How do student survive?

Lokolo

stars_bright wrote: »

My son is at Durham. Each term he will get £668 grant + £1022 loan, the tuition fees are covered by the seperate tuition fee loan, so his total income per term is £1690. He is staying in the College accomadation for his final year, which is catered and costs £1645 per term. So that leaves him with £45 left for the term. I can see how the extra money he has had previously would have been needed to fund books, extra food, clothes etc. Last year he lived in a shared house but I think that worked out more expensive than college in the end.

Which works out fine. The loan is only meant to cover essentials, which in your (well your son's) case, is correct. Food + Accomondation, all paid for.

misswadey

I am currently a student at Leeds Uni. I am lucky enough to have a job (20 hours a week) but have seen plenty of jobs being advertised now in the run up to Christmas. University Union's are also very helpful at promoting jobs which do not impinge on your studies too much.

As your son is a final year like myself he can always ask within his department as they will give final years priority (even if it is something small such as looking after the departmental library), it also looks good on the CV.

Being a student is a struggle and I do empathise with your son.

I do have to disagree with you stating University owned accomodation is cheaper than private house sharing. My accomodation in first year was nearly £6000 and that was catered (obviously this also included bills) but for the past 2 years have lived in rented accomodation and I find choosing your own gas/electricity tarrifs and food shopping sensibly make the money last a lot longer.

ThinkingOfLinking

I don't go out clubbing, and I work 20-40 hours a week on top of my course to make ends meet at the moment. I think most students really should get a job as it makes them more employable when they go for an actual job after graduating; all experience is worth something transferrable.

Oldernotwiser

Flickering_Ember wrote: »

I don't go out clubbing, and I work 20-40 hours a week on top of my course to make ends meet at the moment. I think most students really should get a job as it makes them more employable when they go for an actual job after graduating; all experience is worth something transferrable.

However, don't forget that employers are very keen on graduates who have participated fully in university life (volunteering, sports, involvement in student societies) and this wouldn't be possible when working full time hours.

Simon11

I'm the same with Flickering Ember, however I disagree with Oldernotwiser point.

This week from Monday to Friday I have 13 hours of lectures, sems and Labs. I've also done 27.5 hours at work during the same period.

Therefore leaving the weekend to go on a trip with my uni climbing club and going for a social night with another club tonite:D

There is time to fit everything in with good time management.

I'm trying to have the best CV possible however I know alot of other people that don't have any work experience, don't do any volunteering, don't join social clubs ect......

Indie_Kid

when I was at uni, I was advised to work no more than 16 hours per week.

worried_jim

I worked 16 hours a week and full time in the holidays, it was 18 years ago mind, and if I am honest I don't remember exactly how I survived but it was a drunken smoky haze most of the time though. £1 a pint in the uni bar, happy days....

Oldernotwiser

Simon11 wrote: »

I'm the same with Flickering Ember, however I disagree with Oldernotwiser point.

This week from Monday to Friday I have 13 hours of lectures, sems and Labs. I've also done 27.5 hours at work during the same period.

Therefore leaving the weekend to go on a trip with my uni climbing club and going for a social night with another club tonite:D

There is time to fit everything in with good time management.

I'm trying to have the best CV possible however I know alot of other people that don't have any work experience, don't do any volunteering, don't join social clubs ect......

I've known lots of people like this as well - they're often the ones who are unemployed or in McJobs!

Can I ask you, seriously, why do you need to earn so much? Do you have debts, expensive habits or parents who don't help out?

Oldernotwiser

sh1305 wrote: »

when I was at uni, I was advised to work no more than 16 hours per week.

I'm not surprised. There's lots of evidence that substantial part time working affects students' grades.

olly300

Simon11 wrote: »

I'm the same with Flickering Ember, however I disagree with Oldernotwiser point.

This week from Monday to Friday I have 13 hours of lectures, sems and Labs. I've also done 27.5 hours at work during the same period.

Therefore leaving the weekend to go on a trip with my uni climbing club and going for a social night with another club tonite:D

There is time to fit everything in with good time management.

When do you fit in the individual study you are required to do and the wider reading around your subject?