Top tips on how to balance your studies and work opportunities

According to the Department of Home Affairs, when you’re a Subclass 500 (student visa) holder, you can: 1.) participate in an eligible course of study in Australia, 2.) travel in and out of Australia and 3.) work up to 40 hours every 2-week period once your course starts. Given this privilege, making the most out of your education journey is tough especially juggling your studies and your work opportunities. Hence, one important question to ask is, how do you manage to study and working at the same time?

An article from the Good Universities Guide suggests these following tips:

Let work know your school schedule

Most places that employ students understand the temporary nature of uni schedules. They change every semester and may render you unable to work on certain days of the week. Therefore, it’s best to tell your employer that you are a uni student and that you may have to change your roster around sometimes.

If possible, try and get a job near school

This is easier if your campus is in the city, but if not, it’s still possible. An easy way to work plenty of shifts and still attend your classes is finding a job either on campus or right near it. This means you can work on the same day you have classes.

You can go in early to work a few hours before or you can stay on and work after night. You’ll have your uni work on you if you get a chance to do some study on your break. You’ll have your uniform on you ready to change quickly if you are required to start slightly early. If you want to rake in the cash quick, working somewhere near uni allows you to work heaps of shifts.

Don’t always sleep in

Sleeping in until 10 every morning feels great but really, you lose plenty of time. Even waking up at 9, or 8.30, gives you an extra hour or so to begin some work on an assignment or prepare food for your break. If you are going to sleep at an hour that isn’t too late, then this slight shift in your sleep schedule won’t ruin you. If anything, you will be more productive and can get plenty of work done before heading off to wherever you need to go.

Find that balance

If you’re missing classes you should be attending just to work every day of the week, then maybe uni isn’t for you. Think about the amount of money you pay just to attend a semester of uni. If you find yourself feeling exhausted and unable to see friends, then work a little less.

Drop one shift a week, just to have some time to yourself or out seeing friends. Mental health is important. If you want your lifestyle of part-time employment and uni studies to be sustainable and successful, then work out your balance and enjoy it. It’s a pretty fun time. Make friends, have some laughs and do everything right to get that qualification and some money with it.

As a Migration Education International (MEI) client, we will assist you by accessing and interpreting the most current information from the Australian Government, assessing your eligibility to get a Student visa, and preparing your application to give you the best chance of success. Every applicant is different, so it is important you get advice that is relevant to your situation.

We will help you compile the right documents, complete all of the application requirements, write a comprehensive covering submission and lodge your student visa application on your behalf. We will then liaise with the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) on your behalf.