Find a part-time job in Glasgow, YES YOU CAN !

GET A PART-TIME JOB was one of my major objectives when studying in Scotland. 

The “Scottish academic way of studying” is really different from the French system due to a relatively low number of formal tuition hours (consisting in lectures and tutorials; around 15 hours). Then much more time is dedicated to personal homework (e.g. preparation of courses, readings, team work meetings…) and of course part-time job. As I presented in a previous article there is the UWS the Employability Link  where you can get advice how to write your CV (in the UK format; different expectations from the French one); cover letter, part-time jobs opportunities, internships…

I’ve done some research at the beginning of the year by sending several applications to Bars, shops, restaurants. I devoted lots of time but “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”.

I eventually found a position at the Employability Link as a “bar waiter” for Sodexho Prestige Scotland for the Xmas’ period. I applied for and received the above job offer and a work contract after several weeks of waiting. I signed it and sent it back. In the mid-November I was contacted to follow the introduction meeting explaining the history of the company, safety measures, management team… and most relevant information concerning the job itself. 

Then we (we were around 25 Scots and one French… me) received the formal “Qualifications for Scottish Licensed Premises” presentation followed by an exam to obtain the “Certificate for Scottish Personal Licence Holders”. This licence allows you to sell and serve alcohol in Scotland [this measure has been implemented in 2009 (not really sure of the date) to deal with issues on health and behaviors caused by alcohol. From what I’ve seen on the streets during week-ends… it is sometime really appalling].  As a bar waiter I was required to obtain this licence.

I used to work during week-ends preceding the Christmas time (in average from 5 pm to 2 am) as a bar waiter / kitchen porter / plate waiter at the Hampden stadium. The Scottish national stadium (football games, concerts…) which is not only a stadium but a real place where conference, exhibitions, fair and restaurant can take place. The “Xmas” was composed of around 200 guests related to the same company or club having a common meal (with the extra drinks to order; my job) and then from 9 pm to 2 am party time with the band. Then I’ve continued until the end of February working for special evenings.

I was really pleased to:

• Work with a dynamic team of young Scottish students.
• Deal with Scottish guests; the REAL Scottish accent was difficult to understand  during the first nights (even more when you have a band playing near you) however it went better and better over the time.
• Get a first job experience (resist to the stress, be well-organized, have good communication skills) in the Hospitality industry.
• Earn some money (around £ 6 per hour without any taxes as a student) [minimum wage in Scotland is £ 5,93 per hour for people aged over 22].

To sum up: yes it is possible to get a job during your studies in Scotland (I’ve also worked one day at the UWS preparing thousands of envelops with surveys for post-graduate students… much less fun). Lots of my Scottish friends were having a part-time job. Andrzej (see the article in the January section) has also got a job at the Ibrox Stadium (Rangers Stadium) as a staff for football games. Whatever you are Scottish or non-Scottish you should be able to get a temporary part-time job.

Tuition/scholarship fees in Scottish universities could rise for European students?

With the implementation of the new UK coalition government on May 2010, several austerity measures were presented and adopted to reduce the State’s deficit. Several measures concern the tuition fees in English universities. However it could also affect in the years to come tuition fees in Scottish universities. I’ve selected targeted articles related to the issues for your concern.

Regarding how some universities manage to save cash:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-13359411

By the way I’ve followed the monthly guided tour organized at the University of Strathclyde one of the most prestigious universities (with the Business School department) in the UK and throughout Europe according to the Financial Times; ranked 20^th (FT, European Business School 2010). This is really a huge, huge campus located in the city center of Glasgow. [The Sciences department is also quite renowned from what I’ve heard]. The Business School has recently been completely restored. I’ve spoken with some of its students; they told me that it’s great fun to study, make parties, study abroad… really to recommend to everyone. 

To others well-known Scottish universities I have heard from the Scottish students are the Edinburgh University and the St Andrews University (now worldwide famous thanks to the Royal wedding). I’ve been briefly to St Andrew (the city and the university) with the UWS volley-ball team playing our first outside game against St Andrew University… (we unfortunately lost). This city is pretty small but charming. And the University, a real, real, real “American movie” campus.

Interesting article from the New York Times regarding the tuition fees paid by English students when studying in Scotland compared to European students:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/education/25iht-educlede.html

For the next academic year (2011-2012) in Scotland, the tuition fees should stay the same:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/scottish-politics/8480986/Scottish-Election-2011-Nick-Clegg-says-Scotland-right-to-have-no-tuition-fees.html

From what I’ve heard from the Scottish media and the advisers from the UWS, the tuitions fees in Scotland should stay the same for the next academic year (2011-2012). My tuition fees for my 3rd academic year in Bachelor Enterprise Studies reached £ 1 820. However those tuitions fees have been paid entirely by SAAS (Student Awards Agency for Scotland) [3 conditions: take a course of full-time study in Scotland and plan to graduate in Scotland; be a European Union national; be ordinarily resident in the UK]; more info for students outside the EU at http://www.student-support-saas.gov.uk/index.htm

Some students from the University of le Havre were registered as ERASMUS students (a partnership with their home town university and the UWS; with a limited number of places according to each university) and thus have no fee or special documents to fill in.

So until now no panic for no tuition fees should be paid by EU students next year. However that could change according to the new policies implemented by the Scottish government and the economic situation. The ERASMUS programs (with no tuition fees) should be maintained. On the other hand the tuitions fees paid by SAAS to EU students could be reduced or stopped in the years to come.

I’ll keep on publishing several links regarding this burning issue in the months to come.

More info regarding the Tuition fees at the UWS: http://www.uws.ac.uk/international/finance.asp

It's soon the end of the studies in Scotland

I am currently quite busy with reports, essays regarding the end of my academic year at the UWS. Therefore I'm not able to update regularly the blog.

However I will devote my time to write and gather accounts of the UWS’ students during the summer holiday.

New articles will be available for the start of the new school year.

For the moment enjoy this short advertisement providing a 100% authentic overview of Glasgow city, the famous "Glaswegian" (that we've to deal with in the everyday life mixed the Paisley accent) and the famous Irn Bru a Scottish drink. Drunk by lots of young students in the morning and during all day...