Life as a pharmacy student
Hopefully I will be starting the mpharm degree in September 2026, I was just wondering if pharmacy students could give some insight?
I know the course is essentially full time so how do you balance social life and a part time job? Id ideally get a part time job to pay for groceries, rent, activities, a gym membership etc. I also go to the gym 5x a week and am quite active and was wondering if this is something I could maintain during university?
I know the course is essentially full time so how do you balance social life and a part time job? Id ideally get a part time job to pay for groceries, rent, activities, a gym membership etc. I also go to the gym 5x a week and am quite active and was wondering if this is something I could maintain during university?
Reply 1
Hi there 😊
I'm am a third year pharmacy student at the University of Bath so I can tell you a little about how my days are.
One role I would definitely recommend is being an outreach/ university ambassador. I got the role in 2nd year and it works around my studies and placement schedule. The role is flexible and I can choose when I want to work and sometimes its great because I have long gaps and can fill it up with working. I am also a pharmacy ambassador so I mainly work on open days and offer holder days which is a great experience to talk about the course to prospectus students.
I would also say unless you're working long hours, the roles I've had haven't been able to cover all rent, bills, activities, gym so I see it more of a small contribution. If you have the opportunity in the summer, maybe apply for some jobs so you don't have to worry about money in the first couple of months.
I know a lot of my friends have jobs in the city working in the supermarkets, cafes, bars so usually there is always opportunities for work and have a little extra income. I would say the timetabling can be intense sometimes where you have lecture from 9am to 6pm but going to gym and having other activities is definitely possible. I would say its all about time management and doing what you can in a day. Some days like Wednesday which is a half day across most unis, has the afternoon for sport societies so you can choose to work, do sports or have coffee with friends.
I hope this helps and best of luck with your studies!
University of Bath
I'm am a third year pharmacy student at the University of Bath so I can tell you a little about how my days are.
One role I would definitely recommend is being an outreach/ university ambassador. I got the role in 2nd year and it works around my studies and placement schedule. The role is flexible and I can choose when I want to work and sometimes its great because I have long gaps and can fill it up with working. I am also a pharmacy ambassador so I mainly work on open days and offer holder days which is a great experience to talk about the course to prospectus students.
I would also say unless you're working long hours, the roles I've had haven't been able to cover all rent, bills, activities, gym so I see it more of a small contribution. If you have the opportunity in the summer, maybe apply for some jobs so you don't have to worry about money in the first couple of months.
I know a lot of my friends have jobs in the city working in the supermarkets, cafes, bars so usually there is always opportunities for work and have a little extra income. I would say the timetabling can be intense sometimes where you have lecture from 9am to 6pm but going to gym and having other activities is definitely possible. I would say its all about time management and doing what you can in a day. Some days like Wednesday which is a half day across most unis, has the afternoon for sport societies so you can choose to work, do sports or have coffee with friends.
I hope this helps and best of luck with your studies!
University of Bath
Reply 2
Original post
by M3g4n :)Hopefully I will be starting the mpharm degree in September 2026, I was just wondering if pharmacy students could give some insight?
I know the course is essentially full time so how do you balance social life and a part time job? Id ideally get a part time job to pay for groceries, rent, activities, a gym membership etc. I also go to the gym 5x a week and am quite active and was wondering if this is something I could maintain during university?
I know the course is essentially full time so how do you balance social life and a part time job? Id ideally get a part time job to pay for groceries, rent, activities, a gym membership etc. I also go to the gym 5x a week and am quite active and was wondering if this is something I could maintain during university?
Hi,
I’m a pharmacy student and I have a part-time job as a student ambassador with UniTemps, as it’s flexible and fits around my studies. Many others on my course also work in pharmacies, retail, hospitality, or similar roles, so it really depends on how much you feel you can manage alongside your degree.
It’s definitely possible to stay active and maintain hobbies like going to the gym, but it does require some planning and prioritising your time. Finding a routine that works with your timetable makes it easier to balance studying, work, and social life. Your schedule can also vary, as some days you might be in 9–5 while on others you may start later or finish earlier, which gives you some flexibility to fit other things in.
Hope this helps,
Tayba
Student Rep
Reply 3
Original post
by M3g4n :)Hopefully I will be starting the mpharm degree in September 2026, I was just wondering if pharmacy students could give some insight?
I know the course is essentially full time so how do you balance social life and a part time job? Id ideally get a part time job to pay for groceries, rent, activities, a gym membership etc. I also go to the gym 5x a week and am quite active and was wondering if this is something I could maintain during university?
I know the course is essentially full time so how do you balance social life and a part time job? Id ideally get a part time job to pay for groceries, rent, activities, a gym membership etc. I also go to the gym 5x a week and am quite active and was wondering if this is something I could maintain during university?
Hi! ☺️
I am currently a first-year pharmacy student at Kingston University and I will try my best to answer your question!
Becoming a student ambassador for your university is such a great and popular choice for many students! It is a paid job and it is super student-friendly! Pharmacy is definitely a full-on course but the Student Ambassador team is completely understanding so you can pick-and-choose which jobs you take on! There's such a variety of jobs you can apply for, some in-person (such as helping out on open days), and some online (such as being an official rep on TSR for your university like me!).
A few students also take on pharmacy-related jobs (e.g. pharmacy assistant, counter assistant, dispenser) which will definitely benefit your studies! Others take on retail jobs, customer service jobs, online tutoring jobs etc.
So, it is definitely possible to have a part-time job, you just have to choose wisely, be clear about what hours you can/cannot work, and being able to manage your time! I find using some sort of digital calendar (e.g. Apple calendar) incredibly helpful; you can upload your uni timetable so you can see all of your free time that you will not be spending in uni, and time-block all of the activities you want to do for that day. It helps with keeping on top of your studies/job/hobbies and makes you more productive when you have everything planned.
I am happy to hear that you are starting MPharm in September, I truly hope you enjoy it just like I am so far! If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask! ☺️
-Robbynz (Kingston Rep) ☺️
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