Students who also work - How many hours do you work on average a week?

cats2012

This depends alot on what degree you do - I did social sciences and worked most of my weekends and holidays, as I had approx 15 hours lectures a week and did uni work round that mon-fri, but my sister is doing a vet course which is 9-5 lectures for starters plus all the work and work experience so she can't work at all

quavering

Dunroamin wrote: »

Don't you get a loan?

Yes, i get the full student loan.

It's because I decided to remain in my own home through uni and commute, but because I live on my own, costs are high. I was also quite ill over the summer and lost out on shed loads of income that would usually carry me through the first two terms. My second job involves a lot of travelling too, the petrol cost is awful!

I don't know how mature students can cope on the loan itself. It seems like choosing not to work isn't an option, even in 3rd year.

JLS1901

I do around 24 hours over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
I do 3 full days at uni with an hour and 15 min commute each way then a day on placement. I'm exhausted but working any less isn't an option. I get my work done as soon as I get it and have quite a ridgid routine which has worked ok so far.

Anselm

I was doing around 20-30 hours at the start of my degree in September. But I quickly cut it down to 8 hours a week because its a heavy course with lots of reading and I have a 45 min commute each way, so I was becoming ill and run down because I was exhausted. I feel much better now and less stressed as I have a lot more time to focus on my degree.

Dunroamin

quavering wrote: »

Yes, i get the full student loan.

It's because I decided to remain in my own home through uni and commute, but because I live on my own, costs are high. I was also quite ill over the summer and lost out on shed loads of income that would usually carry me through the first two terms. My second job involves a lot of travelling too, the petrol cost is awful!

I don't know how mature students can cope on the loan itself. It seems like choosing not to work isn't an option, even in 3rd year.

Most mature students also get the maintenance grant and bursary, unless they live with a high earning partner.

dizzyrascal

Anselm wrote: »

I was doing around 20-30 hours at the start of my degree in September. But I quickly cut it down to 8 hours a week because its a heavy course with lots of reading and I have a 45 min commute each way, so I was becoming ill and run down because I was exhausted. I feel much better now and less stressed as I have a lot more time to focus on my degree.

I rest my case M'lud

marywooyeah

quavering wrote: »

I'm in my 3rd year and at the moment I'm averaging 35-40 hours a week at 2 different jobs. Lectures are two days a week, with a 45 minute commute each way.

I'm not going to lie, it's killing me, but I simply can't afford not to work. But I'm doing something about it, as we speak I'm photocopying all the documents I need to apply for the Access to Learning fund.

I just don't want money to get in the way of finishing my degree! At the moment, it is, or at least it's stopping me focussing on my dissertations.

aaw that sounds awful! I know what you mean about it killing you mines really affecting my degree - I currently have 3 practice and 2 proper courseworks due in as well as my dissertation and volunteering, I do 25 hours a week but next week am doing 39.5. I don't get a grant thanks to SFE royally messing everything up again and I got £1010 loan in october to last me til January, and apparently I'll have a decision about my grants in jan too. Its quite bitter watching the other students with mummy and daddy paying for everything while I'm working my !!!! off trying to pay the bills and suffering because of someone else's errors.

is there any possibility you will get a break over christmas? x

quavering

That's awful Mary, trying to do well on your degree while having so much extra pressure. If the financial pressure was off we'd be ok!

I'll admit to suffering from a bit of green eyes too with other students. Just holding out for the Access to Learning fund at the moment...have you thought about applying? You seem like someone who would benefit so much.

I'm having an entire two weeks off on one job, and the way my days fall over Christmas, I should get a week off the other. It's the only thing keeping me going!

The_Jakal

When I was at university I knew a student who basically held down a full time job as well as studying for a Geography degree.

He used to work all day and then catch up on lectures he had missed and study all evening. He even used to go out some week nights.

To be honest I could never have done the same thing but I suppose it's down to yourself.

If you think you can handle over 16 hours a week plus uni work then go for it, if not it's worth giving it a miss.

I would say go for a job with flexible hours so that you can try and see how many hours a week work would be the optimum for you!

marywooyeah

quavering wrote: »

That's awful Mary, trying to do well on your degree while having so much extra pressure. If the financial pressure was off we'd be ok!

I'll admit to suffering from a bit of green eyes too with other students. Just holding out for the Access to Learning fund at the moment...have you thought about applying? You seem like someone who would benefit so much.

I'm having an entire two weeks off on one job, and the way my days fall over Christmas, I should get a week off the other. It's the only thing keeping me going!

aaw thats great you've got some time off coming up! I know what you mean about the green eyes! I paid for all my driving lessons/tests/car/insurance myself and quite a few of my friends had that paid for by their parents so that they can drive home on the holidays. hopefully you can catch up on your work during your break, 2 weeks off - wouldnt know what to do with myself lol!

I'm not eligible for the access to learning fund as my husband works and I have some savings towards us buying a house, we also have a little boy so I'm really missing out on some quality time with him with all this work just keep trying to see the bigger picture x