Balancing study and part-time work

If you're worried about juggling a part-time job with your university studies, you are not alone. Students’ anxiety about balancing academic, social and work commitments has increased sharply, according to the Sodexo University Lifestyle Survey, which found that 68% of students were concerned about this in 2012, up from 41% in 2004.

According to the same survey, 30% of students in 2012 expected to graduate with more than £20,000 of debt, up from 2% in 2004. Many students need to earn cash to support themselves while they complete their degrees, and around 25% hold down part-time jobs during term time. So how do you balance your immediate need for cash and the desire to keep your debts under control with the demands of your degree course?

Check out all your funding options

Students can obtain funding from grants, bursaries, student loans and parents. But before you rush off to the bank make sure you have claimed any allowances you can and ask your Student Union for advice. And when you do seek a loan, check out the charges and facilities of different options.

Three-quarters of students who work during during term time find it difficult to balance their jobs with their academic and social commitments.

The best way to achieve a work/study/life balance is to be ruthless about organising your time so that your priorities don't suffer. Carry a diary or enter information onto an e-diary so that you know when important course dates are coming up, what dates and times you have agreed to work and what key social events you don’t want to miss. Plan to study intensively for a while and then devote yourself to your part-time work at other times.

Try to have a structured work pattern so that you know you can do this and don’t agree to work at a time when you have lectures or tutorials scheduled. Perhaps it would suit you better to work more during the holidays and devote yourself to your studies during term time?

Keep everyone informed

According to the Sodexo University Lifestyle Survey 2012 72% of students are worried about achieving the class of degree they want. If you have a part-time job it's inevitable that there will be times when your studies need to take precedence, during exam time, for example. If you work regular times, give your employer as much notice as possible that you will need more time during this period and try to negotiate a solution.

University staff also appreciate fully that money is an issue and recognise that students need to work. If you do find yourself struggling to produce coursework on time seek advice and support as early as you can from your tutor. Often deadlines can be extended in exceptional circumstances.

Take care of yourself

Be realistic about what you can do and don’t promise something you can’t deliver or people will be less sympathetic to your needs another time. You can rush around from pillar to post for just so long but eventually you need to get enough sleep. There are only 24 hours in a day and seven days in a week and you need time to unwind and relax. In the end, your health is the most important thing.

Added benefits from part-time work

The benefits of the experience and skills you will gain from part-time work are huge and say a lot about you as a person. Work experience will help you to sharpen your transferable skills such as teamworking, leadership and negotiation. Many recruiters consider relevant work experience an important part of a CV and some will not interview candidates without it.

Remember that everything you do at university counts. Even if your work is voluntary you may still be gaining key skills, so make sure you log all your experience on your CV.