Working while studying in the UK: How to balance work and your social life

You can really benefit from getting a job while at university. You’ll earn money, meet new people and gain valuable experience. It looks great on your CV by showing you’ve had work experience, but it can be a big commitment when you’re already studying. Working in a job takes time and effort.

Don’t worry, it’s possible to balance your social life, study life and a part-time job at the same time. Here are seven helpful tips for working while studying in the UK.

1. Use your time productively
2. Keep a detailed calendar and schedule
3. Get a good night’s sleep
4. Prioritise your studies
5. Make time for yourself
6. Eat healthily
7. Speak to someone if you need advice

1. Use your time productively

If you get a job while at university, your time will be split into three main parts: 

• when you’re at work
• when you’re studying
• enjoying social and personal time

To successfully complete and enjoy all of these, the first thing you should do is to use your time productively. 

Start by dedicating time to a certain task and work to complete it - you’ll be surprised how much you can actually accomplish in a day.

If you have an assignment to complete during the week and a shift at work to go to, you’ll be able to completely focus on studying during your free hours - however, don’t forget that your studying should be prioritised. In this time, you can produce a lot of good work. So, remember to stop scrolling through social media and pick up your pen and study materials.

With a little effort, you’ll be able to successfully divide your time and use it wisely.

2. Keep a detailed calendar and schedule

Schedules and calendars are helpful tools you can use when it comes to planning your week. They can help you to see when you have work and how much time you have to study and enjoy other activities.

Smartphones will include a calendar app you can use to set reminders for work shifts, events, lectures, study meetings and anything else you commit to. Similar apps such as Toggl, Workflow or MyLifeOrganized can help you do this.

You’ll also be able to set reminders for important assignments weeks before they are due. This can help keep you on track with your productivity.

If you prefer to keep a physical calendar you can write in, why not purchase a diary? You’ll be able to add any key information quickly and easily. Just don’t forget to carry it around with you.

Creating a daily schedule is a great way to see all the tasks you need to complete in a day. Write them in your phone or diary and tick them off as your day progresses.

One of our best tips is to create a weekly study timetable. List all of the days of the week and then add in sections of time you know you’ll be in lectures or seminars. Check out our example below of a hardworking student’s study timetable from Monday to Friday:

Using a study timetable, you’ll be able to see when you have free time to use for either a job or in further study, such as research in the library or study groups you arrange with other students.

Here at Newcastle University, we develop a personalised timetable for each student that can be used through the university app.

You can also add in activities such as playing sports or at the gym, attending society meetings and any other commitments you may have.

3. Get a good night’s sleep

There are so many benefits you can get from having a good night sleep. You’ll be more energetic, happier and even have a better immune system. 

Producing great work in either your job or your studies depends a lot on the quality of your sleep. Here are our top tips for getting a good sleep at university:

• set yourself a sleep schedule. Every day, you can have a set time you’ll go to bed. This can be a little later on the weekend. It’s a great way to know you’re getting enough sleep
• turn off your phone or put it on the other side of the room. It’s very tempting to scroll through social media for a long time. Before you know it, it could be three o’clock in the morning. Make sure it’s not a distraction
• read before bed. This could be one of your study textbooks or a fiction book unrelated to your course. Reading before bed calms the mind, making it easier for you to fall asleep

If you get the recommended eight hours of sleep a night, you’ll feel refreshed and more prepared to complete a day’s work.

4. Prioritise your studies

Remember, the reason you’re at university is to study. If you find that your part-time job is affecting your ability to study, you might want to reduce the amount of hours you work. It might also be possible to decrease the hours you’re working so that you have more time to study.

Luckily, at university, deadlines for projects, exams, essays and coursework will usually be known about months in advance. That makes it easier to plan all your studies weeks or months before, so that you know how much time you’ll be able to work.

5. Make time for yourself

It’s really important to not overwork yourself. If you’re working while studying in the UK, it can be easy to forget to relax and do things you enjoy. This can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle and poor study performance. 

Making time for yourself could mean doing anything you enjoy - listening to music, running, watching a film or spending time with friends. Dedicating part of your day to activities such as these helps you to feel happier. If you’re spending all your time working, you’ll probably start to feel overwhelmed.

If you’re studying abroad in the UK, you might find the change to a new country adds a little more pressure onto everything else. Our answer suggestion is to make friends and spend a bit of time with them every day. Being part of a community can help you to adapt to your surroundings and also de-stress.

Too much play can result in poor work, but too much work can result in an unhappy mindset. As with anything, life is all about balance. It’s easy to learn how to dedicate time to the right balance of activities.

6. Eat healthily

If you want to be more energetic and more optimistic, eat healthier food. If you eat good food, you’re more likely to be in a good mood.

By providing your body with the right amounts of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals you’re helping it work better. You’ll have more energy to work and play to the best of your abilities.

Take time to plan your meals and buy healthy food while shopping in supermarkets. 

7. Speak to someone if you need advice

We understand that all of your responsibilities at university can sometimes feel a lot. If you find yourself needing some advice, there is always someone to talk to about how you feel. Talking to people is a great way of feeling better and you may even come up with solutions to problems you’re facing.

For example, Newcastle University offers helpful student wellbeing services, where you can chat to advisors and even receive counselling. These services are free and are available to any current students.

Even talking to your friends and family can help relieve some of the stress you might be feeling. The moment you notice any problems, tell someone. It’s a lot healthier to have open relationships with other people and will help you when balancing work and play.

Getting a job while at university is an exciting experience, but it comes with its own challenges and learning opportunities. If you’re looking into gaining work experience while studying, you’re going to need some good advice. Speak to our Careers Service and download our guide below.

Explore the best information on getting a job while at university

Our ‘Getting Work Ready’ guide contains all the information you’ll need for getting a job while studying or after graduating from your university.

It gives advice on writing CVs, personal statements and even how to be successful at an interview.

Click the link below to get your free copy.