Students take on part-time work for a range of reasons; one key reason is the need to boost their finances. The maintenance loan offered by Student Finance England is rarely enough to cover student living costs, but this has worsened in recent years due to errors in forecasting inflation. To afford basic amenities such as accommodation, bills, food and a reasonable social life, students have had to turn to part-time working.
Time spent by students in part-time work has increased by 154%.
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This recent article provides accessible statistics on students taking on paid work. It also discusses the rising living costs and helps to explain the need for the average student to work 46.3 hours per month.
However, earning more money is not the only reason students are taking on part-time work.
The perception that earning a degree is not enough to get a ‘good’ job is growing and part-time work during their studies offers students the opportunity to gain real-world experience, network and build practical skills. It allows them to build their CV alongside their studies, giving them more experience to draw upon in future interviews.
All this affects our students’ time at UoP and adds to their concerns about their future, post-university. Working alongside their studies can increase stress, leave them less time to socialise and enjoy themselves and mean they lack the flexibility they need to complete their studies.