Much of popular culture would have you believe that most students are busy
frittering away their loans and grants in the students' union bar or in a
hall of residence acquainting themselves with various narcotics. Anything,
in short, but studying - and certainly not in gainful employment. The
reality is very different.
Most studies show that at least half of students work during term-time; an
even higher percentage do so in vacations. About 70 per cent of those who
work say that they do so to cover basic living expenses.
Whether such work is inevitable, or merely desirable, there are a few things
to think about.
One of the most common questions asked of the National Union of Students (NUS)
is how many hours a student should work. There is a range of opinions on
this: often the figure of 16 hours a week is mentioned, although Cambridge
University forbids its students from taking up any employment whatsoever
during term time. Of course, in reality, what is suitable for you will
depend on your circumstances - a history student with 10 hours of formal
classes a week might be able to undertake paid work more than a medical
student with 35.
What is true is that research has shown that there is a correlation between a
high number of hours worked and the likelihood that you will end up with a
lower degree classification, so you should be careful about balancing work
with your studies.
You might also want to consider when you work. Night shifts might pay better
but they can have a deleterious effect on your coursework. My next-door
neighbour in halls took a full-time job as a night porter in a local hotel
at the start of the year and stopped attending classes after about week two.
Needless to say, he did not pass that year. Then there is the issue of what
sort of work. In an ideal world, students would be able to find employment
in areas that are relevant to their future careers or, at least, that pay
well. Alas this is not always easy and most students are still to be found
in low-paid and low-skilled jobs in catering and retail.
But you can maximise your chances of getting a decent job. Most universities
will have a jobshop, operated by the university itself or the students'
union. As these cater specifically for students, they will at least make the
search easier. In addition, most if not all will to some extent filter the
jobs to ensure that the employers are not completely evil and they may offer
help with writing CVs and job interview skills. You can find a list at the
website of the National Association of Student Employment Services
(www.nases.org.uk). Students' unions themselves often employ large numbers
of student staff, usually with good pay and conditions. The trick here is to
apply before term starts, as any jobs are usually gone by freshers' week.
If you do not like the idea of a boss, self-employment can also be fruitful.
For example, if you have particular skills, such as design or computer
programming, you can advertise these on sites such as www.studentgems.com.
However, if you do find yourself part of the corporate machine, make sure
you are treated properly.
Workers have legal rights: you should be paid at least the minimum wage - from
October it is £4.77 an hour if you are aged 18 to 21 or £5.73 an hour if you
are older. All employees are entitled to a written contract, and a rest
period if their shift is six hours or longer. Part-time employees cannot be
treated less favourably than full-time workers, although if you work through
an agency you can be treated less favourably than permanent employees, so be
careful.
A list of rights is available at www.direct.gov.uk/employees. One way to
ensure that your rights are upheld is to join a trade union, which can help
you to discuss employment matters with your boss and bargain for better
rights in your workplace. Student workers often get a rough deal but there
is safety in numbers.
Talking of numbers, one last thing to watch out for is tax. Students are
liable for income tax, contrary to popular belief. Fear not though as most
students do not usually earn above their “personal allowance” (the amount
everyone can earn before tax is applied, and which is £6,035 in 2008-09).
However, due to their erratic work patterns, and the way tax is calculated,
students can sometimes end up paying tax erroneously. If you think you have,
contact Revenue & Customs about a refund (www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax).
“Indolence is stagnation; employment is life,” the Roman philosopher Seneca
the Younger once said. For the majority of full-time undergraduates,
part-time employment is a fact of life.
David Malcolm is the student finance researcher at the NUS
Case study by Allison Mulimba
Seeing Sir Ian McKellen naked is one of the bizarre things expected in my job.
However, it is a small price to pay when it comes to working full-time and
studying at university simultaneously. I am a 21-year-old journalism and
history student at Queen Mary University of London.
I work seven nights a week behind the bar at the Palace Theatre. My job has
given me the opportunity to see Ian McKellen as King Lear and now Sanjeev
Bhaskar of Goodness Gracious Me fame in Spamalot.
Balancing both work and studies is hard. My lack of motivation to start essay
writing means that the temptation to have a glass of wine at the pub next to
work instead of attempting that essay on Stalin frequently proves too much.
There is not much I like about my job. I especially hate seeing the disgust on
people's faces when I tell them a pint is £5 and a glass of shiraz £8.70. It
is no wonder that theatre owners looks so smug. My job does have its perks.
We get good tips
and attend parties, where the champagne flows.
Although I am originally from Hertfordshire, I live in London, which makes it
essential for me to have a job. It is impossible to rely on just a student
loan and students like myself find that they have to work as many hours as
possible to live in moderate comfort while trying to obtain an education.
Without my job I could not pay rent, eat or fund my penchant for new shoes.
Working while studying is tiring - my social life is non-existent and I
struggle to meet deadlines, but it is fine as long as my essays are done and
I am wearing pretty shoes while writing them.
Case study by Ben Curtis
Every weekend, my days begin at 6.30am. After a splash and go in the bathroom
I stumble over beer cans, wine bottles and hungover housemates as I reach
for the front door – not so much to freedom but for the tube ride to work.
Aside from my first year, I will have worked eighteen hours every weekend,
swapping the world of Hitler and Stalin at university for Barbie and Star
Wars at Toys ‘R’ Us – the loan doesn’t even cover my rent and so paid work,
along with parental support, is a necessity.
I was transferred from my home-town store to one nearer university during my
second year. My first consisted of asking my parents for money on a
fortnightly basis, and with the introduction of bills and an increase in
rent, work was the only option. If I hadn’t done this, I probably would have
had to commute to university from home and miss out on the whole experience.
Working has its advantages and disadvantages: more money to socialise, the
satisfaction of fending for yourself, the discipline that comes with waking
up early. But you must be careful – too much work and your degree suffers,
so you must erode the temptation to make the most of additional Christmas
hours. Also, your job must be largely stress-free and flexible. If the
company is malleable you can balance the number of hours you work with
deadlines and holidays. Finally, when I work additional hours during
holidays, I take home less than the minimum wage after tax deductions -
don’t expect huge rewards.
Work is like a trip back from the student bar: it’s a balancing act. Get it
wrong and your worries will stretch to more than a hangover but get it right
and you can profit from a broader university experience.
It is not true that Cambridge students are forbidden to work at all - many colleges even employ students themselves. The hours allowed are restricted and are at the discretion of the colleges. This is yet another generalisation about Cambridge that puts people off applying - disappointing from NUS
Harriet, Bath, UK