It is an unfortunate truth that these days not many students can survive without working part-time.

This is not a new phenomenon, even when maintenance grants were available they were rarely enough to support a student entirely - parental help, student loans, overdrafts and work have long since been a part of student life. However, since the abolishment of maintenance grants and the introduction of tuition fees the need for all these sources of income has increased dramatically. So, as it becomes more and more necessary to work the pressures on a student increase.

That is not to say that the situation is wholly bad. Working part-time whilst a student is, as it will be in your future career, a great way to meet new people, gain confidence and more importantly earn money.

Whether you work in a supermarket, bar, restaurant, club or kebab shop you'll find yourself working alongside all kinds of people including fellow students and you'll probably find that your social circle widens as a result. Just remember the reason that you are working is to support your degree and you won't go far wrong. Leave time for study and for a social life - balance is the key to enjoying yourself at university!

Work Placements

Work placements are an invaluable way to gain experience that will impress future employers.

Work placements can be done either during vacations or immediately after graduation. But how do you organise one?

Competition for placements is intense, so it's important to start planning and researching opportunities as early as possible. Good ways to find a suitable placement are through agencies, advertisements and personal contacts. Many universities now also have good links with the commercial sector, so it's also worth inquiring at the Careers Centre.

You may also want to think about working abroad. Spending time abroad is a good experience in itself and working abroad will convince future employers of your get up and go. So, if you have an adventurous spirit, go for it! Finding work abroad can be a bit difficult, but again there are resources open to you. Check first if your department is involved in any work abroad programmes or check out student societies such as AIESEC - www.aiesec.org or IAESTE - www.iaeste.org and there also plenty of commercial organisations who will help you arrange your time abroad for a fee.

Try to remember that when you make a decision on what kind of placement you want to do that it should support your eventual career, so try to make it as relevant as possible.

Coming soon: Need a summer job? Fresher brings you a series of opportunities that will earn you money and improve your CV.