20 Ways You Can Make Money as a Student in the UK

Students can struggle with their finances and earning money is always a benefit. Discover simple and clever ways to put extra cash in your pocket today.
Colby Brin
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December 28, 2022
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4
min read

When it comes to making money as a student in the UK, there are many options available to bolster your bank account and help you manage your bills.

So, without further ado, let’s look at 20 ways you can make money as a student to make life at university that little bit easier.

How to Make Money in the UK as a Student

While your studies undoubtedly come first at university, you can make the most of your ample free time by earning some money as a student. Here are some income-generating ideas that all students can take advantage of:

Sell your stuff

eBay is a student’s best friend, and you can set up a store on the platform to sell practically any item you no longer need, want, or use. Depending on your preferences, you can also use sites like Depop, Gumtree, or the Facebook marketplace.

Things that sell really well are old textbooks, mobile phones, laptops, clothes, and anything else you no longer need. You’ll be surprised at how much you can make by selling some of your stuff!

Offer your services as a tutor

As a university student, you’re perfectly positioned to offer your services as a tutor in the subject you specialise in. Begin by contacting friends and family members before placing an ad in the local paper to offer your services.

Alternatively, you can look to online platforms like iTalki - where it’s easy to create an account to tutor people in your free time.

Work part-time at a local shop or restaurant

Granted, the hourly rate isn’t likely to be great, but working in a bar or restaurant has long been a great way to pick up some cash while studying at university. You have the added benefit of tips, too.

Also, working in the service industry allows you to hone your skills, and you’ll meet many people, which is excellent for your future job prospects after graduating.

Do odd jobs for people in your area

In today’s fast-paced world, people look to outsource as many jobs as possible to people willing to help them. As a result, you can be hired for several odd jobs, including gardening, dog walking, car washing, grocery shopping, and even housecleaning.

You can do so many odd jobs without a long-term commitment, helping you pick up some extra cash between your studies.

Freelance

The online freelance marketplace has exploded recently, and it’s easier than ever to work part-time from your PC. For instance, you can offer your services as a web designer, content creator, or blog writer. Start creating a profile on a freelancing platform like Fiverr and build your network.

Offer pet-sitting services

If you love animals, then why not work as a pet sitter during your time at university? This is an excellent option for those who miss their pet dogs and cats while living away from home for the first time.

There are loads of pet-sitting agencies to sign up for - like House Sitters UK - or you can even start your own business. 

Do gardening for people in your community

Offering gardening services while you’re at university is a great way to get out into the world and means you’re not at a desk 24/7. There are many gardening opportunities for students, including general yard work for neighbours and businesses, or you could sell products at a local farmer’s market.

If you’re green-fingered, a part-time job as a gardener is a great way to spend your spare time at university.

Babysit for families in your area

While some people regard babysitting as a job for teenagers, the reality is that it can offer a high part-time income during your time at university. It’s a particularly attractive part-time job for anyone with ambitions of working in childcare post-degree.

Again, there are many babysitting agencies like sitters.co.uk, or you can tap into your current network to find people willing to hire you to look after their kids.

Get an internship or work placement

Yes, some internships and work placements are poorly paid, but they have the added advantage of being relevant to your field of study. Landing a part-time internship that is related to your area is an excellent way to gain experience at the same time as earning some cash. 

Check local job boards and use your university connections to identify potential work placements in your area.

How to Make Money as a Student in London

If you live in the capital, the chances are that your cost of living is higher than that of many other students. So, you might be interested in some of the following London-based job opportunities:

Deliver food for local restaurants

London is awash with food delivery services, providing students with the perfect opportunity to earn a part-time income. Deliveroo is the obvious one to begin your research with, and you can hop on your bike while delivering food to clients around the city. It’s a great way to earn money while keeping fit at the same time.

Earn money via ‘refer a friend’ scheme

Okay, so refer-a-friend schemes aren’t going to make you rich, but they can help you earn some cash on the side. Look for referral schemes with financial institutions and earn cashback for you and your friends when you switch. The simple act of switching bank accounts could fund a couple of nights out.

Work as a brand ambassador for a business

If you have a decent following on social media, you could look for brand ambassador opportunities as a micro-influencer. Reach out to local businesses and look for companies that offer affiliate programs to start earning an income from your social media posts.

How to Make Money as a Medical Student in the UK

The number of UK medical graduates stood at around 8,835, meaning there are lots of young people with medical knowledge to offer. As a medical student in the UK, there are several ways to make money - you can write for health publications, teach people about health and fitness, or become a qualified nutritionist. We introduce each of these roles in detail below.

Use your knowledge to start a small business teaching others about health and fitness

Lots of people work as freelance personal trainers or offer health and fitness coaching, but not everyone is qualified to do so! As a medical student, you have the perfect opportunity to teach others about health and fitness and can make a decent amount of money from doing so while at med school.

Use your medical expertise to write articles for health-related magazines or websites

While anyone can write a blog post, medical articles must come from a trusted source. As a result, health-related magazines and websites (like Healthline) pay a premium for articles from people with medical backgrounds. This can be a great way to publish articles that help people in different ways.

Speak at health-related events and seminars and offer your services as a keynote speaker

Another option for medical students is to speak at health-related events where they can earn money as keynote speakers. A great place to find keynote speaking opportunities is LinkedIn, and the more you increase your network, the more likely you are to find paid speaking engagements while you’re at med school.

Use your medical knowledge to become a certified first aid and CPR instructor and offer your services to local businesses and organisations

While it might not be the most glamorous part-time gig, as a medical student, you can offer certified first aid training and CPR instruction to local businesses. The training benefits you and your clients and could even help save lives, so it’s a worthy part-time role to consider as a student.

Use your medical training to become a certified nutritionist and offer your services to local businesses and organisations

As people have become increasingly aware of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, more and more people are turning to nutritionists to help them.

As a medical student, you can train to become a certified nutritionist, allowing you to offer your services to local businesses and organisations professionally. This is another role that can help you with your career progression and will help to inform your decisions upon graduation.

How to Make Money as an International Student in the UK

If you’ve travelled to the UK to study as an international student, landing a part-time job is important for supporting your lifestyle. Those living in the UK under a student visa are permitted to up to 20 hours per week during term time, and full-time during the holidays. Here are some simple ways to make money as an international student in the UK:

Offer your services as a personal assistant

A personal assistant helps professionals with a range of everyday tasks, running errands, helping with groceries, or even just providing company as well as helping you to earn money, working as a personal assistant is a good way to get to know more people in the UK and will help you settle into a community.

Participate in focus groups or survey panels

Some businesses and startups offer payment in exchange for participating in focus groups or completing surveys. You can find the latest paid survey opportunities at Save the Student and start making money online today.

Be a mystery shopper for businesses

In the UK, mystery shopping is a big part of customer service. As a result, companies employ mystery shoppers to go to various establishments, and it can be a fun and rewarding way to earn part-time money as an international student.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are lots of different ways to earn money as a student in the UK, and when you put your mind to it, you can supplement your studies with some income. 

To further help with budgeting and financial management as a student, consider signing up for our HyperJar Prepaid Card, which is an excellent way to control your finances when you’re studying.

Colby Brin

Head of Copy

Colby Brin is Head of Copy at HyperJar. With over 17 years of professional writing experience, Colby’s been a journalist, ghostwriter, language consultant, and writing trainer. Having previously served as Head of Copy at Wise, he’s worked in fintech for over six years. A native of New York City, Colby graduated from the University of Michigan, and has lived in London for two years.

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