Category: Study support

How to find part-time work

Author Student Communications | Posted on

Student living costs are at an all time high and 64% of students in 2023 said that their maintenance loan wasn’t enough to cover their living expenses. With that in mind, you may be thinking about getting a part-time job alongside your studies to support yourself financially.

What work can I do?

Anything you like! But if you’re looking for some ideas, here are some popular jobs among students and the pros and cons:

  • Bar work – this can often be flexible enough to fit around your lectures as lots of shifts will be in the evening however the hours can be very late, and customers can be tricky.
  • Service industry – this includes working in cafes, restaurants, fast food chains and hotels. Again, this can often be flexible enough to work around your uni schedule and might even come with perks like free food. However, bear in mind that hours can be long, and you can often be on your feet for hours.
  • Retail – this includes working in a supermarket or shop and can be stacking shelves, helping customers, doing stock takes and working the till. Again, this is flexible work to fit around studies and you can often request more hours over the festive period. However, it can involve lots of weekend work and hours can vary week to week.
  • Tutoring – this involves meeting with younger students and helping them with different topics such as maths, English, science etc. This can often be online so no travel costs and the pay can be much higher than other jobs. However, you’ll need good reliable internet and somewhere that feels private enough to conduct the tutor sessions.  

How do I find work?

Okay so you’ve got an idea of what you’d like to do… how do you find a job?

Get your CV together – if you haven’t got one yet, there are some great free templates you can get online and savethestudent has a great guide to writing a CV. The Careers Team here at UWE are also an excellent resource to help with CV writing, feedback, interview prep and career advice.

Job searching – part time jobs are advertised in lots of different places although this is now mostly online. Here are some places to look:

How do I balance everything?

Balancing a part-time job and studies can be tricky so here are some tips to help you manage:

  • Be clear about what hours you are free/able to work and check if your potential employer can accommodate this.
  • Check with your potential employer if you’re going to be able to take holiday when needed (for example, around exams).
  • Use a planner! Whether it’s on your phone or a paper diary, ensure you plan your week so you know what you’ve got coming up for both uni and work.  
  • Rest and relaxation! Make sure you’ve got time to rest, recuperate and enjoy yourself.

Finally, if you do get a job, remember you are liable to pay Income Tax and National Insurance contributions on your earnings. Also, if you are an EU or International student there may be restrictions on the number of hours you can work and the type of work you can do. Here’s some further info on everything you need to consider.

Using music to improve your student experience

Author Student Communications | Posted on

Did you know we have a team of Student Experience Coaches here at uni to support you?

They’re available to help you with a whole range of issues that you might be experiencing, including time and workload management, dealing with stress or anxiety, helping you set and achieve your goals and learning how to juggle home and university life.

There are coaches based within each of our schools, and Paul Mahon is the coach working within the School of Computing and Creative Technologies.

He hosts drop-in sessions at Frenchay Library (Level 2) Monday to Friday, 11:00 to 14:00. Alternatively, email at experiencecoach@uwe.ac.uk

He’s keen to help you draw on your hobbies and interests to help improve your university experience, and has written the below blog post about how he believes music can be a fantastic tool for learning and development.

Paul says: “Here at UWE we see the integration of music into coaching practices as a unique and useful approach to supporting you on your educational journey. Music, with its profound ability to evoke emotions, stimulate creativity, and enhance focus, serves as a valuable ally in the realm of student experience coaching.”

  • Setting the tone for success – Music possesses the remarkable ability to set the tone and atmosphere of a coaching session. By carefully selecting appropriate music, I can create an environment which helps encourage introspection, relaxation, or motivation, depending on what we’re trying to achieve.
  • Facilitating emotional expression and exploration – My work as a coach often involves delving into emotions, aspirations, and obstacles. Here, music serves as a powerful medium for emotional expression and exploration. Certain songs or genres resonate with people on a deeply personal level, allowing them to articulate their feelings and experiences more freely. Through guided listening exercises, I can encourage you to explore your emotions, gain insight into your thought patterns, and develop strategies for emotional regulation and resilience.
  • Boosting creativity and problem-solving – Creativity lies at the heart of both music and effective coaching. Incorporating music into my sessions can stimulate divergent thinking, spark imagination, and inspire innovative solutions to academic and personal challenges. Encouraging you to create a playlist that reflects your goals, aspirations, and moods can foster a sense of ownership and creativity. Additionally, collaborative music-making activities at the Centre for Music, such as singing, jamming, songwriting and improvisation, can cultivate teamwork, communication skills, and adaptability – essential qualities for success in the academic and professional spheres.
  • Enhancing focus and productivity – In an era marked by constant distractions and information overload, maintaining focus and productivity is a common challenge for many of you. Music, particularly instrumental tracks or ambient sounds, can act as a powerful tool for enhancing concentration and cognitive performance. Whether used as background music during study sessions or as a means of transitioning into a state of deep focus, carefully curated playlists can help overcome procrastination, reduce stress, and optimize your learning environment.
  • Fostering connection and community – Music has the innate ability to bring people together and foster a sense of belonging and connection. Joining music-related activities gives you the chance to connect with others, share interests, and build a supportive community.

All students are able to access support from their Student Experience Coach. They offer face-to-face or virtual appointments via MS Teams, so find out more and book your place.

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