This HEPI webinar will explore the findings of Student Working Lives (HEPI Report 195), a landmark study revealing how paid work is reshaping today’s student experience in UK higher education.

As the cost-of-living crisis deepens and maintenance support lags behind rising costs, this major report shows that paid employment is no longer an optional extra for most students — it’s a necessity.

Drawing on survey responses from over 1,000 students and linked institutional data, Student Working Lives paints a vivid picture of students juggling study, paid work, and caregiving responsibilities. Key insights include the prevalence of long working hours (an average of 17 per week), the dominance of low-paid and insecure jobs, and the significant impact of work on academic outcomes and wellbeing. The research highlights how students working fewer than 20 hours a week and those in supportive, flexible roles are more likely to stay on track for good honours degrees, whereas many others struggle with time poverty, stress and limited access to core academic and extracurricular experiences.

This webinar will unpack the report’s evidence and recommendations — from recalibrating student financial support to strengthening employer and institutional partnerships — and discuss how policymakers, universities and student support services can respond to the changing realities of student life. Whether you’re a higher education leader, practitioner, policymaker or researcher, this session will provide compelling evidence and practical insights into how work and study intersect in the lives of today’s students.