Learn Highest, Earn Highest

How to earn money while you're studying in the UK

Parties, living expenses, travel – the pennies add up quickly when you are an international student. Here are some tips to help you earn some extra cash while on a student visa.

It can be useful to have a bit of spare cash while studying at university. Life as a student in the UK can be expensive. From weekend-long parties to lengthy book lists, to trips and balls and society fees, the pennies of university life really add up. The great news is there are plenty of jobs out there to help with the strain. Read ahead to find about more about earning money as a student in the UK.

Part-time job

If you’re living and studying the UK, and you have the right type of working visa, you can get a part time job. Research shows that at least one-third of students work while at university. One of the most popular jobs, requiring little responsibility and experience, is being a waiter or waitress. University cities commonly have centers full of restaurants, hotels, and cafes perfect for student employees. You are usually required to work evenings and weekends, making shifts easy to schedule around your studies.

By getting a part-time or zero-hour contract, you have more control over how much you work. When you really need that extra money, ask for more shifts. When you have deadlines coming up, tell your boss in advance that you need less work. To find a job, try printing off CVs and giving them in to places around town. Look on job search sites like Indeed, Reed or Total Jobs, or those catering to students like e4s. Alternatively, check out more local sources like university boards and nearby job centers.

Online Work

If you’re not a fan of customer service, online work is a great option. You don’t need to travel anywhere, deal with annoying customers or even leave the comfort of your room. By getting online work, you can make extra money with more flexibility and freedom than a typical job. All you need is a laptop, free time and enough motivation to work for yourself.

Many people promote tutoring as a great way for students to make money. It allows you to put all that left over A-Level knowledge to good use. By teaching college and GCSE students, you can earn money and keep on top of your own academia. You can gain valuable teaching experience and actually enjoy a job you’re good at, discussing the subject you study at university. 

Especially if you’re good at IT, have creative skills or are a quick typist, freelancing is a great option for students. The work is flexible, continuous and can pay well if you find the right work. Joining freelancing website like Guru, Up work or Freelancer is a good start. Then you can start to make money on your laptop. Search around for the perfect fit; whether it’s content writing, website design or creating artwork.

Check out these tips from Student Money Saver about making money online, covering all those secret ways to make money that others might forget about.

Student Jobs

Student jobs can be a great way to gain experience related to your degree. Studying English Literature? Check if any jobs are available in the library. Studying biology? Take an assistant’s job in the research labs. Studying politics? Work as a student ambassador. Studying drama? Work at the campus theatre. You can even get full-time work as a member of the student guild or unions. Every year, universities elect a president and various other roles to represent students. 

They pay a salary, give great, professional work experience and can be a great way to spend your time following graduation. However, if you need that extra cash urgently while still studying, consider other on-campus jobs like working in a cafe, the student pub or union clubs. You can usually get decent pay and student-friendly hours. It can be helpful to have an employer who knows that your studies come first, one of the benefits of working at the university itself. Plus it’s easier in general; you are closer to lectures, closer to the library and come up to campus all the time anyway – why not throw in a couple of work hours while you’re there?

So make the most of your UK university experience – find a job, gain experience and fund those student stories!

How to budget for your expenses as an international student

Sensible financial planning will let you focus on what really matters – academics and the experience of living in another country

Charles Dickens expressed the importance of a budget in his book David Copperfield when he wrote:

“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness.
Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty  pound ought and six, result misery.”

More than 160 years later, those words are as relevant as ever, especially if you are about begin a new chapter in your life of studying abroad. It’s the experience of a lifetime, as living in a foreign country is an education in itself. The value of learning to budget your expenses in a different currency will add a new dimension to that experience.

Expenses must be planned to study in college or at a university, and here, we hypothesize the exercise for study in the US. Before we consider the cost of study, it’s important to distinguish between direct and indirect costs.

Direct costs are, as the term suggests, directly related to education: tuition, books, and any special fees. Indirect costs are more flexible and encompass everything else. The priority should be to take care of direct costs.

Funds for direct costs should be from private or family sources, scholarships or loans. The ideal sources of college funds are scholarships and grants, because they do not have to be paid back. So apply for every scholarship that you’re eligible for.

If you have exhausted your sources of funds that don’t need to be repaid, consider a student loan to cover your remaining direct costs. But as an international student, you are not eligible for low-cost loans sponsored by the US government. However, organizations such as Sallie Mae offer private credit-based student loans that may be available to you under specific conditions.

Always remember that you are granted a student visa on the assumption that you will be financially independent while studying abroad. Hopefully, you’ll never need a loan if you budget for contingencies (more on this below), and use the money only in a real emergency.

Once you’ve worked out the direct costs, plan for indirect costs, which are primarily your living costs during the study period. The vital component here is accommodation. After you get your admission offer, your university’s housing office will send you information about on- and off-campus housing. If you plan to live off-campus, you’ll need to arrive there well before classes begin, to search for something suitable.

Off-campus housing costs vary depending on the institute’s location. In the US, costs are typically higher in urban areas than in rural ones, and higher on the East and West coasts than in between. Off-campus apartments are often unfurnished, so factor this into your budget when deciding where you’ll live. Consider sharing an apartment with a roommate, so you can split the rent. 

Some institutions offer a free or subsidized shuttle bus service on campus and in the surrounding area. So picking a home in the right location could help cut commuting costs. As an international student, you may want to budget for the airfare home during the holidays. Book early to get a cheaper fare.

Meals are an important part of your budget. Universities generally offer meal plans, so weigh the options based on your schedule and preferences. After the day is over, it’s best to eat at home, rather than at a restaurant, to curtail your expenses.

Life is incomplete without entertainment, so budget for movies, snacks, concerts and short trips to visit friends. Your student activity fee will let you attend many events for free or at special student rates, such as plays, seminars, movies, and sporting events.

Another way to save is to buy used textbooks. You may be able to get these on campus or online. Make sure you get the edition recommended for your course. Your student health center will be able to advise you on low-cost health insurance plans for international students.

Other expenses to budget for include a mobile phone, clothes, laundry, and internet. After you factor all this into your budget, calculate 10% of the total, and set it aside as a contingency fund. So for a total budget of Rs. 5 lakh, for example, it would be safe to add Rs. 50,000 for contingency. Use this only in case of an unforeseen emergency.

As for credit cards – ugh! Do you really need one? The cardinal rule is to use it sensibly, if you must have one. Injudicious use of a credit card will rip your budget into tatters. Use it solely for emergencies. Pay off the entire balance at the end of the month. Be sure you understand the interest rate, because that may dissuade you from owning a credit card!

Managing your finances sensibly will help ensure that your tenure as an international student is one of the most momentous experiences of your life. Without money worries, you will feel free, and your focus will be where it should be: your studies.

Money Saving Tips for University

Want to learn to live as a student on the cheap? Here are a few tips on how to scrimp and save.

Even if you’ve received a huge sum of financial aid or a loan, it’s important to take note of how much you’re going to need to spend during your stint abroad as a student. Remember to account for your annual tuition and accommodation fees before you head off to university – this will help you figure out how much you have left for the extra costs.

Budgeting yourself through your college days is very important – this can significantly help you to assess and plan out your costs in advance. The most difficult part though, is sticking to it! List out your costs – you should already have tuition fees and accommodation noted, then add in travel expenses and food costs – then you’ll see how much you have for extracurricular activities like going to the movies, or going bowling.

“Since I was financing my own expenses I had to cut down on many things in order to save money, “ says Nishtha Paliwal, a student at the University of Bristol in the U.K., “I don’t go for outings with friends or eat outside, and even cut down on shopping - I buy the cheapest grocery stuff and usually cook at home.”

Sometimes You Don’t Need to Buy The Book

If it’s an option, then instead of buying brand new textbooks for each semester, ask the bookstore for the slightly discounted used versions. Find out how much you will need a particular book and see if you can check it out from the university or local library (but remember to renew it frequently if you need it for longer than the maximum rental period!). Online booksellers often also offer textbooks at cheaper rates; or see if there is an option to legally download particular authorized chapters to your laptop for less than the cost of a full book.

Getting Around

If you’re in a big city or town, then public transport is going to be the cheapest and easiest way to get around. Taking the bus will always cost less than taking the train. However, check with your university campus about the free or discounted student shuttle services they may offer, so you can take advantage of getting around for less. Don’t be afraid to get around by walking, or invest in a bicycle.

Spend Your Free Time Wisely

University is the best time and place in life to find some of the greatest free entertainment. If you’re in the mood for a movie check the campus listings – often the university recreational center will organize regular film screenings in full cinema-style. Or if nothing that week takes your fancy, then head to the library and check out a dvd for free.

For the sports enthusiasts, a great way of also making friends is to join one of the campus recreational athletic leagues – and if you can’t find a sport you want to play, then create a club of your own – you’re bound to find a group of people interested!

Most universities will also organize periodic music concerts, the student theatrical group is another place for thespians – and for the non-actors among you, most colleges put on a play each term for free.

If you’re a foodie keen to sample the local restaurants, just be conscious of what you can afford. To stick with budget the school canteen might be the best option, but sometimes university towns also a variety of student-discount options at local eateries, which can be well worth taking advantage of.

Flash Your Student ID Card like a Prize

This is the most precious item you will own throughout your university career. Use it well. The university student ID card will give you eligibility for discounts on a number of things – from local transport to clothes shopping to restaurant and bar discounts, to cheaper cinema tickets, bowling coupons, maybe a game of laser-tag! And the best part is, this card will also often work outside your campus setting – so when in doubt, ask if showing your student ID card will get you a discount.

Coupon clipping is also a way of keeping the bills down. If you’re a budding home-chef and love to do your own grocery, make sure you keep tabs on what’s on sale each time you’re heading out to do the weekly shopping.

Always keep the receipts from your purchases to help you keep track of whether you’re on budget, and whether you need to reassess your financial priorities for the next semester.

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