Student research highlights extent of part-time work

Five UQ Ipswich Bachelor of Business students have found the impact of part-time work on university students is even more significant than previously thought.

Candice Forbes (The Gap), Justine Simmonds (Fig Tree Pocket), Meredith Bell (Boonah), Reina Kuypers (Camira), and Stephanie Scott (Rainworth) undertook the project as part of their business degrees.

Ms Forbes said the study showed students working on average 8.5 more hours per week than the 14.5 hours acknowledged by the Federal Government in 2005.

"The students we surveyed are working on average 23 hours per week," she said.

"A University of Canberra study in 2001 identified a measurable negative impact when individuals worked more than 22 hours work per week.

"Another study showed full-time students who did not work had a significantly higher grade point average than full-time students who were working part-time."

Ms Forbes said there was evidence that students who worked part-time could also experience less integration with university life, potentially leading to lower commitment.

"With full-time students expected to find up to 40 hours of study time in addition to lectures and tutorials and working as much as 23 hours per week, the stress factor becomes significant," she said.

The students are all enrolled in the Bachelor of Business or Bachelor of Business Communication.

The Bachelor of Business, which is only offered at UQ Ipswich, allows students to combine majors in Accounting, Advertising and PR, Communications Management, Event Management, Hospitality Management, Online Business, Sport and Leisure Management, and Travel and Tourism Management.

Media: For more information contact Cathy Stacey on (07) 3365 6179 or 0434 074 372.