If you’re considering applying to a Master’s program in Europe, the cost of living may be something to consider. If you want to study in Europe but are worried about money, getting a job is your best bet. But before you start looking for a job, you should see what the rules are for overseas students. With regards to government red tape, some nations are kinder than others. So, let’s have a look at where you may get the most out of your study abroad job search in Europe.
It is feasible to combine employment and school in the majority of EU nations. With a student visa or a student work permit, you can work during the school year (usually part-time) and the holidays (usually full-time).
Best places to get a work permit as a student
A key aspect to take into account if you want to job while studying is how relaxed are the ‘job and study’ rules. These rules are not the same in all the European Union. Some countries have stricter rules and a more complicated process which make it more challenging to job there.
It’s possible, for instance, that a specialized work permit is required. You may also be limited to working only 10–15 hours a week, which could be insufficient for a living wage.
However, there are certain European nations where student employment is not only common but also highly valued. List of these nations:
Sweden
A student visa is all that’s required to start working in Sweden. In addition, you are free to work as much as you like so long as you put in at least 40 hours of study time each week. The average monthly part-time pay in Sweden is SEK 13,000 (about EUR 1,150), which is more than appealing.
Estonia
To work while attending school in Estonia, you’ll require a student visa. However, if you ask your school for permission, you can stay and work for an extra six months after you graduate. As long as you maintain satisfactory academic progress, your job load is unrestricted. The typical wage is around 700 EUR per month.
Denmark
With a student visa in Denmark, you can work up to 20 hours a week during the academic year and full-time during holidays. With an average hourly wage of 110 DKK, even part-time work is financially lucrative. For a part-time position, that translates to roughly DKK 13,000 (about EUR 1,600) monthly.
France
A valid student visa will allow you to work part-time in France. Off-campus employment is limited to 20 hours per week, but if you find a job on campus, you can work more. If you want to work more than the legally allowed number of hours per year, you can do it on holidays. Part-time job might get you up to €700 per month.
Ireland
You do not need a work permit to work part-time in Ireland, provided you have a Stamp 2 Permission on your visa. You can work up to 20 hours/week during the school year and full-time during school breaks. The part-time salary in Ireland can reach about 800 EUR/month. Sounds like a deal?
Finland
Teenagers in Finland can work up to 25 hours per week during school holidays and full-time when classes are out of session. Part-time work salaries often begin at 800 EUR per month.
The United Kingdom
With a Tier 4 student visa, you are permitted to hold a part-time job while studying in the UK. How many hours per week an overseas student can work in the UK is governed by their specific Visa. During the school year, you may work up to 20 hours a week, and during the breaks, you may work full time. However, during the school year, you may only be able to work a maximum of 10 hours a week. In the United Kingdom, the minimum monthly pay for part-time work is 600 British pounds.
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The first year of your study in Norway does not need a work visa. However, you’ll need to renew it and submit fresh paperwork once the first year has passed. The average monthly salary for a part-time worker in Norway is 13,000 krone, or about 1100 euros. However, it should be noted that fluency in Norwegian is typically required for employment in Norway.
Germany
If you are a student with a valid visa in Germany, you will also be able to work part-time. Part-time student jobs often start at a monthly salary of around 500 Euros. The upside is that Germany has some of Western Europe’s lowest living expenses.
Places where English is the dominant language
If you don’t know a foreign language and need a job to help pay for graduate school, it’s best to study in a nation where the official language is English. With this, you may apply for any job in the world.
Eurobarometer data from the European Commission ranks these five items as the most important:
- A country where native English speakers make up more than 97% of the population: Ireland.
- For example, in the United Kingdom, where native English speakers make up nearly 94% of the population:
- Over 62% of the population of Malta is fluent in English.
- Over half of the population in Sweden can communicate in English.
- More over half of the population of Denmark is fluent in English.
If you want to challenge yourself, though, and maybe even pick up a new language in the process, you may also visit a country where English is not the native tongue but where the locals who do speak it do so at a very high level. Those three are at the top of the list:
- Sweden
- Denmark
- The Dutch Republic
The job market for those with strong English abilities is robust in these nations. The good news is that all these English-speaking nations also provide a rich academic offering for postgraduate study at the master’s level.
Top European nations in terms of employment standards
While fluency in the target language is essential, picking a country with a robust employment market is more crucial. As a student, you should consider whether nation offers a job culture that fits your preferences and availability.
Glassdoor used data from Eurostat and the OECD to determine the top five nations in which to find employment.
- In Estonia, short-term, youth, and part-time jobs all received flawless marks.
- Norway is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and has a high employment rate, making it an attractive destination for those seeking “thinking jobs.”
- The United Kingdom: despite a low score for part-time work, the UK comes third due to its low unemployment rate.
- Austria is one of the few nations where the number of people working has increased since the economic crisis began.
- Denmark has one of the world’s lowest rates of young unemployment.
These nations may have enticing employment markets, but you should keep in mind that the cost of living is high in most of them. Furthermore, because they are so desirable, competition for employment is likely to be higher.
Countries in Europe where working and relaxing are equally important
Since your primary motivation for traveling to Europe is to further your education, it makes sense to focus on locations that provide both promising employment opportunities and manageable workloads.
If you want to job full-time and earn your Master’s degree, you’ll need to strike this balance. Keep in mind that completing graduate-level coursework, reading, labs, etc., will likely take at least 40 hours a week.
The OECD’s top choices for a healthy work-life balance are:
- Daily leisure time in the Netherlands exceeds working time. We need that!
- Parental leave policies in Denmark are among the best in the world.
- We approve with the French regulation that mandates time off from work e-mails during non-business hours.
The distinction is the siestas in Spain.
Belgium is a nation that values family time over career success.
According to a 2017 infographic referenced by Forbes, the United Kingdom is the most popular location in Europe for foreign students, followed by the warmer climates of Italy and Spain.
However, you now have a better idea of where you might be able to find suitable employment while your education. Choose wisely, investigate suitable degree programs, then submit your applications.
