Is the party over for students?

Published on Monday 3 August 2009 11:07

With money tight, more competition and career opportunities drying up, students are working harder than ever, writes Hazel Mollison, but what about their studies?

THE popular image of student life is a carefree routine of all-night parties and daytime TV, broken by the occasional deadline and the worry of passing an exam or two.

Most graduates have fond memories of their student days, before taking on the responsibilities of adult life. But with rising living costs and an uncertain job market, this rose-tinted picture is becoming outdated.

Students today are working longer hours than ever before, both at their studies and in part-time jobs. While some may still spend every night in the pub, they are more likely to be pulling pints than drinking them.

A survey by the Royal Bank of Scotland shows students in Edinburgh are the hardest-working in Scotland, with 42 per cent putting in at least 20 hours a week at a part-time job. They also spend more time studying than those in other cities.

Students are also worrying about careers much earlier. Part-time or voluntary work has become vital to stand out in the job market.

This has led to concerns that some are missing out on the full university experience. The financial pressure has hit many on low incomes hard, leaving them struggling to make ends meet.

The RBS survey found that the cost of living in Edinburgh is higher than other cities, at around 205 a week. The average student makes 92.79 from work. They also spend less on alcohol, clothes and going out than elsewhere in the UK.

Steve Norman, assistant director of Edinburgh University's careers service, said he is concerned many students were putting their studies at risk.

While they recommend a maximum of 15 hours paid work a week, 21 per cent of students work 25 hours or more.

He said: "I wouldn't advise anyone to work more than 15 hours a week, although I can understand why they're doing it. I think it's going to have an effect on their academic studies."

But he said gaining experience and planning their future was more important than ever before.

Whereas before, students would roll up at the careers office after graduation now they start coming in their first year.

He said: "We're obviously in a recession, and the number of students has also increased significantly. We're saying that a degree from Edinburgh isn't enough. Employers are looking at work experience and voluntary work to differentiate between graduates."

He said traditional part-time jobs, such as working in bars, can impress employers, as students pick up useful skills.

But student associations are concerned that financial pressure is having a negative effect.

Thomas Graham, president of Edinburgh University Student Association (EUSA), said they were campaigning for better support for students: "I wouldn't say that people aren't socialising anymore, or all the fun's gone. But people are very concerned about getting the best degree possible, and are worried about finding a graduate job.

"We're seeing more students working more than 20 hours a week, as they're really scared of getting into commercial debt. There are some people who don't get to take part in other aspects of student life."

Carys Evans, president of Napier Students' Association, agreed.

She said: "We have a lot of students from low-income backgrounds, and they're having to work hard just to pay for tuition and living costs. It's a necessity rather than a choice. We did a recent survey and found that some are really struggling to meet deadlines."

One result is that more students are choosing to stay at home and go to their local university. Napier has seen a steady increase in home students, who now make up around 50 per cent.

The Scottish Government produced a report earlier this year, Supporting a Smarter Scotland, which recommended using 30 million extra funding to increase grants for the poorest students, and advised students not to work more than ten hours a week during term.

This has been criticised by Edinburgh University Student Association (EUSA), which said it does not go far enough. It said there is a need for more low-cost loans for all students, to avoid them running up expensive commercial debts.

While the university has a discretionary, or hardship, fund, this was depleted early on in the year.

It's clear that student life today is very different from in the past. While greater access to higher education is clearly a positive thing, it also means more competition for graduate jobs and less money to go round.

But despite the gloom, it seems the party is not yet over. Mr Graham said most students still subscribed to a "work hard, play hard" mentality.

And bars and clubs report that student nights are as popular as ever.

Andrew Nation, assistant venue manager at the Bongo Club on Holyrood Road, said: "I think students will always eat Pot Noodles and go out for a drink. We get lots of students from Edinburgh University and the art college, and this has been our busiest year ever."