London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

As a full-time MSc Public Health student at LSHTM, I knew I needed to find a way to supplement my income while still keeping up with my studies. That's when I found out about the LSHTM Scholarship Fund and the opportunity to work part-time as a student caller for a month. Working for the LSHTM Scholarship Fund has been a great experience. Not only am I helping to support the next generation of public health professionals, but I'm also gaining valuable experience in fundraising and communication. However, due to the MSc programme being very intensive, balancing my part-time job with my full-time studies has not always been easy. Here are some tips that have helped me maintain the quality of my grades while working part-time:

Create a schedule

I had to be on duty for 3 hours every Tuesday and Thursday, and for 5 hours on one of the days at the weekend. One of the most important things I did was create a schedule that worked for me. I made sure to allocate specific times each week for studying, working, and other activities. By creating a schedule and sticking to it, I was able to stay on top of my coursework and work responsibilities without feeling overwhelmed. 

Stay organised

Another key to balancing work and school is to stay organised. I made sure to keep track of all my deadlines, assignments, and work shifts in a planner or digital calendar. This helped me stay on top of everything and avoid any last-minute scrambling.

Take breaks

It's important to take breaks throughout the day, both while studying and while working. I made sure to take short breaks every hour or so to stretch, take a quick walk, or just relax. This helped me to stay focused and energised throughout the day.

Use your time wisely

When you have limited time to balance your job and academic responsibilities, you are forced to manage your time effectively. I made sure to take advantage of any downtime I had at work to review my notes or readings. Similarly, if I had some free time in between classes or after work, I would use that time to get some studying done. 

Prioritise

With limited time to complete my tasks, I developed the ability to multitask and prioritise different engagements based on their importance and deadlines. This strategy made me more productive! I was able to complete work more efficiently which left me with more free time to pursue other activities.

Make sure your work is flexible

What made balancing work with my academic commitments doable was the flexibility and support from my employers. I was typically expected to work 10-12 hours per week, but I had the freedom to trade shifts with fellow students which made my life easier. This was very helpful as Term 2 was particularly challenging, and I was working during assessment week.

Working part-time while studying can be an excellent way to develop your time management skills. By juggling your job and academic responsibilities, you will learn to plan, focus, multitask, set goals and increase your productivity. These skills will be beneficial in both your academic and professional life, as they are essential to succeed in any career path you choose. And remember, if I can do it, so can you!

• Due to visa restrictions and the intensive nature of our master's degrees, international students wishing to work part-time should carefully read the working in the UK guideline for international students.
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