Advice for students struggling to achieve a work/life balance

The cost of living crisis has impacted everyone, and university students who have competing priorities are feeling the financial strain. Not only are students having to make time for study, classes and life outside of their degree, many are having to juggle work on top of it all to make ends meet.

Some students have had to turn to full time work while undertaking their degrees.

READ MORE: Barely studying and 'trying to survive': The worrying reality of the cost of living crisis on Manchester's students

According to recent research conducted by the University of Manchester’s Student Union (UMSU), out of 5,000 students surveyed 59% of students are searching for part-time work or are currently employed and looking for even more work. 32% of students are currently employed.

The research shows that on average, students are working 16 hours per week with 69% of students working between 1-20 hours and 31% are working between 31-50 hours per week.

It also found that students are working more than the recommended hours by the university in order to make ends meet - some taking on full-time jobs alongside their studies due to increased financial pressure.

“We found that students are coping by borrowing money from family and friends," Tesnime Safraou, City and Community Officer from UMSU, told the Manchester Evening News.

"For 26 per cent of them, using overdrafts and credit cards, taking additional loans, but we've seen a massive amount of testimonies of people saying they're taking multiple part-time jobs, much more than the 20 hours recommended by the university's guidelines.

"Some are working full-time jobs, while doing a full-time degree. The extent of the crisis has gone to a degree where students are barely studying