Books and jobs don't mix

More than three quarters of undergraduates at Southampton Institute are working to support themselves through their studies, according to new figures. And 41 per cent are working full-time.

Preliminary results from a survey of 70 full-time undergraduates show that 26 per cent of the 61 respondents felt their work had a detrimental effect on their studies.

David Bailey, head of academic operations at the institute's faculty of law, had noted sporadic attendance by students becoming more common. He feels that student work patterns are similar at other institutions.

Dr Bailey said: "The fact that 41 per cent of the students in higher education are attempting to study to an acceptable level and are working full-time to support themselves must be a matter of the utmost concern."

He also found that, of the 40 per cent of students who experienced alterations in employment patterns, 80 per cent of those changes in work amounted to an enforced increase in hours.