Top 10 tips for working while studying in Berlin

Juggling your studies with a part-time job is demanding. It is therefore important that you strike the right balance between your work, academic studies and social commitments.

Many students need to earn money from a part-time job to support themselves while they complete their degrees. Additionally, undertaking a part-time job while studying will actively benefit your graduate career prospects.

HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FOR FINDING THE BALANCE

It is important you communicate to your employer your availability and stick to it. You may feel pressured to take on extra work during busier periods, but it is important that your studies come first. If you are clear with your employer from the outset about how much you can work, this will make things easier later on.

The key to staying on top of your studies is being organised. It is worth keeping a calendar of when you are working so you know which days you may have less time. From there, you can build your study schedule around your work making sure you maximise your study time.

You won’t always achieve everything you want to in one day and it is important to keep account of your unfinished tasks. If you have found a lecture particularly challenging or you have an essay due, you might want to revise your study schedule. You may also want to build in some time to recap knowledge that you have struggled with.

When you are assigned a task, you should think about how long each part will take you. When it comes to writing an essay, you will need to factor in time to plan and research. Therefore, it is important you start working on assignments earlier so that you aren’t stressed when it comes to your part-time work.

Exam season is a stressful time. You should bear this in mind and factor it in when it comes to your study schedule. It might be worth reducing work hours during this time is possible to avoid being stressed at work and while studying.


If you think that your course is going to be too busy for you to undertake any work, you could consider applying for scholarships and grants. Through these, you will be provided with a certain amount of financial support helping to ease the burden of paying for your studies.

It is always a good idea to gain experience in your area of study or in an industry you are thinking about pursuing in the future. This will not only help you when it comes to looking for a job after you graduate, but it will also help consolidate your learning as you will have a chance to put your knowledge into practice.

Working on campus is a great way to earn extra money and to meet other students. Look out for job fairs, career events or even cafes/bars on campus where you can pick up work.

Similar to gaining industry-relevant work experience, undertaking an internship in an industry you want to work in is a great way of earning money and utilising your newfound knowledge.

Tutoring is an excellent way of gaining money and passing on your knowledge to other students. Not only will you be able to set your own rates, but you’ll have the freedom to choose your own hours and fit them around your studies.