24 best online jobs for students in the UK & how they pay (2024)

These online jobs for students are flexible and remote.

Last updated: 23rd May 2024

Over the last few years, remote working and flexible working options have been on the rise — and no wonder! Who wouldn’t want to cut out the commute and work from the comfort of their warm bed?

Online work, also known as remote working or working from home (WFH), is a great way for students to earn some extra cash while having the flexibility to keep up with your studies. Plus, no commute means extra time in bed…or studying.

In a recent Student Beans survey, we found that 54% of our surveyed students want a mix of WFH and in-person work at their future job — and we don’t blame you!

Thankfully, there are tons of online jobs for students available, with remote and hybrid working becoming the norm for Gen Z. Looking for something on the side? We’ve also got a list of some of the best side hustles for students.

At Student Beans, we want to futureproof your career and help you have the best possible start in life. What is Futureproof? Here’s everything you need to know.

Here are the best online jobs for students, as well as how much you can get paid for these online jobs.

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Freelance writing
Online surveys
Proofreading
Transcribing
Tutoring
Graphic design
Uploading your study notes
Video editing
Photography
Selling art
Virtual assistance
Teaching English
Teaching a foreign language
Social media marketing
Content creation
Blogging about a niche
PPC management
Online journalism
Web design and development
Affiliate marketing
Designing and selling merch
Data entry
Customer service assistant
Technical support assistant
Tips for getting an online job for students UK
FAQs

Online Jobs For Students UK

1. Freelance writing

24 best online jobs for students in the UK & how they pay (2)

Overview

Writing. It’s one of the oldest art forms and a way to expand and express your mind. When it comes to online jobs for students, freelance writing is a great option. A classic job, but a goodie — type, type, type away!

Love writing essays? Maybe you’re doing an English degree? Why not get a kick start on your writing career and do some freelance writing while you’re studying? It will be valuable experience that may help you in your career after graduating.

You don’t even have to be studying English or an essay-based degree to become a freelance writer. You can actually find writing roles in many different industries. You could write for medical journals if you study medicine or science, or even become a bid writer if you study Law. Just show your writing flair and your industry knowledge, and you’ll be good to go.

Things you may end up writing include, but aren’t limited to the following:

Blog posts
Product descriptions
SEO content — Search Engine Optimisation
Website copy
Articles for magazines/newspapers

And as mentioned, you can write for most industries. Good industry examples include fashion and beauty, financial, or even business and law.

When considering a career in freelance writing, you’re able to decide exactly what kind of stuff you write about. You could specialise in a particular area you enjoy, for example, become a film and TV writer writing about the latest releases or reviewing Oscar-nominated films.

Food and drink tends to be a popular area for freelancer writers to focus on, or you could dive into more business-focused writing, like financial or technical writers. Really, you can write about anything.

Responsibilities

Writing texts (blog articles, product descriptions and other marketing materials) in line with guidelines set by the client
Researching the topic you’re writing about
Communicating with the client to ensure work is along the right lines
Proofreading your own work
Organising your own time and schedule according to deadlines
Ensuring the tone of voice is correct for the client

Average salary

According to Indeed, a UK freelance writer earns approximately £200 per day. Depending on your experience and the project, you could set the price higher. Not bad, TBH.

Senior freelance writers can make up to £87,750 per year due to their experience.

2. Online surveys

Overview

Yep, you can actually get paid to take surveys. These jobs are genuinely viable online jobs for students, and it comes at no cost. If you’re worried about why people get paid and what happens with your data, just know that the most reputable survey companies have systems in place. Plus, the reason companies pay you is that it’s far cheaper than cold calling.

Here’s a valuable tip: consider joining multiple online survey websites, even several if you can. Most platforms limit the number of paid surveys you can complete each month. To increase your earnings, manage several websites concurrently so that you can continue making money even after hitting the maximum limit on one site.

Responsibilities

As it’s not a set job, you aren’t “responsible” or being held accountable to complete surveys. You simply have to show up for yourself!

However, if you want to take online survey filling seriously, here are the responsibilities for online surveys:

Sourcing the right survey sites to use, such as:
Ensuring you hit the deadlines for the surveys (each one will have its own)
Tracking your earnings
Keeping abreast of the payout amount and how much you need to earn.

Average salary

What you get paid depends on the surveys you take. They typically have a limited number of paid surveys per person too, so it’s worth signing up for a few different ones. Some pay up to £20 while others pay pennies. But everything counts!

3. Proofreading

Overview

Proofreading stands out as one of the best online jobs for students, particularly suited for students with a keen eye for detail. If your English language and communication skills are impeccable, proofreading may be the ideal online job for you. It’s a straightforward task – your primary duty is to meticulously review materials and identify errors. No small feat.

The range of content you can review is diverse, including artwork, websites, books, marketing materials, advertisem*nts, social media content, and even bids or proposals. While specific qualifications are not always mandatory, having a background in English or a discipline related to essay writing, such as history, can be advantageous. You’ll be expected to showcase outstanding grammar and writing proficiency, along with the ability to identify and rectify errors. This is unquestionably a role that the grammar police should seriously consider.

Responsibilities

Proofreading documents for spelling and grammar
Fact-checking
Making corrections and/or editing documents
Ensuring text adheres to guidelines.

Average salary

A proofreading salary varies on the provider. You could be paid per 100 or per 1,000 words. The Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders suggest a minimum hourly rate of £29.85.

4. Transcribing

Overview

Transcribing jobs involve the process of converting spoken or recorded content into written text. These jobs play a vital role in various industries, making content more accessible and searchable. It might sound pretty easy, but you need excellent listening skills and be able to type fast. It’s pretty in demand too, as not all AI can hear audio as well as humans!

If you’ve got sharp ears and can type fast, then this is the online job for you. Not sure how fast you are at typing? Put your typing speed to the test.

The average person can typically type between 38-40 words per minute (wpm). Professional typists average between 65 and 75 wpm, so if you can write as fast as this, a typist may be a great job to consider. Some positions require experts to write between 80 to 95 wpm, and even 120 wpm in some roles! Can you beat that?

Plus, here are some reputable online transcribing sites to sign up to:

Skills you’ll likely need for this job:

attention to detail
excellent listening skills
strong grasp of the language you’re transcribing
familiarity with transcription tools and software (which you may be able to learn on the job)

Responsibilities

Listen to audio or video recordings and accurately transcribe the spoken words into written form
Include punctuation, formatting, and timestamps to create clear and organised transcripts.
Ensuring typing speed is fast and accurate
Submitting transcribed audio in a timely manner
Good listening skills to ensure accuracy

Here are some examples of transcribing jobs you could consider:

General Transcription: transcribing everyday conversations, interviews, podcasts, and other non-specialised content.
Medical Transcription: transcribing medical reports, patient records, and dictations by healthcare professionals.
Legal Transcription: transcribing legal proceedings, court hearings, depositions, and legal documents.
Captioning and Subtitling: creating text captions for video content to make it accessible to the hearing-impaired and for translating content into different languages.

Average salary

TP Transcription claim the average price charged by transcription businesses in the UK for standard two speaker interviews, conversations or discussions is about 90p to £1.50 per minute.

5. Tutoring

Overview

If you’re seeking valuable teaching experience and a chance to earn, then tutoring online is a fantastic option. Whether it’s sharing language skills or imparting knowledge in your university field of study, the possibilities are endless.

Responsibilities

Creating lesson plans
Assessing student skills and areas for development
Setting and reviewing assignments
Providing exam support
Keeping up to date with subject curriculums.

Average salary

This depends on the subject you’re tutoring, and your experience level, but the average wage for private tutoring in the UK is between £30-£42 per hour.

6. Graphic design

Overview

Are you artsy and dream about the best fonts out there? Graphic designers are always in demand. You could design logos, social media icons, posters, band covers and lots of other things. As long as you’re a whizz on Photoshop, Canva or any software that makes you produce stunning graphic design work, then this could be a dream side gig.

Being a graphic designer, you can work for other companies in-house and help with their designs and content, but you can also work in an agency which allows you to work on different briefs, with a variety of clients. If you go freelance, you can choose which kinds of businesses to work for and will often work to your own schedule and be your own boss. Sounds fun, right?

Responsibilities

Understand and interpret design briefs
Set prices for designs
Prepare drafts and develop final assets
Review and make amendments to designs
Test designs across various media types
Provide final designs in the correct file formats.

Average salary

According to UK Talent, graphic designers can get paid around £27,500 per year. But this can increase depending on the projects (and if you’d rather charge by the project too).

7. Uploading your study notes

Overview

Yep, you can really get paid for your revision notes. While this isn’t a “job”, it’s a way to earn some extra cash on the side. And who knows, if your notes are in demand, then you really could make this your job.

Some of you spend hours colour-coding your notes, practicing your best handwriting and ensuring everything is clear and easy to read, so why not see if anyone else can benefit from them? It would be a shame to let it go to waste…

Responsibilities

As this isn’t a set job, there’s no set responsibilities, however, you’ll need to:

Ensure study notes are uploaded in the correct file format
Ensure notes are legible and high quality for others to read
Check stats on downloaded notes
Keep an eye on payout figures.

Average salary

The site Studypool, where you can sell your study notes, claims you can make up to $5000 a month selling your revision notes. Obviously, they’ve gone for the top-end figure, but the potential is lucrative enough to consider. Tempted?

8. Video editing

Overview

Enjoy piecing audio and video together? If you’ve got video editing skills and a few pieces under your belt already, then advertising yourself as a video editor could be your next online job.

Responsibilities

Getting all the necessary files from your client to edit
Sourcing music (or asking the client what music they’d like to use)
Sending drafts
Amending the video as per client requests
Sending the final video in the correct size, format and file type
Keeping abreast of editing best practices and software.

Average salary

Beginners can charge anywhere between £10-£20 a month. If you’re advanced, you’re looking at around £50+, and that’s still pretty low. Have confidence in your skills and scour the market to see what else other people charge for video editing.

9. Photography

Overview

Photography is a fantastic hybrid online/offline job. Gigs are usually found online through networking and pitching, but you can also make this even more of an online career by selling your snaps as stock photos or on-demand prints!

Responsibilities

Interpreting the client brief
Setting up photographic equipment
Taking pictures with a camera
Editing and retouching images
Choosing and setting up locations.
Updating your social media (especially if running as a business)
Researching models and mood as and when required.

Average salary

What you charge depends on your skill level. Those starting out may want to charge on the lower end. Around £20 an hour. If you’re more experienced, you’re looking at around £50-£75+.

Adobe student discounts

10. Selling art

24 best online jobs for students in the UK & how they pay (3)

Overview

On an art degree or love to doodle? Gather your favourite pieces and turn them into prints for sale!

If you’re not sure how to make your IRL art look neat for a digital shop, check out this video on how to make your hand-drawn pieces into clean digital art.

Responsibilities

Developing your own artistic ideas and style
Taking commissions and interpreting briefs for one-offs
Sketching out ideas and developing them
Making the final piece
Setting up and developing an online page to house your art listings
Taking stock of prints
Sourcing the right printers to print your art at the highest quality
Updating social media with new art and offers.

Average salary

You set the price you think your art is worth. Original pieces will cost more, but if you plan to make prints then you can lower your price. Plus, you can ask for commissions too, and depending on the requirements, you can adjust the price accordingly.

11. Virtual assistance

Overview

It’s exactly what it sounds like! A virtual Assistant helps people and businesses run their day-to-day by replying to emails, answering their calls, booking appointments, and anything else that’s remotely digital. Think of it like a personal assistant but remote.

You could even specialise in a particular area. You could offer graphic design as part of your expertise, or writing, bookkeeping, social media or marketing.

Responsibilities

Virual assistant jobs vary. But these are the typical responsibilities:

Respond to emails and phone calls
Schedule meetings
Book travel and accommodations
Prepare customer spreadsheets and keep online records
Organize managers’ calendars
Perform market research
Create presentations, as assigned
Address employees administrative queries
Provide customer service as first point of contact.

Average salary

The average hourly rate for a virtual assistant in the UK is roughly £14.98. You can increase this if they ask for additional services, like social media, graphic design, and other time-intensive tasks. Basically, you could set some really good rates and even build your career off the ground before you’ve finished your studies!

12. Teaching English

Overview

We mentioned tutoring before, but teaching the English language is a huge market in itself. There are tons of sites out there dedicated to providing English teaching platforms with a real tutor. All you really need is a TEFL (the industry asks for at least 120 hours), though some sites also ask for a bachelor’s degree.

Responsibilities

Preparing and delivering lessons to improve students’ reading, writing, and conversing skills in English
Developing educational content such as games, notes and quizzes
Assigning activities to facilitate students’ consolidation of learning material.
Tailoring your teaching style in accordance with students’ needs
Managing interpersonal dynamics to ensure that the class is conducive to learning
Tracking and reporting on students’ progress
Ensuring that your equipment is always in good working condition.

Average salary

Popular English teaching platforms can pay around £7 per hour. This can increase depending on the ratings you get, how many people are in your class, and other factors. Keep in mind that these work on a contractual basis, meaning you’ll have to declare your earnings.

13. Teaching a foreign language

Overview

Know other languages besides English? Make a profit from it by registering with one of these trusted language platforms and make a pretty penny. Language teaching is big business and people always want help from a real person who knows their stuff.

Responsibilities

The duties are similar to that of an online English teacher:

Preparing and delivering lessons to improve students’ reading, writing, and conversing skills in the language you wish to teach
Developing educational content such as games, notes and quizzes
Assigning activities to facilitate students’ consolidation of learning material.
Tailoring your teaching style in accordance with students’ needs
Managing interpersonal dynamics to ensure that the class is conducive to learning
Tracking and reporting on students’ progress
Ensuring that your equipment is always in good working condition.

Average salary

Sites like iTalki (where you can also teach English too!) let you set your own rates. If you want to charge for conversation practice then the rates are usually lower, but if you want to charge for full lesson plans based on a curriculum, then you have the leverage to charge more for your skills.

Overview

Know what makes people double-tap on a photo? If you’ve got skills in how to market people on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media sites, you could help businesses reach more people. It helps if you have your own social media presence too, but if you have evidence of helping others already then that’ll do too.

Responsibilities

Scheduling posts on social media channels
Creating content
Writing copy to go alongside content
Keeping abreast of the latest social media trends and best practices
Reacting to comments and managing the community (as well as moderating it)
Reporting on data such as engagement and follow count
Reposting customer tweets about the client you work for.

Average salary

If you’re starting out, the average wage for a social media assistant is £12.31 per hour. As you grow your reputation and skills, you can easily charge day rates that are far more in line with your skill level.

15. Content creation

Overview

Content creation is definitely one of the more creative online jobs for students. Combine your photography, video, graphic design, and natural presenting skills into content creation! Businesses pay big money to content creators who know their business inside out and can make engaging content for them. Plus, sites like TikTok have a creator fund that’ll pay you when people watch your videos.

Responsibilities

The role of a content creator is varied. You could be purely focused on photographic, video, written content or all three. Either way here’s what these roles have in common:

Researching campaign ideas for products and/or services you work for
Gathering data/rationale on why your ideas are worth pursuing
Submitting a draft/proposal of the asset and/or campaign
Producing the content (or sourcing others to create it for you)
Amending the projects upon feedback
Publishing final content on the relevant channels.

Average salary

Content creators are usually charged by the project. You have to consider licensing, the time it takes for you to create the content, and the client’s budget. Some projects could be £50, others could be £500, and even more. With money being a big motivator for starting out in content creation, there is obviously big bucks to be made if you have what it takes.

16. Blogging about a niche

Overview

Noticed an audience that’s growing or are you part of one that doesn’t have a lot of resources? BE that resource!

It could be something helpful like food shopping hacks or perhaps more super niches like coffee pod holders or pom-pom accessories. Okay, those two aren’t the best examples, but you get the idea…

Responsibilities

Researching areas in your niche that are trending or less spoken about
Planning and producing articles in your niche
Adding imagery and videos to support your article
Taking your own imagery or video to add to your article
Proofreading your work
Publishing content and pushing it out on the relevant channels
Partaking in social discussions surrounding your niche.

Average salary

What you get paid for depends on how engaged your audience is. You get paid via advertising programs, like Google AdSense, for example. They pay you per click or per X amount of blog hits. You can also make money selling eBooks and other products on your blog too, either self-published or via an affiliate program, which we’ll dive into shortly…

17. PPC management

Overview

Another for the number’s people. PPC stands for Pay Per Click. Ever noticed “ad” next to your search results on Google? Those are PPC ads, and people pay big money to have them managed correctly.

Responsibilities

Creating short and long term strategies with good ROAS
Managing PPC budgets
Strenghting PPC accounts
Overseeing and reporting on various platforms such as Google Ads, Social Media Ads, Bing etc)
Creating targetted ads
Tracking daily, weekly and monthly spend
Reporting KPIs
Creating concise and clickable copy for your campaigns
Staying up to date on best practices.

Average salary

According to Heavyweight Digital, PPC freelancers in the UK charge between £65-£100 per hour. If you have to spend a significant amount of time on these campaigns, this rate could be set higher.

18. Online journalism

Overview

Do you possess a natural storytelling talent? Online journalism provides an exciting avenue for both aspiring and experienced journalists looking to get their foot in the door and contribute to the media world. Obviously, this can take time as you need to build a body of work and bylines. But when you do, you’ll naturally have built a reputation and can get more commissions.

As you steadily build a body of work with your name in the bylines, you not only enhance your writing skills but also begin building a reputable personal brand within the industry. Online journalism offers a dynamic platform for those passionate about storytelling, where persistence and talent can open doors to a fulfilling and financially rewarding career.

Responsibilities

There are various kinds of journalists, such as online journalists to SEO writer. Generally, these are the responsibilities you should expect to carry out:

Pitching ideas to the editor
Researching articles
Establishing and maintaining contacts
Interviewing sources for articles
Writing and editing copy
Proofreading
Fact-checking.

Average salary

The ALCS has recently referred to freelance journalism as the ‘Wild West’, because average salaries and rates vary significantly. But their recent survey did find that online journalists tend to earn more on average than those who are mixed or print journalists. Median incomes for online freelance journalists were reported at £32,750 per year, but as they mention in their report, it can really depend on the project and publication. Salary Expert lists the average hourly rate as £27.44 in London.

19. Web design and development

Overview

Proficient in web page coding and possessing a keen sense of user-friendly interfaces? Brands need help with this all the time to improve their customer’s journey. You could even develop WordPress and Blogger templates for smaller bloggers and business owners too.

Web design and development represent an exciting field where your technical and creative abilities are combined. Transform a business’s digital landscape by utilising your coding powers and create visually appealing and highly functional sites.

Responsibilities

Various web designer jobs may also show up as “front-end developer”. Almost all will involve the use of HTML, CSS and JavaScript. However, each spec is different and may ask that you know about other programming languages and frameworks too.

Generally, these are the responsibilities to look out for:

Designing landing pages – colour schemes, typography, visual aesthetics
Re-writing pages for re-design — copywriting skills
Embedding new features such as buttons, forms and more
Conducting tests
Liaising with brand designers to ensure schemes and styling are correct
Keeping abreast of new programming tools and technologies
Shopify/WordPress experience.

Average salary

Web design online jobs are usually charged by the project, but you can roughly figure out project costs based on an hourly rate. Payscale list the average web design hourly range as £9-£35, depending on your level of skill.

20. Affiliate marketing

24 best online jobs for students in the UK & how they pay (4)

Overview

Got a social media presence or blog with a decent amount of viewers? Whilst this isn’t a super stable online job, it’s still a fantastic way to earn extra income. You simply add something called an affiliate link to your posts or platform, where people can click on it to buy something and you’ll earn the commission.

The beauty of affiliate marketing for students is its flexibility – you can integrate it into your existing online presence without the need to create your own products or services. As you drive traffic and successfully encourage sales or leads through your unique affiliate links, you can earn commission, enabling you to generate passive income while studying.

This is great experience for future careers in marketing as the digital world is constantly growing in importance for businesses and individuals. These types of online jobs for students enable the ability to explore diverse niches, enhance your marketing and communication skills, and gain insights into consumer behaviour.

Some of the platforms you can use are:

Responsibilities

Earning money via affiliate market is simple, in theory. You simply add a link (often known as an affiliate link) to the product you’re promoting. When people click or buy the product via the link, you’ll get a payout.

To increase your chances of getting more clicks you could:

Create content about the product such as articles, video or imagery
- Then post about it on social media
Share the link with friends and family.

Average salary

This depends on the affiliate program you sign up with and what brands are willing to payout. This could be anywhere from 0.1%-50% of the sale price of a product or service someone buys.

21. Designing and selling merch

Overview

This is one of those online jobs for students that will require your creative imagination. Use your art or graphic design skills to turn everyday items into merch! This could include mugs, hoodies, t-shirts, mousepads, and much more.

Responsibilities

One of the most popular ways to design and sell merch is through dropshipping. Here’s how it’s done:

Choose what designs you want to use
Research dropshipping websites that will create merch such as T-Shirts, Mugs and other items you can print on
Choose a dropshipping supplier
Build your ecommerce store on a site like Shopify
Market your dropshipping store on social media by creating content and promoting it.

Average salary

Sites like Shopify, Printful, and more allow you to set the rates of your merch. The average is roughly £25 for a t-shirt, but these sites may take a cut via transaction fees. You need to consider shipping costs and how much you actually want to make. You’ll need to be realistic about it and consider what’s different about your merch, so that people will buy into it.

22. Data Entry online jobs for students

Overview

Data entry involves filling data into tables, documents or database systems. You may need to update company databases, digitalise physical records and create/compare reports.

While data entry may not be the most fun job on the list, it can be easy money and can be done from the comfort of your own sofa. It requires a high standard of attention to detail, great organisational skills and the ability to spot errors and check output.

In terms of qualifications, you’ll most likely need GCSEs in maths and English, and potentially a computer science or related subject with computer skills.

Responsibilities

Data entry roles will differ depending on the organisation or company, but the responsibilities should mostly include:

Inserting data
Reviewing data for errors
Verifying the accuracy of data
Creating digital copies of physical documents
Upkeep of digital filing systems
Generating reports
Indexing invoices

Average salary

According to Indeed, a Data Entry Clerk can earn an average of £24,406 per year. Not bad for a job that can be done from home. Depending on your experience and type of industry, the average salary is higher.

23. Customer service assistant

Overview

Customer service assistants are exactly that — acting as assistance for the customer. It mostly involves answering customer queries, solving any issues, helping with refunds and cancelling orders. These roles are usually based online using email and various software to help manage the job.

You can be a customer service assistant for most industries, such as retail, production, and even manufacturing.

Responsibilities

Answering customer questions
Tracking orders and refunds
Monitoring customer satisfaction
Handle issues
Updating databases
Selling and taking payments

Average salary

The salary for a customer service assistant will differ depending on the company and responsibilities, but according to Glassdoor, it can range between £16-£32k per year.

24. Technical support assistant

Overview

Technical support assistants help users or customers with software issues. This is often done remotely and either using online chats, email, verbal communication or by accessing the clients’ devices remotely. These roles involve dealing with customers so exceptional communication skills are handy.

Responsibilities

Diagnosing faults
Troubleshooting and repairing faults
Handling customer complaints and issues
Test new technology
Identifying bugs and issues with software and tech

Average salary

The average salary for technical support assistants could be between £20-£28k per year according to Glassdoor.

Tips for getting an online job for students UK

Getting an online job or remote work as a student is no easier than finding work in physical premises. With remote and online jobs rising in popularity, the job market has become competitive and you really need to put your best foot forward to be in with a chance.

Here are some of our tips to help you find an online job as a student in the UK:

Tailor your CV to the job you’re applying for (our CV dos and don’ts cover this too)
Think creatively and out of the box to find roles
Stay positive
Use social media to keep up with job vacancies
Create a professional network (like setting up a LinkedIn account)
Brag about your soft skills as well as transferable skills

Online part-time jobs for students

As a student, there’s little chance you’ll be looking for a full-time job. That comes after graduation, for the rest of your life. Ah, the joys of being an adult and paying taxes.

Luckily for you, many work from home jobs or online jobs for students can cater for flexible hours and days. If you’re after a part-time role to earn you some cash alongside your studies, online roles are a great option to consider. And you can do it in your pjs (just change your top for Zoom meetings).

From the comfort of your own home, from your mobile, tablet or computer, you’ll be able to manage your own time and schedule for many roles, especially ones like freelance writing, where you tend to work towards deadlines and can decide when you want to do the work.

There may be jobs, such as data entry, that only require part-time hours due to the nature of the business. Online tutoring jobs may also be a good choice for students as it may fit with their current studies and likely the people/person you’ll be tutoring are only looking for part-time help, giving you more flexibility with your hours of work.

What Are The Benefits of Online Jobs For Students?

In today’s fast-paced digital era, the realm of online jobs has opened up new and exciting opportunities, especially for students. Balancing academic commitments (and socialising) with the demands of a part-time job can be challenging, but online jobs present a flexible and accessible solution.

Getting an online job as a student is a practical and easier way to earn some extra cash, but they can also have other benefits, such as:

Flexibility

Online jobs provide students with the flexibility to set their own schedules. Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, you can choose working hours that suit your university timetable. This flexibility allows students to earn income without compromising on their studies.

Great for the CV

Having evidence you worked on something throughout your degree (or even at some point during your studies), shows you’ve gone out of your way to gain experience. Regardless of whether it’s full-time or part-time, that extra bit of experience on your CV will look great for future employers and shows that you’re keen to develop your skills.

It could build the foundation of your future career

Similar to our last point, you may find that your online job is something you want to pursue in the long run. Maybe it enhances your application to a job in your desired field, or, it’s totally unrelated to your degree and you simply enjoy it!

Can work wherever you want

Whether that be from your university accommodation, your parents’ or at your local coffee shop, online jobs for students allow you to work from wherever you’re most comfortable. Even if you’ve popped out of the country for a holiday or city break — although always check with your employer first if you’re able to work abroad.

The beauty of online jobs lies in their convenience. All you need is a computer and an internet connection, enabling you to work from the comfort of your home or any location with Wi-Fi access. This eliminates the need for commuting, saving both time and money.

Enhanced time management

As a student, any of these online jobs for students will help you to learn valuable time management skills as you juggle work, classes, and assignments. This skill is highly transferable and beneficial in academic and future career pursuits.

Continuous learning

Online jobs and work often involves researching, problem-solving, and staying updated with industry trends, which encourages ongoing learning and personal growth. This is especially great for students who are looking to expand their skills for their future careers.

Networking Opportunities

Engaging in online work introduces students to a global community of people they may struggle otherwise to meet. Networking with professionals in their chosen field or industry can open doors to future career opportunities and collaborations.

What to Consider When Looking at Online Jobs for Students

What type of work are you interested in?

If you’ve been curious about writing, or want to try something totally new, it’s worth looking into each online job we mentioned previously to decide if it’s the right job for you. Don’t just do a job because it’ll earn you tons of money. If it’s a job you know you’re going to hate, it simply won’t last.

How much money do you need?

Do you want some extra pocket money, or do you really need the cash to offset living costs? You’ll need to consider which jobs have the best success in terms of payout. For example, Surveys, while convenient and potentially lucrative, it can take quite some time to hit that payout. Consider doing it alongside another online job that’ll pay out more frequently.

Can you commit to the hours?

If your course is intensive, you need to decide how many hours you can commit to an online job. Fortunately, lots of online jobs are incredibly flexible and only require a couple of hours a week. However, jobs like writing will require time sourcing clients, as well as the time to research and write material.

What equipment do you need?

Are you wanting to sell your graphic design skills? Maybe you need a tablet to speed up your workflow or a piece of software. Consider the start-up costs and if you can afford them in the long run. It might seem scary, but if you’re getting the interest, investing in what you need will eventually pay for itself in the long run. Student discounts on tech and software can help lighten the cost.

Do you need to learn a new skill?

Perhaps you’ve always been interested in coding websites, but actually don’t know how to code. Browse around to see which sites can teach you code, including:

Working from home pros and cons

24 best online jobs for students in the UK & how they pay (5)

Benefits to working from home for online jobs for students

No commuting = less stress and saving money

You won’t have to spend time commuting to a place of work, meaning you won’t have to experience the morning rush or spend money on commuting costs.

Good work-life balance

Working from home allows you to build a schedule around your home life. Working online from home as a student typically comes with shorter working hours too, meaning more time for the things that matter — enjoying student life!

Independent working

If you like to work alone, then working from home is going to be a breeze. You’ll have fewer distractions from colleagues, and you’ll be able to fully focus on the task at hand.

Improved work flexibility

You won’t have to work at specific hours (unless the job exclusively says so). You could do some work right before bed, early in the morning, after lectures, you name it.

Reduced chances of work absence

You’re less likely to get sick working from home, purely because you won’t be exposed to as many germs and allergens while out and about. Plus, you can take the time to nurse yourself while working more effectively.

Cost savings

Working from home doing online jobs for students should save you some money. You’re commuting less as mentioned above, but you’re also not forking out a mortgage for a coffee on the way to the office or a pricey high-street lunch on your break. Also, you won’t be needing new work attire, just work in your PJs.

Working from home cons for online jobs for students

Can be isolating

Working independently works for some, but at the end of the day, as humans, we all need some form of interaction. Working from home can be quite isolating. By building a schedule around work and social activities, however, you can easily stave this off.

Time management challenges

While online jobs provide flexibility, they also require strong time management skills. Some students may struggle to create and adhere to a disciplined work schedule, leading to procrastination and rushed, subpar work.

It’s easy to overwork

You might be tempted to work an extra hour or two and feed into your personal time. This is especially easy when working from home, so ensure you set boundaries for yourself and whichever online student job you pursue.

Home distractions

Video games, housemates, mess…all of these things can serve as some form of a distraction. Again, boundaries are key. Set time aside to clean your space and “reward” yourself with pleasurable activities after you’ve finished work instead.

Dependence on technology to get the work done

Working from home does have a huge dependency on the internet. If your internet connection isn’t the most stable, or you struggle with screen time, then online working might be quite tough to pursue.

Lack of routine

Some students struggle with self-discipline and maintaining a structured work routine, which can lead to time management issues.

Employer trust issues

Some employers may have concerns about employee productivity and may be hesitant to embrace remote work arrangements.

Security Concerns

Working with sensitive information or on unsecured networks can pose security risks. Students must be vigilant about protecting their personal and professional data to prevent potential cyber threats when working online jobs.

Ergonomic Challenges

Prolonged use of computers and sitting for extended periods when working online jobs can lead to health issues such as eye strain, back pain, and poor posture. Students working from home may need to invest in ergonomic furniture and take regular breaks to mitigate these concerns.

Work from home equipment for online jobs

To work from home safely, you’ll need the following equipment:

A comfortable chair
A computer (or laptop)
A speedy internet connection
Notepads, pens

We’ve got a ton of recommendations for mini laptops and student budget laptops to choose from.

Frequently asked questions about online jobs for students

Can you work from home as a student?

Working from home as a student is a flexible way to earn some extra money alongside your studies. It’s probably a lot easier for students to work from home than having to go into a physical place as it reduces costs on commuting (as well as time).

However, you’ll need to make sure you have a proper working set-up at your home or student accommodation, like a desk, good WiFi/Internet connection and a working laptop/computer.

Which online jobs for students require no experience?

Online jobs for students that require no experience tend to differ depending on responsibilities and the company.

Many jobs will want some basic experience such as using specific tools or the ability to write fluently in another language. The following tend to be the online jobs that require little to no experience for students:

Data entry specialist
Transcription
Online surveys
Remote customer support
Admin roles

Is Upwork good for students?

Upwork is a work marketplace where you can find work for yourself across different skills and industries, or find and hire talent to help you and your business. It’s a good way for students to advertise their skills, experience and expertise, but it is a competitive market and if you don’t have a lot of experience or a portfolio, you may struggle finding work.

Here at Student Beans, we have a remote-first policy, meaning our employees can work from anywhere they choose! Looking for a job? Check out Student Beans careers to join the team!

Kit out your home office with some of our stationery deals on Student Beans!