UK students: are you working a full-time job while studying?
We’d like to hear from students who are working 35 hours a week or more while they’re at university
A report released last week from the Higher Education Policy Institute found that students in the UK today need to work more than 20 hours a week to meet a “basic standard of living”. A similar study carried out last year by the same organisation found a record 56% of full-time undergraduates had paid employment while studying, with many working and studying an average 56-hours a week.
This has come amid a rise in the cost of living, particularly housing, and experts have warned that those juggling the heavy combined workload are more at risk of dropping out.
Are you a full-time student who also works a full-time job or a significant amount of hours? Why do you need to do this? What has been the impact of this on your studies and your own physical and mental health?
Share on:
Recent Articles
Recent Articles

Netherlands faces €5bn loss over international student limits
Netherlands faces €5bn loss over international student limits New research has found capping international students at five key Dutch universities could cause countrywide economic losses up to €5 billion, as

Irish HE minister rolls out welcome to international students
Irish HE minister rolls out welcome to international students Ireland’s higher education minister has stressed the immense benefits that international students bring to the country in an address to delegates

Irish government must tackle student visa delays, stakeholders urge
Irish government must tackle student visa delays, stakeholders urge The Irish government must work to alleviate visa “bottlenecks” if it wants to attract more international students into the country, stakeholders

Student update: Changes to the Student and Graduate Rules
Student update: Changes to the Student and Graduate Rules A Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules was published today, 14 October 2025. Increase to maintenance requirements for Students from 11

University of Sydney denied request to increase international student enrolments next year
University of Sydney denied request to increase international student enrolments next year Institution was only university not granted extra places after seeking additional enrolment allocation from federal government The University

University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Online Postgraduate Scholarships 2026/27
University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Online Postgraduate Scholarships 2026/27 The University of Edinburgh, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, invites exceptional young leaders from Africa to apply for its Online Postgraduate