By Grace Bourne, Third Year, History and French
Student loans unable to keep up with cost of living, financial pressures for students have become more and more pronounced in the last couple of years forcing many students to turn to part-time employment.
The Student Academic Experience Survey (SAES) 2025 showed that currently 68 per cent of undergraduate students are in term time employment up from 56 per cent just last year. But do students in 2025 have much of a choice about term time employment? As soon as I arrived in Bristol, in 2023, I saw the money start to drain out of my account and having a job felt like the only way I could avoid budgeting within an inch of my life. I started waitressing the week after Freshers and at that point ,feeling void of advice, I quickly discovered the pressures of part-time work.
Increased stress, missing out on socials, as well as university work taking a hit became quickly apparent. And it was not just me. Alongside the increase in working students, the amount of time spent in independent study has also decreased since last year from 13.6 hours per week on average to 11.6. A report by Edinburgh Napier University, published in 2015, showed that 'over two thirds of working students felt that their studies had been negatively affected by their paid work... with just under a half describing mental health issues associated with working whilst studying.'
The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) showed that almost half of universities now publish advice on part-time working as the cost-of-living crisis intensifies. The University of Bristol has a web page on working part-time, which recommends no longer than fifteen hours of paid work a week. As well as giving tips on how to find part-time work in Bristol. This is alongside other advice on how to manage finances at university. But does this do enough to fill the gap between the university experience of those that have to work and those who don't? Fifteen hours a week can add up over an extended period of time. Without serious consideration on how to mitigate these effects, students with no choice but to work are automatically at a disadvantage. But what can universities do?
The President of the student association at St Andrews University says that 'unless the government does something and unless we see increases in maintenance loans, we are essentially setting up a system where the richer students can fly through it and the poorer students are constantly struggling through each year of their university degree.'
'This means that students having to work to meet the cost of living in 2025 are under increased pressure and have to pay particular attention to time management and planning. Missing out or burning out become the only two options. '
At the University of Bristol, similar to other universities, you are unlikely to be considered for an extension or extenuating circumstances as a result of 'paid employment'. This means that students having to work to meet the cost of living in 2025 are under increased pressure and have to pay particular attention to time management and planning. Missing out or burning out become the only two options.
When I started working, the pressure to balance new friends, complete all my assignments, and make it to a five to close shift quickly became overwhelming. For a perfectionist who wanted to be good at everything, I quite quickly exhausted myself. Trying to complete assignments during a half an hour break, getting home at 1 AM, and trying to make it out of bed for a 9 AM lecture. Time management was the only thing that got me through and took a while to learn.
The University of Bristol's undergraduate working hours guidelines seem about right; but it is also very important, if you can, to plan where those hours are in your week. It is no fun missing big events or nights out because of a shift. So, plan ahead and give your employer a clear list of dates as far as possible in advance to ensure that a part-time job doesn't tarnish your university experience. Do not be pressured by employers into taking on extra hours if you don't need to. You are investing in your university education and it has to come first. You are also investing in a rich social experience, which should not be sacrificed for part-time employment if avoidable.
However, it is not all doom and gloom, I loved having a job. As a fresher coming to university, it's very easy to get wrapped up in the heady lifestyle of a student, often surrounded by people very similar to you. Having a job can bring you back to reality and be a great way to meet people who know the city. They can give you great tips about where to go in Bristol, outside of Redland and Clifton. It makes Bristol feel bigger when you have a foot outside of the world of the university.
Ike Idikakalu
In my second year, I was far stricter with myself about not covering shifts and taking on extra hours (as tempting as the extra cash was). I specifically asked not to be put on late shifts the night before an early morning lecture. Immediately, I noticed a shift in my mental health and a huge relief of stress. I had more control over my time and how I wanted to spend it. The burn out started to wear off and I could realise the benefits to working, not just the stresses.
The conversation now is not necessarily about whether to take up term time employment or not, current financial pressures make it difficult not to, but how to manage it once you get there.
Featured Image: Epigram/ Sophie Maclaren
What's more draining- deadlines or double shifts?
