Part-time work while studying

Learn how to get a bit of extra cash while at university

Working part-time can be a great way to get a bit of extra cash to help financially support your studies. However, it is important not to burn yourself out. Consider your current academic pressures and how much you feel you can take on before you commit to working. If you are concerned about your finances, get in touch with the Student Hub, either online or through an in-person walk-in appointment, for support.

Transferring from a job at home

Most national chains offer transfers between store locations. If your work has a branch in Southampton or the surrounding area, your employer may allow you to make a transfer request to work in their Southampton branch. Usually, employers are quite flexible, allowing workers to transfer between stores during university breaks with ample notice. 

Finding part-time work

There are plenty of options around Southampton for part-time work. A good starting point is job-finding sites such as Indeed, where employers can advertise open positions. However, many employers, especially larger hospitality and retail brands, tend to advertise positions exclusively on their own websites. It is a good idea to search online for a company’s careers page and apply for work directly through it. There are plenty of employers in and around Westquay, many of whom advertise on their own websites.

Working for the university

The University employs many students across a variety of roles and puts you in touch with other employers through the ‘UoS job shop’. To access this, you will need to register for a MyCareer account, and you’ll have the option to sign up to receive job alerts too. I recommend regularly checking SUSU as they advertise jobs working for them at The Stag's and on campus shops. You can look for opportunities via this link: Work With Us - SUSU

The University recruit for Student Ambassadors during May each year and sometimes recruit in January too. The link to view the details on this role: Student Ambassadors

This is a flexible role, and you are not guaranteed regular hours, but it could be suited to you if you are okay with working for a few days throughout the year to top up your money a little bit. Additionally it is brilliant for your CV. It is very much a job you can do around another part-time job. 

Residence Life Assistant

The recruitment for RLA’s is around April/May time and is advertised on posters in hall’s sites. It is only a couple of hours a week, so again, it is not a job that you can solely rely on to support you through university. However, it is good for your CV as it shows you are a responsible person and you will develop a lot of employable skills through it. In addition you will utilise your experiences as a first-year student living in halls and be able to advise other students on what to do in situations that you may have already experienced. 

SED Ambassador 

This role is similar to working as a Student Ambassador but enables you to get involved with different opportunities like campus tours, clearing hotline work in the summer and move-in shifts. You can apply for this role in May. You will be given access to Microsoft Teams shifts where you can request shifts and if these are accepted, they’ll be added to your shift calendar. Email: ambassador@southampton.ac.uk to hear more about this role.