All CoursesStudying abroad is rewarding but extremely challenging at the same time. One, because of all the studying you have to do and two, because of all basic expenditures too — accommodation, food, travelling etc. So once you make it to the university of your choice for an MBA degree or MS degree or any program, you need to also find ways to make some extra money. After all, your education fee is high, so making extra money is an added advantage. Hence, this is where part-time jobs come into the picture.
Part-time jobs are available in plenty for international students. However, international students are generally not allowed to work outside campus until the second year. Therefore, you can apply for University approved part-time jobs inside the campus. And, for inside the campus part-time jobs, the pay varies from 140$ to 300$ per week — enough to cover your monthly expenditures, including rent, food and other necessities. However, it’s not enough to cover your educational expenses.
Moreover, during summer vacations, you have the option of working 40 hours per week but the pay rate remains the same. This is when you can put in more hours and get some extra money to cover your expenses.
Besides, during the first year, you are only allowed to work at jobs on campus — the library, the cafeteria or the gym. After the first year, you can apply for a role as a Research Assistant (RA). As an RA you get remuneration for a 1-time snack along with the salary that you receive. In the second year of your study in college, you become eligible to receive a CPT, which is Curriculum Practical Training Program that gives you permission to work outside the campus for maximum 20 hours a week, although some colleges might be more relaxed with the allotment of their timings.
Given below are some part-time jobs that you can try out.
Some Part-time Jobs that You Can Take Up
Internship: There are various paid and unpaid internships that are available for international students like you, who are pursuing a master’s degree abroad. Doing an internship can be a great way to form some networks within the industry you wish to get into. But finding the right internship with an ideal duration can be challenging, especially if your network is limited in that country. However, do make sure to plan your internship well in advance to avoid any last minute worries.
Freelancing: You might be allowed to work as freelancers in some countries where the visa or scholarship policies do not restrict you from doing so. For example, international students availing the DAAD scholarships to study at German universities are not allowed to work as freelancers. Hence, It is always advisable to check the policies so as to ensure that things go according to your plan.
Volunteering: You can also volunteer for some organisations to make an impact on the lives of the people. Make sure that you work with the local community as that will help you to understand their culture and come up with more effective solutions to their problems. Community work can be a great addition to your resume as it will reflect your awareness towards societal issues and your will to eradicate them. It also allows you to identify more with the community you now live in, improves your interpersonal skills and general sense of empathy.
There are numerous earning opportunities available for you during your graduate studies abroad, especially once you have completed a year. The important thing to remember is that even though money is important, it should not affect your grades because your future job depends on your CGPA a lot; much the same way as your admissions into the university depended on your GMAT score/GRE scores. But if you can manage getting high grades and simultaneously doing a part-time job then do so. If you cannot, then make sure that you at least keep your grades up.
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