When I went to Uni, I was lucky enough my parents could afford to pay for my living costs. At the same time, I received a tuition fee loan from the Government. This was great since I didn't have to worry about my finances during University. However, I never felt comfortable using my parents' money; it didn't give me the freedom of doing whatever I wanted. I felt guilty to some extent.

Getting a job at University

On the other hand, I know a lot of people who picked up a job on the first day of University. If you are a UK student, you are also eligible for a living cost loan, which should cover pretty much everything. Even in their case, they weren't "forced" to get a job, but they did it anyway.

At the end of my 4th year, I managed to become a freelancer myself. I was working pretty much 15hrs a week and that was covering for all my living costs, which was amazing since I never had to ask my parents money again. This experience taught me the importance of money and how to manage it better. When it's your money, unless you have plenty, you tend to be extra careful, because you know the pain that took you to make it.

I think getting a job at University should be a must. If you are a Computer Scientists like myself, you should do it on day one; the industry is so rich that you will be able to pay for all your living costs and part of your tuition fee. On the other hand, even a job at the Student Union or in local bars can be quite an experience. Why? You are in touch with people and you see many different things.

The best job

I believe University is about seeing new things, not just reading books (they are always the same). My friends who worked at the Student Union's bar made ten times the friends I had and were able to use their pocket money to cover basic expenses. The best time to start looking is first year. This usually doesn't count towards the overall outcome of your degree. It's a more relaxed year and you can focus on other things.

10-15 hours a week is your target. You can't do more, unless you really need it, and be aware this could impact your degree, including your social life. The average hours per week for STEM degrees is roughly 20, then you need to add up another 15 on top for studying or doing coursework (faculties usually say the number is 20). This means you have 35hrs a week of University, plus 15hr of work, that makes 50hrs.

My best advice would be too look for something that can teach you something. It doesn't have to be close to what you want to do after University. My freelancing gave me a huge boost and I kept doing it for months. A bar may not be the best solution, unless you want to meet more people and understand social dynamics; but overall, you should definitely look around and see if there are any opportunities to start learning what working means. :)