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Original poster

1990s/2000s working while at uni?

209 replies

Sleepeatcrochetrepeat · 15/09/2025 17:22

Eldest niece has just gone off to uni, and the cost of it all really does seem astronomical now. DBIL was saying how they are planning to cut down on holidays, spending etc to fund her on top of loans. I made the mistake of saying oh, she can always get a part time job just like I did when I was a student. It turns out that none of DH family or their partners worked while at uni, parents all paid.
I know this was before tuition fees came in (for me at least) but most people I knew at uni also had a weekend or evening job.

DH and his siblings all went to RG uni’s and apparently couldn’t possibly have worked as well, due to all the sports clubs they were in.

I am now being looked down on because I ‘obviously’ don’t get it.
Surely students working alongside studying is hardly weird?! Even more so now given the cost.

If you were at uni in the late 90s/early 00s, did you also work? Make me feel less of a freak…

OP posts:
YouCanCallMeFliss · 15/09/2025 17:44

I worked every single holiday between terms except for one Easter break when I had a whole month off - my mum thought I was right lazy - this was in the 1990s. Now my own child has been through uni and had infrequent work in the holidays I can see why she thought like that. I found the weeks on end of him not doing anything quite frustrating! Fortunately he does have a good job now.

TheNightingalesStarling · 15/09/2025 17:44
  1. I worked. I got minimum loan and my parents could only afford to give my brother and I about a hundred a month each. DHs parents couldn't give him anything although he got the maximum loan. We met at work!
ThatWasLastNight · 15/09/2025 17:45

I worked a lot but my parents didn’t help me with anything, despite being able to afford it. I was constantly exhausted as I did a demanding course, volunteer work relevant to my course and then paid work. Some of my friends worked, most didn’t.

Our oldest is at uni and works during the summer, but not in term time. We are happy to support him and we’d never want our children struggling as much as I did. We want our children to get the best degree they can but also have free time to enjoy uni and be young.

Leave your BIL to it, it’s not really your place to say.

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Higher education
FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 15/09/2025 17:45

Early 00s here. I worked (25hrs a week, Tesco) and all my friends did too. Similar sorts of hours.

We were always jealous of the more affluent kids who only had to work in holidays, because their parents were helping them financially. Definitely felt like they had an advantage as they had more time to study (at least in theory they did, though they definitely weren't spending an extra 25hrs a week reading!)

It was only my medic friends who didn't work because they had so many contact hours they couldn't.

NoelFurlong · 15/09/2025 17:45

I started uni in1990, so it was still free then and my parents paid for my rent etc so I didn’t need to work. None of my friends did either.

Our kids didn’t work at uni. We paid their rent and they both got the minimum maintenance loan. I can’t remember any of their mates working tbh.

MsMiniver · 15/09/2025 17:46

In the uni hols I worked in a pub, a shop and a cinema at various times. I had a bar job for a bit in my uni city.

3pears · 15/09/2025 17:47

I went to uni in 2004 to do teaching. Uni was 9-4 every day and there were also placements which were usually 8-5 with planning at home. I had to work to fund being there so worked around 10-20 hours a week (more in the holidays). I think everyone of my uni friends worked. A few rich people from my high school that went to uni didn’t work- nothing to do with sports clubs though and everything to do with being funded by their parents. I worry about my kids going to uni in the future- it’s so so expensive. They’d have to work and we’d have to fund them and it still wouldn’t be enough! I hope they do apprenticeships instead.

CarpetKnees · 15/09/2025 17:47

I did my degree in the 80s, but yes, I always worked, as was pretty normal amongst friends and other people I knew doing their degrees all round the country.

CornishTiger · 15/09/2025 17:47

My best friend worked early 2000’s and continued to do so when pregnant/ as a lone parent whilst studying away from home for her degree.

FiveBarGate · 15/09/2025 17:48

I worked - started in 1999 the first year if fees.

Most people worked something but I do remember being the only one up for halls breakfast on a Saturday, which was the best if the week as they did boiled eggs!

Even if you don't work term time, there is May to the middle of September off plus Christmas and Easter

dizzydizzydizzy · 15/09/2025 17:48

I think it depends on tbe uni and the course. Some courses are much more demanding than others.

DC1 recently graduated from Imperial College. Had absolutely no time for a term-time job. Couldn't work ant Christmas or Easter due to tbe timing of exams. Tbey did work over the summer.

DC2 is doing a different STEM subject at another London uni and does a 12-hour lifeguard shift every Sunday. DC2 works hard and is doing well with their studies but does not have to work as hard as DC1.

It is much more difficult for students to get part time jobs these days. DNephew who has just done his A Levels finally found a job in August.

Bjorkdidit · 15/09/2025 17:48

I graduated in the mid 90s and it was unusual for students not to work.

I actually went part time so took 5 years instead of 3, I had 10 hours of contact time a week in one very long day and worked 30 hours during term time in a role that also required a professional short course that also had exams. So I don't believe today's students when they say they can't work a few hours a week during term time.

Many employed people also had second jobs at the time due to the sudden increase in mortgage interest rates, yet suggest that now and people look at you like you have 2 heads.

MiddlingMarch · 15/09/2025 17:49

I was unlucky timing wise - no grants, first year of student fees, loan was just enough to pay for the fees. Of course I worked, as did most people I knew at uni.

Worked different retail jobs but normally 1 evening a week plus either Saturday or Sunday. Towards the end of my degree I was in a call centre doing 15hrs a week. Holidays I worked more hours but never seemed to manage to save enough for term time. Bills and rent to pay!

DisplayPurposesOnly · 15/09/2025 17:49

I graduated in 1993. Not many of us had term time jobs, more had holiday jobs.

Mydadsbirthday · 15/09/2025 17:49

I went the year before fees started (RG uni). I didn't work during term time but I did work part time every holiday and had an internship one summer full time. My parents paid my rent and living expenses but I still worked for extra beer money / travel fund.

Silverpaws · 15/09/2025 17:50

RG uni, late 90s. I always worked, earned £50-£100 pw.
Pre fees and my parents paid a good whack of living costs.
I had a student loan.
And an excellent stereo.
And a shopping habit.

PoliteSquid · 15/09/2025 17:51

I went to Sheffield 1995-98. All the local shops/cafes etc advertising jobs said “students need not apply”
I didn’t know anyone who worked during term time, but we all worked during the holidays. My grant and loan weren’t enough to cover my rent never mind things like food, bills and a social life!

Mydadsbirthday · 15/09/2025 17:51

Mydadsbirthday · 15/09/2025 17:49

I went the year before fees started (RG uni). I didn't work during term time but I did work part time every holiday and had an internship one summer full time. My parents paid my rent and living expenses but I still worked for extra beer money / travel fund.

I also had a Saturday job all throguh a levels so had saved up a good chunk before university as well.

Freetodowhatiwant · 15/09/2025 17:51

Uni in 1995, 97, 98 and 99 and worked in bars and clubs throughout. Loved it! I would say about 75% of students worked. I only had one friend who was totally funded by her parents (including a rare mobile phone at the time) and everyone else did at least a couple of shifts a week of something.

FuzzyWolf · 15/09/2025 17:52

Yes, very normal to work. Either bar shifts in the evenings or admin/data entry in the holidays.

Tryingtoconceivenumber2 · 15/09/2025 17:54

Yes I did. I had a Saturday job which I did extra hours in during the holidays. On top of this I worked at the uni on open days taking the tours of students.

Still had plenty of time to study (have a 1st Class degree not from a RH uni though). Didn't do much sports.

All my house mates worked, bar work, waitresses, Tesco's etc x

Runnersandtoms · 15/09/2025 17:54

I was at uni between 1997 and 2001 and I don't remember any of my friends working during term time but most people (including me) worked in the holidays. I had a Saturday job in Sainsbury's from 16-18 then wemt back there in holidays. Then once I stayed in my uni town I worked in Tesco over Christmas. Curiously I also did babysitting from the age of 14-18 and worked as a nanny during my gap year but it never occurred to me to look for babysitting work while at uni.

Shr3dding · 15/09/2025 17:54

I worked in the holidays but my course was too full on to have a job during term time, I don't remember any of my friends working then other than maybe in the uni bar or similar

Bjorkdidit · 15/09/2025 17:55

PoliteSquid · 15/09/2025 17:51

I went to Sheffield 1995-98. All the local shops/cafes etc advertising jobs said “students need not apply”
I didn’t know anyone who worked during term time, but we all worked during the holidays. My grant and loan weren’t enough to cover my rent never mind things like food, bills and a social life!

BIL went to Sheffield Uni at that time, he worked in McDonald's in term time and swapped to his home city branch during the holidays.

Bananacherry · 15/09/2025 17:55

Early 1990s just as first student loans appeared. Tuition was paid. I didn’t work and only a few people did but most people I knew worked in the summer which helped pay off very low interest over drafts and start again.
both my children have recently attended university, one studied medicine, and both have worked term time and holiday to boost funds. But I know many young people through my acquaintances that haven’t worked.