10th March 2010 | The Urbanest Team | Comments [0]
Should You Seek Part-Time Work?
Students across the world are renowned for being ‘broke’, but that doesn’t mean you have to be as well.
In general, most Australian universities recommend that a full-time student should put in around 40-48 hours of study each week, including lectures and tutorials. This may seem like quite a lot, but when you consider that 45 hours per week equates to 9 hours per day, Monday to Friday, it’s really just like normal working hours.
So, is there any scope to get a part-time job, in addition to your studies? Of course, but just what type of job, and how many hours per week, will depend on you. For instance, are you the type of person who is completely scatterbrained in the mornings? If so, your university workload may need to be spread over 7 days, but starting later in the day.
You also need to consider whether you have any other existing commitments. Are you a member of a sporting team that practices on weekends, or even on weekday evenings? If you attend church on Sundays, that time also can’t be used for working or studying. You need to plan for exams and assignments as well. Just because your workload is light in the first week of the semester, doesn’t mean you’ll have ample spare time in week 11.
Many uni students tend to find part time, casual work as wait staff or baristas as they can quite often be hired for evening or weekend shifts, which fits in with their study requirements. Working as a cashier at a supermarket is also another great way to earn a bit of extra money and only be committed to as many, or as few, hours as you can handle.
You must remember, if you or your parents are receiving any income support from Centrelink that all income must be reported. You should be able to earn a small amount without any penalty whatsoever, and once your income starts affecting your Centrelink payments it is only a certain amount per dollar earned that is offset. International students have restrictions on the number of hours you can work under the student visa.
Above all else, remember that you are going through a great journey in your life. Don’t forget to allow yourself time to unwind each day, and to relax. University is an experience to enjoy and treasure, but is also a lot of hard work. Always make sure you provide yourself with enough time to put 100% into your studies – you will be glad you did once you have earned that degree.
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