TO WORK OR NOT TO WORK?
THAT REALLY IS THE QUESTION

Financial hardship is expected in uni life, but not to the extent that we can't afford to live. With the abolition of grants and the less than generous student loans, an increasing number of students have to find jobs to pay for essentials like rent, food and books. Getting a job while at uni has both good and bad points, but the difficulty is trying to decide what's best for you. The money and the social aspects of a job can be very appealing, as well as gaining work experience. On the other hand, working and studying can be a difficult juggling act. The whole point to university is to learn and gain qualifications that will hopefully land you a good job. If working while studying may jeopardize this, it can be a big risk to take. Unfortunately some students simply don't have the luxury to choose.

Degrees North's, Anne Cooper, hit the uni corridors and asked some Sunderland students what they thought…

"Do you think it's a good idea to work while at university?"

"If people are prepared to give up their social life, then I think it's possible to get a job but it's hard to juggle with studies. I personally wouldn't get a job 'cos I don't think I'd be able to juggle them" Jeff Nottingham, 20, 3rd yr Media with English

"Personally, I think it's too much to have a job and find time to study especially in third year. Working not only takes time up, but when you're finished you're too tired to study." Helen Dixon, 20, 3rd yr Social Science

"If people have the time and the organizational skills, they should go out and find a job." Ben Davis, 20, 3rd yr Media Production

"I think students are putting their careers at risk by working in the hope that debts won't be too high after leaving education. Students who look for work may find it hard to get, unless working in pubs and clubs 'till the early hours, or working at call center five days a week, leaving no time to study." Tracy Sutcliffe, 20, 3rd yr Joint Honours Sociology and Crime

"Everybody should be able to get a job 'cos it gives a little more independence and cash. I think it's quite difficult to fit in a job 'cos uni work can be a hell of a lot." Melanie Pounder, 28, 1st yr Community and Youth Work

"It depends on the person and the course. With the amount of coursework that has to be produced on a design degree it's definitely not a good idea to get a job in third year! If a job is related to the course then it's a better idea." Bevan Cockerill, 20, 3rd yr Electronic Media and Design

"It's a really bad idea to have a job while at uni because it'll inevitably get in the way of studying no matter how hard you try and avoid it." Tracy Smith, 20, 3rd yr Media and Cultural Studies

"It's a good idea as long as it doesn't affect uni work. It is difficult without the money, but my degree is more important to me." Maddie Cross, 21, Degrees north Music Editor

"It's a dilemma. If you work through uni your studies will invariably suffer to some degree. If you don't, then your standard of living can deteriorate to the extent that you're not fit to give your course 100%." Annette Jeffrey-Crummack, 36, Degrees North Features Editor

"A job through uni is financially a good idea, but you shouldn't let it interfere with your work. Perhaps you shouldn't work in your final year so you can concentrate on your degree." Laura Hughes, 20, 3rd yr Business Studies with German

"Yes and no. It can give a balance between the outside world and student life but it can disrupt academic studies and make it take a backseat." Jacki Houghton, 22, Degrees North News Editor

"Getting a job while at uni is an evil necessity as it's virtually impossible to survive without paid employment." Jennifer Robson, 23, Degrees North Editor

"You can only really get a job while you're at uni if you're 100% sure that you can fit in your studies as that's the most important thing." Rebecca Brown, 20, 3rd yr Art and Design

"It's a really difficult question that's personal to each individual, but I won't be getting a job now I'm in my final year!" Nikki Cryer, 20, Degrees North Features Editor

So it appears that the general consensus of Sunderland students is that it's a good idea to have a job only if you're confident it won't interfere with your studies in any way.

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