Working while studying at university is a great way to boost your CV, expand your social circle and get a taste of the working world before you graduate. Not to mention, a part-time job comes in really handy for funding your student accommodation costs and lifestyle.
But finding a good part-time job for uni students alongside your studies can fall pretty low on your priority list when you’re already dealing with the pressures of university. It can be a daunting task to find the best part-time job for you when you consider all the options out there, even more so if the industry is competitive. Where do you even start? What qualifications do you need? What’s the best way to stand out?
We’ve got you covered! Check out our 10 best part-time jobs for uni students and everything you need to position yourself as the best student for the job.
10 Best Part-Time Jobs for Uni Students
1. Temp Work
As it offers low-commitment, highly flexible positions, temp work can be one of the best part-time jobs for uni students! This can have you turning up to a different working environment every shift, so it’s a great way to make new friends at uni. It also allows you to try your hand at a multitude of roles, from catering at large-scale conferences to hosting VIP guests in a box at a race course. You can pick and choose when you want to work, so if you suddenly have to turn over a 5,000-word essay you forgot about, then you don’t have to worry about any part-time work commitments.
What will you need?
It’s good to have some previous experience in the hospitality industry. However, because of the urgency of many positions (due to covering sick leave and many events being one-off), it’s not completely necessary.
What pay can you expect?
As a temp, you will typically get paid on a weekly basis, so there’s no clinging to your pennies at the end of the month. You can expect to be paid anywhere from £8 – £15 per hour.
How do you get started?
Send your full CV over to a temp agency in your area. Once you are set up with them, they can put you forward for work with their clients.
2. Pet Sitter
When you’re being paid to hang out with pets, there’s not really a downside. This is a great option for working while studying at university, as you can set your own hours. You can even take your laptop with you and do your uni work, with the encouragement of your new four-legged friend. Not to mention, being around pets is extremely therapeutic and contributes to building better mental health during your studies.
What will you need?
You don’t need any formal qualifications to become a pet sitter. However, having previous experience looking after animals can be reassuring for the owners that you know what you’re doing.
What pay can you expect?
A pet-sitting position can see you earning up to £40 or more each day.
How do you get started?
You can join any pet-sitting organisation. Sites like Pawshake and BorrowMyDoggy are great ones to get started.
3. Bar work
If you’re a party animal and a bit of a night owl, consider picking up shifts at one of your favourite bars. Bar work is a good part-time job for uni students, especially if you’re highly sociable and extroverted, and helps develop your ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
What will you need?
Don’t worry, you don’t need to attend bartending school to be able to work behind a bar. However, it will help if you have experience in customer-facing roles, not to mention the ability to deal with tipsy (and sometimes difficult) customers.
What pay can you expect?
A bartending position can see you earning up to £60 a night (not including tips), but this will depend on the establishment you work in.
How do you get started?
You can apply online to any of your favourite bars. However, personality is a key part of this role, so it may be easier to show yours by calling them up, or even going in to ask if there are any vacancies.
4. Mystery Shopper
If you love shopping and trying out different restaurants, then becoming a mystery shopper is the best part-time job for you, especially if you like the idea of getting a free meal and getting to keep what you bought.
What will you need?
No formal qualifications are required. However, computer knowledge and the ability to remain anonymous is a must.
What pay can you expect?
Because you’re getting stuff for free, the actual payment can be quite low and vary from £5 – £15 per visit.
How do you get started?
You can apply to be a mystery shopper at MarketForce , or become a mystery diner at MysteryDining.
5. Resident Assistant
If you live in Student Halls and are struggling to find accommodation for the next year, then consider becoming a resident advisor. Another highly sociable job, you will sometimes be required to organise bar crawls and team-building events, making it a good part-time job for uni students.
What will you need?
Most universities require you to undergo a short training course at their expense, but no formal qualifications are needed.
What pay can you expect?
Although you won’t technically be paid for this position, you will get your student housing either free or heavily discounted, which will help you handle the rising cost of living.
How do you get started?
Speak to your student housing provider and see if there are any vacancies up for grabs. You will most likely have to fill out an application form online and sometimes be required to send in a short video talking about yourself.
6. TV Extra
What will you need?
Beware of agencies demanding loads of money for headshots and acting lessons; you don’t need either to get started as an extra.
What pay can you expect?
Being an extra pays a decent wage, and definitely helps cover living costs when you get good jobs and regular work. You can expect to be paid up to £80 for a typical working day.
How do you get started?
Register with an agency so that you can be put forward for jobs without needing to apply for individual roles. Bear in mind that some agencies will charge you a sign-up fee, so be sure to read reviews and testimonials before giving your money away.
7. Private Tutoring
You can share your skills with people eager to learn by signing up with a private tutoring company. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you have to be highly skilled in marking essays or helping with dissertations. You can teach someone to play an instrument or help them become more fluent in a language you speak. The possibilities are endless!
What will you need?
Agencies don’t usually ask for any formal qualifications, but it’s good to showcase your experience and skillset in your biography so people trust you’re qualified to teach them.
What pay can you expect?
Tutoring is very lucrative; you can expect between £15 – £20 an hour depending on your level of experience, and what the tutee is looking for.
How do you get started?
You can sign up with a private tutoring company such as UKTutor, MusicTeachers or Tandem if you want to teach a language. From there, prospective students can find you by searching for the subject they want to be tutored in.
8. Student Brand Ambassador
Working for a brand, nightclub or events company as a student brand ambassador is a perfect part-time job for uni students, especially for someone extroverted, passionate and sociable. As a student, you offer access to the student market, which is invaluable to these companies. If you land one of these positions, you could have experience and contacts with some huge brands even before you even graduate. Equally, it’s a great way to build your confidence in talking to and approaching new people.
What will you need?
It’s good to have some extracurricular activities under your belt to show you’re a sociable person. Other than that, you must be approachable, confident and professional – you will essentially become a face of the brand, so represent it respectfully.
What pay can you expect?
Beware of companies promising freebies or exposure as payment for your hard work. You wouldn’t wait tables for free, so remember that your time is valuable. Good companies should offer around £10 per hour for you to promote their brand.
How do you get started?
Either search “student brand ambassador” online or go onto your favourite brands’ websites to see if they’re offering any positions at your university.
9. Product tester
You can earn money by testing and reviewing products, services, websites and more by becoming a product tester. This is one of the best part-time jobs for uni students, as companies are always looking for people to try out their products before they release them to the wider public, so they can identify any issues and iron out any faults.
What you will need
Literally anyone can be a product tester, however, most companies look for people with a former knowledge of their products so they get an accurate review.
What pay can you expect?
Most companies pay around £7 per review, plus you get the added bonus of getting to keep products and having access to them before their launch date.
How to get started
You can sign up to sites like bzzagent, UserTesting and MagicFreebiesUK to start testing their products and services.
10. University Ambassador
If you’re proud of your university and good at talking to new people, then you’d be perfect for a university ambassador position, convincing prospective students to study there.
What you will need
There are no specific qualifications needed, only that you must be an undergraduate or postgraduate of the university, UK or international student. If you show that you are passionate about your university, this will help you to stand out.
What pay can you expect?
The typical rate for a university ambassador is £8 an hour, but this will vary depending on the university you go to.
How to get started
To become a university ambassador, you should reach out to your university’s ambassador programme. There are usually different schemes within one faculty, so make sure you read through and choose the best one for you.
There’s definitely no shortage of part-time jobs for uni students! Hopefully, our guide has helped you find one that’s right for you and given you some great tips on how to stand out. For more student advice, check out our blog.
