Balancing Study and Work: Understanding Student Employment and Well-Being Across Europe (Study-WorkWELL)

General Overview

Many university students work alongside their studies, often out of necessity. This can significantly affect their well-being, their academic engagement, as well as their daily life. Study-WorkWELL explores how students across Europe balance studying and working, and how universities can better support them in doing so.

The project brings together five EUniWell partner universities to collect student perspectives and develop evidence-based recommendations that promote student well-being.

Purpose and Significance

Student employment has become a widespread phenomenon in higher education, yet its impact on well-being and learning is still not fully understood in a comparative European context. While working can offer financial security and professional experience, it can also increase stress and reduce time for studies and social life.

Study-WorkWELL addresses this gap by focusing on students’ day-to-day experiences and by identifying institutional practices shown to support a healthy study-work balance.

The image depicts a woman sitting cross-legged on a balance beam, symbolizing the balance between study and work. On one side of the beam, there are elements representing study, including a graduation cap, books, and a clock. On the other side, there are elements representing work, such as a laptop, a smartphone, and a coffee cup. The background shows a serene landscape with a clear sky, trees, and buildings in the distance, indicating an outdoor setting. The woman appears to be focused and composed, managing both her academic and professional responsibilities

© AI generated

Implementation Method and Timeline

The project involves five EUniWell partner universities: Semmelweis University (coordinating institution), the University of Florence, the University of Konstanz, Linnaeus University, and the University of Murcia. Study-WorkWELL applies a mixed-methods approach focusing on student experiences of balancing work and study.

Key phases include:

  • Project coordination and management
  • Semi-structured interviews with working students
  • Cross-country questionnaire data collection
  • Analysis, dissemination, and knowledge transfer

The project runs for 12 months from December 2025, with online coordination meetings and a planned in-person meeting to support collaboration and dissemination.

Expected Outcomes

Study-WorkWELL will produce:

  • a comparative dataset on student employment and well-being
  • insights into risk factors and supportive institutional practices
  • evidence-based recommendations for universities and decision-makers
  • academic publications and digital communications to reach a broad audience

The results will support universities in developing student-centred strategies that promote well-being and academic success.

Contact person: 

Mark Pulay, Semmelweis University