The work–study nexus: the challenges of balancing full-time business degree study with a part-time job

Abstract

This study examined how full-time university students cope with part-time working during term time. A qualitative approach was used to examine how students simultaneously manage the two activities, and how part-time working affects their academic study. Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain data from a sample of 30 undergraduate business students. The findings confirm that students merely satisfice many aspects of their lives, with time set aside for reading and assignment preparation being areas that are most likely to suffer in order to allow students to engage with part-time work. Possible options available to higher education institutions to adapt to, and remedy, the situation are explored in the conclusion.

The price of journeying towards the prize—Commencing nursing students' experiences of working and studying: A qualitative study

“…The students described how their parents assisted by taking on additional responsibilities to help out in any way they could, and for those with partners, they assisted by taking on more domestic duties to help out. Creed, French, & Hood, 2015;Richardson et al, 2014). For participants in this study, engaging in 20-48 weekly hours of paid work while studying full time was a financial necessity, not a choice, adding to mounting evidence of the heterogeneity of university students, with increasing disparity in financial means (Bexley et al, 2013).…”

“…This paper describes the experiences of first‐year nursing students who were working in excess of 20 hr a week while studying full time, a trend that is increasingly being reported in colleges and universities in developed countries (ACE Center for Policy Analysis, ; Creed, French, & Hood, ; Richardson et al., ). For participants in this study, engaging in 20–48 weekly hours of paid work while studying full time was a financial necessity, not a choice, adding to mounting evidence of the heterogeneity of university students, with increasing disparity in financial means (Bexley et al., ).…”

“…(), where 53% of respondents reported that their employment adversely affected their study. Fatigue and time spent working reduced students' ability to study (Ryan et al., ), and others chose to work in lieu of attending class (Richardson et al., ). Notwithstanding these negative impacts, there are studies that have not demonstrated any association between hours worked and academic performance (Alfano & Eduljee, ; Halliday‐Wynes et al., ).…”

“…There has been considerable research concerning the effects of paid work on academic performance of university students (Alfano & Eduljee, ; Carnevale, Smith, Melton, & Price, ; Salamonson, Everett, Koch, Andrew, & Davidson, ). Some students have reported fatigue and time spent working reduced their ability to study (Ryan, Barns, & McAuliffe, ), and others chose to work in lieu of attending class (Richardson, Evans, & Gbadamosi, ). Despite the financial benefits, many students feel their grades suffer as they struggle to find a time balance between the two responsibilities.…”

Student budgets and widening participation: Comparative experiences of finance in low and higher income undergraduates at a northern red brick university

“…Fourth, whilst those most well prepared will use savings built up before entry, others will have little option to resort to increased levels of part‐time work or subject themselves to private credit. Unfortunately, excessive part‐time work can have negative impact on degree outcome, not to mention constraining their ability to enhance their “employability” through extracurricular activity (Hordósy & Clark, in press; Richardson, Evans, & Gbolahan, ). Collectively, these four points demonstrate factors associated with financial capacity—including debt, the fear of debt, and the activities taken to alleviate or avoid it—can clearly negatively impact on “the student experience” and any associated attempts to raise employability (Hordósy & Clark, in press).…”