hours while also maintaining your academics and personal well being.

When I was doing engineering I worked about 15 hours a week (two ~4 hour shifts in the week and a full day on Sundays) and it was pretty brutal. I basically only had one full day "off" each week (Saturday) which as I lost two afternoon/evenings a week with work I had to make up working time then on my studies on the Saturday anyway. So I really struggled to balance this with doing well in uni and my wellbeing during term time. In the end I had to leave the job as it just wasn't conducive to my studies.

I would think carefully before taking on that many hours honestly, and suggest looking for something with slightly fewer hours.

Reply 10

Original post
by lyric-ex-Preside
Hey everyone so I'm going to get into university next year, so just wanted to know some things beforehand.
For anyone doing a heavy degree like engineering, is it actually realistic to balance uni work and a 20-hour part-time job?, especially as an international student who needs and extra income? I’m aiming for good grades, not just passes, so I’m wondering if working that much affected your results or overall stress.
Would love to hear what’s actually doable.
Thanks!

Hi @lyric-ex-Preside!

Throughout my four years at uni, I've worked different part-time hours every year and from personal experience 20 hours a week is just above what I would recommend. The most manageable part-time workload for me was between 12-16 hours, with the majority of my shifts primarily taking place over the weekend (e.g. 6 hours Saturday, 6 hours Sunday and 3-4 hours on Thursday evenings).

Part-time university jobs (i.e. library assistant, student ambassador) are usually fantastic for students as they're much more accommodating to student schedules and offer a greater degree of flexibility. Alternatively, if you have a strong academic background, online tutoring might be an option - I currently tutor GCSE and A-Level students remotely for five hours a week and find that it doesn't disrupt my studies too much.

If you need additional income, consider looking for a primarily weekend-based position and see how it goes. Remember to also reach out to your university's careers service for further guidance on applying to jobs.

Hope this helps and best of luck at university next year! 🙂
Eve (Kingston Rep).
(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 11

Original post
by lyric-ex-Preside
Hey everyone so I'm going to get into university next year, so just wanted to know some things beforehand.
For anyone doing a heavy degree like engineering, is it actually realistic to balance uni work and a 20-hour part-time job?, especially as an international student who needs and extra income? I’m aiming for good grades, not just passes, so I’m wondering if working that much affected your results or overall stress.
Would love to hear what’s actually doable.
Thanks!

Hey! It’s great that you're already thinking ahead about balancing university and work. Engineering is definitely a demanding degree, and it can be tricky to juggle with a part-time job, especially if you’re aiming for high grades and managing the extra stress of being an international student.

Reply 12

Yeah, I was thinking about tutoring as well. But since UK regulations stop international students from being ‘self-employed’, it basically rules out jobs like tutoring. So I’ve been looking at alternatives. Anyway, thanks for the info!

Reply 13

Original post
by lyric-ex-Preside
Hey everyone so I'm going to get into university next year, so just wanted to know some things beforehand.
For anyone doing a heavy degree like engineering, is it actually realistic to balance uni work and a 20-hour part-time job?, especially as an international student who needs and extra income? I’m aiming for good grades, not just passes, so I’m wondering if working that much affected your results or overall stress.
Would love to hear what’s actually doable.
Thanks!

Hey there, from what I have observed among engineering students, especially friends of mine, balancing a heavy degree with a 20 hour part time job is definitely challenging but still manageable with good planning. The students who cope best tend to stay very organised, use their free time on campus wisely, and communicate with lecturers early if things feel overwhelming. It can feel intense at times, especially if you’re aiming for strong grades, but many students do successfully juggle both.

A lot of students also find that becoming a student ambassador really helps. The shifts are flexible, the work fits around your timetable, and it’s based on campus, which makes it much easier to slot into your day without losing study time. It’s also a role where you can pick up more hours during quieter academic weeks and reduce them when deadlines get heavy, which is something many students appreciate.

My friends always say that the key is creating a routine that works for you, making sure your job has flexible hours, and keeping on top of lectures and assignments so nothing piles up. It takes discipline, but it’s not impossible, and lots of students in similar situations manage it well.

LSBU Admissions Ambassador

Reply 14

Hey @lyric-ex-Preside

I’m an international student too, so I totally get where you’re coming from. From my experience, balancing uni with a part-time job is actually pretty realistic. It mostly comes down to how you manage your time. Once you get used to planning your week and keeping track of what needs to be done, it becomes way less stressful. I’d recommend getting into the habit of using a calendar and setting up a routine because it helps more than you’d expect. You’ll still end up with plenty of free time for hobbies and a social life.

First year is usually quite light as well, so that’s a good time to settle into a job and figure out what pace works for you. A lot of students work full time over the summer too, which helps take the pressure off when second and third year start getting heavier.

My degree is Accounting and Finance and it isn’t as intense as Engineering, so your experience might feel different. But I know lots of engineering students who work part time and do perfectly well. As long as you keep your studies as the main focus and stay organised, it’s definitely doable.

If you’re unsure about anything else, feel free to ask.

From Lily
final year Accounting and Finance

Reply 15

Original post
by UWE Official Rep
Hey @lyric-ex-Preside
I’m an international student too, so I totally get where you’re coming from. From my experience, balancing uni with a part-time job is actually pretty realistic. It mostly comes down to how you manage your time. Once you get used to planning your week and keeping track of what needs to be done, it becomes way less stressful. I’d recommend getting into the habit of using a calendar and setting up a routine because it helps more than you’d expect. You’ll still end up with plenty of free time for hobbies and a social life.
First year is usually quite light as well, so that’s a good time to settle into a job and figure out what pace works for you. A lot of students work full time over the summer too, which helps take the pressure off when second and third year start getting heavier.
My degree is Accounting and Finance and it isn’t as intense as Engineering, so your experience might feel different. But I know lots of engineering students who work part time and do perfectly well. As long as you keep your studies as the main focus and stay organised, it’s definitely doable.
If you’re unsure about anything else, feel free to ask.
From Lily
final year Accounting and Finance

Thanks for the reply. I look forward to this.

Reply 16

I’m going to say if you are sensitive to stress and I mean if you have any mental health that gets triggered by stress then it’s best to avoid high pressure situations.

What I found is when you focus on achieving results like you mentioned wanting good grades and being a student there’s already that constant stress, it’s always at the back of your mind until you have the degree in hand.

In reality you need to observe and assess how it plays out for you as you go, do take the job and your studies but be mindful of how you are coping with it all. If you feel it’s coming to the point of burn out or unmanageable then put in plans to cope in those situations.

But priorities learning over what grades you get as you want to genuinely spend your time at uni well and actually graduate with some knowledge or honest practice. Don’t just think you’ll do everything on short term memory, last minute revision and pull through. Also, relying on AI or other third party sources as I’ve seen some do is not great either.

I do think you will be fine though!

Reply 17

Original post
by lyric-ex-Preside
Hey everyone so I'm going to get into university next year, so just wanted to know some things beforehand.
For anyone doing a heavy degree like engineering, is it actually realistic to balance uni work and a 20-hour part-time job?, especially as an international student who needs and extra income? I’m aiming for good grades, not just passes, so I’m wondering if working that much affected your results or overall stress.
Would love to hear what’s actually doable.
Thanks!
Hey!

I didn’t study engineering, but I did study a course with clinical placements, so my timetable was all over the place and I still managed to work part-time as a student ambassador. It was honestly one of the best jobs for fitting around uni because it was flexible, on campus, and designed with students in mind. I also knew plenty of people on my course who worked in care or hospitality. It was definitely a stretch at times, but they made it work by being organised and realistic about their limits.

If you can, go to open days and actually talk to current students on your course, they’ll give you the most honest insight into how intense the workload is and whether people manage jobs alongside it. Ask what their weeks look like, how many contact hours they have, and when they find time to work.

Ultimately, you won’t fully know what’s manageable for you until you start. But being organised makes a massive difference. I found using a diary an absolute lifesaver…writing down deadlines, shifts, and study plans each week helped me prioritise what needed doing first so nothing piled up.

And remember….wanting good grades doesn’t mean you can’t work. It just means you’ll need to be intentional with your time, stay on top of uni work, and be willing to adjust your hours if things get overwhelming.

It’s doable for a lot of people, it’s just about finding the balance that works for you.

Good luck! Sophie 🙂

Reply 18

yh i did engineering and balanced a part time job. just be aware of assignment deadlines etc.

Reply 19

Original post
by lyric-ex-Preside
Hey everyone so I'm going to get into university next year, so just wanted to know some things beforehand.
For anyone doing a heavy degree like engineering, is it actually realistic to balance uni work and a 20-hour part-time job?, especially as an international student who needs and extra income? I’m aiming for good grades, not just passes, so I’m wondering if working that much affected your results or overall stress.
Would love to hear what’s actually doable.
Thanks!

Hey there 👋

Nice to meet you! My name is Siobhan and I’m a recent graduate from the University of Lancashire 🎓 This is a great question and one that I found myself asking in 3rd year of uni!

To be honest I would say it really depends on a lot of factors and what your work load is going to be like. I have a couple friends who do engineering who have said that it can be really heavy like you said, which could be hard to manage. You might be expected to be doing around 30-45 hours a week of lectures and extra learning/assignment time. If you have coursework as well then this might take even longer so I would factor that in to your expected schedule.

In terms of working 20 hours on top of uni, I think it would be quite stressful but manageable if you are smart with your time. I personally worked around 21 hours a week in 3rd year and found myself quite overwhelmed with dissertations, exams, assignments and placements on top of twork. I found myself having a lot less leisure time and time to cook/clean etc which wasn’t ideal and did stress me out a bit at times! Therefore, I would recommend trying to do 15 hours instead if you can so that you have that extra time for sleep and relaxing.

However, I understand that finances can be hard and you might have no other option but to do the 20 hours. So, here’s some things that I would recommend looking into beforehand:


JOB CRITERIA

When looking for a job you might want to consider these different aspects:

Aim for a contract that offers mostly weekend shifts to keep weekdays free for study.

Avoid jobs with unpredictable or constantly changing shifts to maintain a steady timetable for your work/study life.

Choose a job that will allow shift swaps during exam periods.

Consider the commuting time to keep your workload manageable.


0 HOUR CONTRACT JOBS

These are jobs with no commitments to meet a certain amount of hours each week which can be so helpful when you’re busy with exams and need flexibility.

Student ambassador jobs are a great way to have this as the university understands how important your uni work is and will be supportive when you can and cannot work.

I did this in uni and it took a lot of pressure off me meeting a minimum of certain hours a week with a part time job but also gave me reassurance that if I needed a bit more money then I had the opportunity to get some 🙂


FINANCE TEAM -

Get in contact with your university financial support team if you are wanting extra advice.

There are people who can help you make a personalised budget plan and explore other options of support for you.

You can see if you’re entitled for any kind of bursaries/scholarships.

Don’t be afraid to reach out if you feel like you need help and they are there to assist and support you whenever you need 😊


I hope that has helped you at all and please make sure to look after yourself above all else! If you have any more questions then I am more than happy to help

Siobhan (University of Lancashire Rep)

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