These three students will tell you how they finance their studies:
Kim, Belgium
»The Ghent University job service helped me find a part-time job at the beginning of my studies. At first I was in charge of catering at a fancy restaurant, and a few months later I moved to a restaurant where a lot of students go. I served food there and was part of the cleaning team. I've been working at the job service myself for a year now - so I sit on the other side of the desk and am the person who helps other students find a job. For me, this is a significant step up in my student job career: I now hire students, explain our requirements to them and prepare contracts for them. I also advise students on the phone or in person. The job takes approximately 14 hours per week. Balancing work and study is sometimes not that easy - especially when I have to meet deadlines. But luckily I have flexible colleagues with whom I can swap working hours. So that I can afford the rent, my father gives me 150 euros every month. I also get a loan from a Dutch organization that supports students.«
Kim van Roon (26) from the Netherlands - Clinical Psychology - Ghent University - Belgium
Patrick Jim, Denmark
»When I started studying in 2010, I sorted letters and parcels in the Danish postal center in Copenhagen. Shortly afterwards, through friends who worked at the university, I got a job as a student assistant - first in another faculty, and six months later I was hired at my own faculty. Since last year I have been working as an international student advisor at the Institute for Nordic Studies and Linguistics. There I advise students at the University of Copenhagen who are planning a stay abroad, as well as international students who want to study at our university. In addition to studying, I work 15 hours a week. Ideally, I would be financially independent and could concentrate fully on university, but even if I work part-time, I can keep up with the learning material well. In order to give everyone equal opportunities for education, all students in Denmark receive financial support from the state every month; You can also take out a loan. I receive both and together with the salary from my student job, I can make ends meet well.«
Patrick Jim Hedensted (33) - Middle Eastern Studies – University of Copenhagen – Denmark
Miriam, Spain
»I took two bachelor's courses at the university, so it's a bit difficult for me to work part-time. However, it is not impossible either. I worked as a freelance language teacher for a few years, so I had flexible schedules and was able to cancel a few lessons when there was no other option - for example during exam periods. I recently managed to find a part-time job that, with a little effort, fits around my schedule. Of course, it's harder to keep up with the learning material if you also have a job. But that also works if you are well organized. Luckily, I don’t have to work to pay my tuition fees as I have a scholarship that covers a large part of these costs.«
Miriam Vasquez (22) - Political and Administrative Sciences – Pompeu Fabra University Barcelona – Spain
These four students will tell you how they finance their studies:
