A part-time job is an important source of income to finance your studies. If you have to combine studying with work in order to earn a living or support your family, this is a heavy burden – and leaves you with less time for your studies or for an internship. It may also have an impact on your results or cause you not to undertake a semester abroad.
If you want to plan how to finance your studies in advance, it also makes sense to make sure that your plans encompass your search for a part-time job and its compatibility with your studies.
A few tips:
Advice on looking for jobs
University careers services can help with preparing an application dossier (curriculum vitae, letter of motivation) and also advise prospective students on their job search and a job’s compatibility with the degree programme. Advisors are also familiar with services outside and within universities that are specifically aimed at students or are particularly suitable for students.
Compatibility with studies and alternative financing options
Student finance departments can help you to create a monthly budget and advise on alternative financing options if the financial pressure is too great and a lower workload is necessary.
If striking a balance with the study programme is very difficult and alternative financing options have been exhausted, it may be advantageous to extend your course of study slightly (depending on the situation) and to reduce the number of ECTS credits per semester. This is possible in many fields of study, but not all. Student advisors from the relevant fields of study can advise on the structure of the courses. Scholarship holders should check which maximum duration of study applies; the right to a cantonal scholarship is usually limited to a maximum duration of study.
A change in your income during your studies can have an impact on scholarships, depending on the extent of the change. In this case, it is important to clarify this with the relevant body.
Jobs within your department
For more advanced students, it is worth looking at positions in the relevant field of study, such as assistant positions at universities. In addition to providing income, these roles are also a boon when looking for a job after graduation, as they evidence work experience and important skills.
Part-time job, internship and semester abroad?
In some bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes, internships with ECTS credits may be classed as part of the degree programme. Since internships are often less well paid than part-time jobs, this is a way to continue your part-time job and/or retain your entitlement to a scholarship.
A semester abroad is an important experience during your studies. However, students who are dependent on their part-time job often do not consider undertaking a stay abroad for fear of losing their job. It can be worth talking to your employer, while the scholarship authorities can also confirm whether you are entitled to a scholarship abroad. The international mobility services can provide information about the cost of living in the destination countries, and the responsible bodies for financing can help you to draw up a budget and provide information about support.
