|
There are many reasons why international students work during their time overseas, the most obvious being to earn some extra money to fund personal expenses. Morwenna Shahani from Tafe NSW in Sydney, Australia, estimates that 85 per cent of their international students work while they are studying. “Part-time work allows students to earn some much needed extra money while they are studying,” she says. “It also allows them to integrate into the host culture – studies show this aids language acquisition. It also allows students to gain work – and life – experience.”
In the UK, Australia and New Zealand, student visa holders are allowed to work up to 20-hours-a-week during term time from the day they first arrive in the country and in Ireland, the same entitlement applies if students are enrolled at an Acels-registered institution for a minimum of 25 weeks. The majority take advantage of work rights, according to international officers. Dana Malisova-Smith from Banff & Buchan College in Scotland, UK, says that 90 per cent of their international students work while they are studying at the college and adds that the ability to work definitely affects the popularity of study destinations with students.
James Collins from Chichester College in the UK says that 75 per cent of their international students studying for over one year have jobs. He adds that while the ability to work is important, “I would say the quality of the curriculum and gaining good results to move on to higher education are the first things students consider”, when deciding where to study.
In Canada, the rules are slightly different as international students can only apply for a work permit to work off-campus if they have been studying in the country for at least six months. Annick Pereira from the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) in Prince George, BC, Canada, estimates that 30 per cent of their international students work during their studies. “The current system works well,” she says, although she would like to see a change in the time required for a student to be in the country before they can apply for a work permit. “For processing purposes, the eligibility period could be decreased to four months – one semester – or increased to eight months – two semesters – versus the current six months.”
In the USA, the rules are different again as student visa holders are only allowed to work on-campus for 20-hours-a-week during term time, which significantly reduces the field of jobs available to them. As a result, international students in the USA are usually less interested in being able to work while they study. Lewis Cardenas from Albion College in Michigan, USA, says that on average 27 per cent of their international students undertake paid work during their time studying in the country. But he adds, “International students have to understand that a campus job isn’t going to pay for their tuition and room & board expenses. The reality is that most jobs.. pay between US$7 and US$9 an hour. In addition, the US government makes it very clear that students are coming here on F-1 visas to study, not to work.”
The ease at which a student can get a job on a US campus varies from institution to institution. Sue Ann Bach from Auburn University in Alabama, USA, says “on-campus jobs are readily available” but Cardenas says that the current economic climate has made things difficult for international students. “Most jobs on-campus were limited to [domestic] students only [this year],” he says. “Those that are working are tour guides, office and department assistants for areas like facilities, the library and dining & hospitality.”
In all study destinations, the jobs available to international students are most likely to be low-paid jobs in fields such as catering and hospitality and many colleges and universities have set up facilities to help students find such jobs. Kristen Sutherland from Saint Mary’s University (SMU) in Halifax, NS, Canada, says, “The Student Employment Centre highlights the opportunities both on- and off-campus for part-time employment as well as cooperative education and post-graduation work. There are over 600 employers who list with SMU and who recruit on campus for student workers.”
In recognition of the importance placed by many international students on the ability to work while studying, some institutions offer help with writing CVs and attending interviews, as well as posting jobs on-campus. Collins in the UK says, “We have four notice boards which break down into respective jobs and also the locality where they are situated. We also have a dedicated member of staff who helps students when trying to choose a career path or assessing their options whilst studying here.”
|
|
