Nearly nine in 10 incoming UK-based students expect to work during term time, according to a survey, with less than a quarter believing that they will have enough money to cover university costs.
The fifth annual Unite Student Applicant Index reveals for a second year in a row that most respondents are looking to earn alongside their studies, although this year’s figure of 87 per cent represents a slight dip on last year’s 89 per cent.
The figures suggest an entrenched shift towards the majority of students balancing degree study and part-time employment, although fewer in this year’s cohort expect to work as many as 16 hours – 32 per cent, compared with 37 per cent the year before.
“For today’s students, paid work is increasingly seen as a normal part of university life – alongside studying, building independence and preparing for future careers,” the authors of the survey report said.
Financial confidence is lower among this year’s respondents, with just 22 per cent believing that they will have enough money to cover their costs at university, compared with 27 per cent in the 2025 findings.
