Part time studying- Unemployed?

Josq

Hey,
Does anyone know if I could collect unemployment benefits if they know I'm also studying part time?

I should have finished my degree but due to various circumstances around my thesis I'm going to miss the summer deadline for handing it in. My plan is to finish off my thesis at a very leisurely pace over summer and then hopefully finally get my degree all officially confirmed when university starts again in September.

I would love to start working right now but obviously with my not having finished my degree any job I'd get would likely be below the standard I'd be aiming for when I'm done so...I dunno where I stand. Basically I just want to know if they'd let me get job seekers or if they'd pull some crap about saying I'm still a full time uni student? (I know students aren't allowed job seekers over the summer holidays for instance)

dmg24

Are you still registered as a full time student? What status will you have with the university after this term?

mum2cara

As far as I am aware I think it is possible, so long as you are not receiving any money from the university, burseries etc. my friend was able to do it for this year hope it helps

dmg24

mum2cara wrote: »

As far as I am aware I think it is possible, so long as you are not receiving any money from the university, burseries etc. my friend was able to do it for this year hope it helps

The OP mentions a thesis, so I am assuming they are studying at postgrad level. Term often does not finish for postgrads until much later than undergrad students. Finance is not usually the key issue, especially in the case of postgraduate study where students are often (though not always) self funding.

Killmark

Josq wrote: »

Hey,
I would love to start working right now but obviously with my not having finished my degree any job I'd get would likely be below the standard I'd be aiming for when I'm done so.

What is so wrong with that? Why should the tax payer continue to subsidize you?

Also whats to say you'll immediately find employment when you've finished, are you planning on claiming JSA until you can find the "right standard" of job?

Uncertain

Josq wrote: »

I would love to start working right now but obviously with my not having finished my degree any job I'd get would likely be below the standard I'd be aiming for when I'm done so...I dunno where I stand. Basically I just want to know if they'd let me get job seekers or if they'd pull some crap about saying I'm still a full time uni student? (I know students aren't allowed job seekers over the summer holidays for instance)

I don't know the precise JSA rules regarding when they would consider you to no longer be a student.

However, the main point is that you can only claim JSA if you are actually seeking and are immediately available for work. I don't see this as "some crap".

If your writing up over the next few months prevents you from getting a full time job then you are not eligible for JSA.

As others have said you would be expected to take a "lower level" job whilst you continue to search and apply for something more suited to your qualifications.

You need to balance whether it would be better to take longer to complete your degree but be earning some money (if the college will allow this) or complete ASAP then hopefully get a "better" job.

Josq

Damn forum dropping my reply, it was long too <_<

Are you still registered as a full time student? What status will you have with the university after this term?

I don't know. Its my concern.
My union registration is still valid up until September when the new term starts but then people who graduate on time in June go straight onto job seekers so this mustn't be holding.

As far as I am aware I think it is possible, so long as you are not receiving any money from the university, burseries etc. my friend was able to do it for this year hope it helps

Aha, cool. Very good news, I've no funding whatsoever.

The OP mentions a thesis, so I am assuming they are studying at postgrad level. Term often does not finish for postgrads until much later than undergrad students. Finance is not usually the key issue, especially in the case of postgraduate study where students are often (though not always) self funding.

Undergrads do thesis too. I'm a undergrad.

What is so wrong with that? Why should the tax payer continue to subsidize you?

Also whats to say you'll immediately find employment when you've finished, are you planning on claiming JSA until you can find the "right standard" of job?

The government has failed me and my family enough over the years that I have no moral qualms about getting what I'm entitled to from them at all.

And don't mock the "right standard" stuff, that's the way it works. They don't just throw anyone into any old job (unless you fill out your papers very badly).

I don't know the precise JSA rules regarding when they would consider you to no longer be a student.

However, the main point is that you can only claim JSA if you are actually seeking and are immediately available for work. I don't see this as "some crap".

If your writing up over the next few months prevents you from getting a full time job then you are not eligible for JSA.

As others have said you would be expected to take a "lower level" job whilst you continue to search and apply for something more suited to your qualifications.

You need to balance whether it would be better to take longer to complete your degree but be earning some money (if the college will allow this) or complete ASAP then hopefully get a "better" job.

Getting a temporary job would suit me fine, I need money- just a month or two back I had to pass on a job interview in London because I couldn't afford to get there.

Killmark

Josq wrote: »

And don't mock the "right standard" stuff, that's the way it works. They don't just throw anyone into any old job (unless you fill out your papers very badly).

I wasn't mocking you, merely stating that your ideal job may not be easy to attain fresh out of university, I know many graduates who struggled to find jobs relevant to their degree and most didn't.

I also see plenty of graduates from the last academic year at work signing on who still haven't had much luck in starting a career in their chosen fields.

Its a lot easier to get employment if your already working.

Voyager2002

Does your university allow you to hand in your thesis late and still graduate? At many universities, if you miss the deadline you have failed. I suggest you check this before worrying about financial details.

Blahblahblah_2

University courses tend to have an official finish date after which you can apply for benefits as if unemployed. I recall that my finish date was about 3 weeks after my exams finished and a couple of weeks before graduation. I would contact your university and find out what that date is in your case. I would imagine though that if you are still doing a thesis over the summer your finish date will be extended and you will continue to be considered as a student and will be therefore be unable to apply for anything.

Josq

Killmark wrote: »

I wasn't mocking you, merely stating that your ideal job may not be easy to attain fresh out of university, I know many graduates who struggled to find jobs relevant to their degree and most didn't.

I also see plenty of graduates from the last academic year at work signing on who still haven't had much luck in starting a career in their chosen fields.

Its a lot easier to get employment if your already working.

Ah right.
Well yeah, I expect not to get my dream job right away. By having to take low work though I mean having to go to work in tesco or somesuch again.

Does your university allow you to hand in your thesis late and still graduate? At many universities, if you miss the deadline you have failed. I suggest you check this before worrying about financial details

Yeah, its all cleared with my teacher. Things are very very liberal here, huge student rights.

University courses tend to have an official finish date after which you can apply for benefits as if unemployed. I recall that my finish date was about 3 weeks after my exams finished and a couple of weeks before graduation. I would contact your university and find out what that date is in your case. I would imagine though that if you are still doing a thesis over the summer your finish date will be extended and you will continue to be considered as a student and will be therefore be unable to apply for anything.

So its down to the courses?
hmm...I think this thesis course will have its official end date in the beginning of June...which is good.