Catering for Student Life

Much of popular culture would have you believe that most students are busy frittering away their loans and grants in the students' union bar or in a hall of residence acquainting themselves with various narcotics. Anything, in short, but studying - and certainly not in gainful employment. The reality is very different.

Most studies show that at least half of students work during term-time; an even higher percentage do so in vacations. About 70 per cent of those who work say that they do so to cover basic living expenses.

Whether such work is inevitable, or merely desirable, there are a few things to think about.

One of the most common questions asked of the National Union of Students (NUS) is how many hours a student should work. There is a range of opinions on this: often the figure of 16 hours a week is mentioned, although Cambridge University forbids its students from taking up any employment whatsoever during term time. Of course, in reality, what is suitable for you will depend on your circumstances - a history student with 10 hours of formal classes a week might be able to undertake paid work more than a medical student with 35.


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What is true is that research has shown that there is a correlation between a high number of hours worked and the likelihood that you will end up with a lower degree classification, so you should be careful about balancing work with your studies.

You might also want to consider when you work. Night shifts might pay better but they can have a deleterious effect on your coursework. My next-door neighbour in halls took a full-time job as a night porter in a local hotel at the start of the year and stopped attending classes after about week two. Needless to say, he did not pass that year. Then there is the issue of what sort of work. In an ideal world, students would be able to find employment in areas that are relevant to their future careers or, at least, that pay well. Alas this is not always easy and most students are still to be found in low-paid and low-skilled jobs in catering and retail.

But you can maximise your chances of getting a decent job. Most universities will have a jobshop, operated by the university itself or the students' union. As these cater specifically for students, they will at least make the search easier. In addition, most if not all will to some extent filter the jobs to ensure that the employers are not completely evil and they may offer help with writing CVs and job interview skills. You can find a list at the website of the National Association of Student Employment Services (www.nases.org.uk). Students' unions themselves often employ large numbers of student staff, usually with good pay and conditions. The trick here is to apply before term starts, as any jobs are usually gone by freshers' week.

If you do not like the idea of a boss, self-employment can also be fruitful. For example, if you have particular skills, such as design or computer programming, you can advertise these on sites such as www.studentgems.com. However, if you do find yourself part of the corporate machine, make sure you are treated properly.

Workers have legal rights: you should be paid at least the minimum wage - from October it is £4.77 an hour if you are aged 18 to 21 or £5.73 an hour if you are older. All employees are entitled to a written contract, and a rest period if their shift is six hours or longer. Part-time employees cannot be treated less favourably than full-time workers, although if you work through an agency you can be treated less favourably than permanent employees, so be careful.

A list of rights is available at www.direct.gov.uk/employees. One way to ensure that your rights are upheld is to join a trade union, which can help you to discuss employment matters with your boss and bargain for better rights in your workplace. Student workers often get a rough deal but there is safety in numbers.

Talking of numbers, one last thing to watch out for is tax. Students are liable for income tax, contrary to popular belief. Fear not though as most students do not usually earn above their “personal allowance” (the amount everyone can earn before tax is applied, and which is £6,035 in 2008-09). However, due to their erratic work patterns, and the way tax is calculated, students can sometimes end up paying tax erroneously. If you think you have, contact Revenue & Customs about a refund (www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax).

“Indolence is stagnation; employment is life,” the Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger once said. For the majority of full-time undergraduates, part-time employment is a fact of life.

David Malcolm is the student finance researcher at the NUS