Student part‐time employment: characteristics and consequences

Purpose The aim of the paper is to examine the consequences of students engaging in part‐time employment during their studies. It reports the results of a survey of part‐time employment among university students. The research examined the possible consequences of combining part‐time employment with full‐time study, with particular reference to stress. Design/methodology/approach The research consisted of an institution‐wide Web‐based survey of full‐time undergraduates within a post‐1992 university in the UK. Findings The survey found that part‐time employment, in common with many previous studies, is a majority experience for full‐time undergraduates. It also found that some students were spending longer in their chosen employment than in time‐tabled classes. A central finding was that unlike much previous research, it emerged here that students reported more positive than negative outcomes. Practical implications The data shows that students continue to engage in part‐time employment at a significant level and for some studying is almost a secondary activity. This perhaps raises questions about the existing model of higher education delivery and the need for institutions to consider offering more support mechanisms for individual students. Originality/value The paper is of value in seeking to clarify the nature of the consequences for students seeking to combine employment and studying. Furthermore the paper builds on our understanding of the continuing growth of student part‐time employment.