Is it worth working part-time during university?

Hey everyone,
I wanted to ask about working a part-time job while studying at university. I know a lot of students (including me) would like the extra money to help cover commuting costs, food and general expenses, but I’m wondering how manageable it really is.

Fortunately, I work a very flexible job where I can choose my shifts when I’m available, which means I don’t feel too stressed trying to balance everything. I’m also only in university three days a week and my timetable is quite flexible, which helps.

I’d love to hear about other people’s experiences. When your course gets more intense and your days are fuller, how do you manage?
How many hours do you usually work per week?
Do you find it easy to balance work with your studies?
And overall, do you think it’s worth it?

Let me know!

Sameeha,
Psychology student at De Montfort University

Reply 1

LJMUStudentReps

Official Rep

Great thread idea, Sameeha!

During my undergraduate degree, I worked around 16 hours a week in a café, split into two 8-hour shifts on Saturdays and Sundays. This felt manageable, as it let me treat uni like a 9–5 job during the week and keep my evenings free.

When my course became more intense, keeping my work hours consistent really helped. Knowing I worked weekends meant I could plan study time during the week without constantly juggling shifts.

Overall, I found it quite easy to balance work and studies, mainly because I started with manageable hours and increased them gradually. In my second and third year, I worked as a Resident Support Assistant in halls, helping new students settle in. This was one evening a week, very flexible, and came with a small rent discount.

During my postgraduate studies, I worked as a student ambassador doing open days and remote work like responding to TSR threads and blog writing. I also picked up a research assistant role. There are a lot of flexible opportunities within universities themselves, which can be really helpful when your course gets busy.

For me, it was definitely worth it — the extra income helped, I gained useful experience, and I also made some great friends. I’d just recommend not taking on too much too soon, and remembering it’s absolutely fine to say no if you get offered more than one role.

Megan (LJMU Rep)