Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
14 ways you can make money at university
Kelly
14th Jul 2022
There’s lots of creative ways you can make money at university. All it takes is a little organisation, some good ideas and a willingness to put in a bit of extra work. In return, you get tax-free cash as a student! (Up to the annual allowance of £12,500, of course).
Here are 14 ways you can make money at university:
- Sell second-hand stuff online
- Use your knowledge
- Complete online surveys
- Get paid for clicks
- Be a website tester
- Rent spare space
- Get vlogging
- Write for cash
- Be a rent-a-friend
- Start a side business
- Sell craft items
- Complete odd jobs
- Sell ad space
- Take part in trials
- Become a summer school mentor
1. Sell used goods online
You can earn extra cash raiding car boot sales or selling things you don’t want anymore. Simply take pics of the stuff you want to get rid of and advertise it on Gumtree or eBay. Make sure you check any potential fees, but otherwise, use anything lying around unused at home. Instead of throwing it out, make back some cash online.
Find out all the different ways you can sell your stuff here.
2. Sell your knowledge
Don’t forget that you can sell more than just household items – you can also sell your services. As a student, you’ll have some really valuable knowledge to share. Why not put that degree to use? Earn back a bit of extra cash with tutoring. Alternatively, offer your skills to teach online for sites like Coursera or Udemy.
Find out how you can make £80 an hour as a private tutor.
3. Do Online Surveys
It’s very simple: you take surveys, earn points and – eventually – redeem these for money or gift cards.
It’s a great way to pass some spare time. It’s also easy to fit in between classes or procrastinating online.
Which sites bring in most cash? Find out in our article on making money with online surveys.
If you like sharing your opinion, you can also make money at university by attending focus groups.
4. Cash in on your clicks
If you spend a lot of time browsing sites, you can get paid to click on adverts, read emails or visit websites. Sign up for Qmee, an app that sits on your internet browser and quantifies clicks. Just search whatever you normally would and get paid for performing routine clicks.
5. Test out websites
Sites like What Users Do can earn you great money for just trying out a website. This means performing a certain site function and giving feedback – like a review of your experience using the site. Easy!
Find out more about making easy money testing apps and websites.
6. Rent your spare space
Even if you just have the simplest of spaces left in your flat, you can still make some cash by putting people up.
You can use AirBnB to market almost any kind of space – just think up a witty way to sell it. If you’re heading off on a holiday, take advantage of the opportunity. Make sure you’re allowed to do this if you’re currently renting before going ahead, though. If you’re lucky enough to have a parking space at your student house, you can rent that, too!
Find out more ways you can make and save money from renting.
7. Create great videos
If you have a video that could go viral or you fancy yourself in front of the camera, why not give it a try? Viral videos can draw huge clicks and ad revenue. If you have a topic you love to talk about or a penchant for silliness you think others might like, it’s easy to get started for free on YouTube.
Find out more about making money vlogging.
8. Get writing for others
If you like to write, sites like Clickworker or Textbroker will employ you to do research, data entry or reviews. These usually pay according to the nature of the piece and its length. It’s a good way to squeeze in a few extra pounds from the comfort of your living room.
If you’re keen on a topic, why not consider producing an eBook instead? Read more about someone else’s success with eBook publishing.
9. Rent out your friendship
Did you know you could be someone’s friend for a price? Sign up to Rent A Friend. It’s totally platonic and you can earn extra cash just doing things you might already be doing anyway.
While it might sound odd, it’s just another way you can cash in on everyday activities.
Find out more about making money being a friend.
10. Start your own business
You can start a business very easily these days and it could be a great way to make money at university. As a self-employed student, you also get the flexibility to earn for something you find interesting.
For a bunch of great business ideas that you can kick off as a student, take a look at Student Money Saver’s handy list to get started.
11. Sell handmade items
Whether you’re selling pet rocks, embroidery, knitted scarves or birthday cards, there’s a way to sell almost anything you can think of online.
If you’re keen on getting creative at home, Etsy was made for you. It’s a great way to earn a bit of extra cash alongside your day-to-day efforts.
We also share a lot of practical tips on making your own beauty products, selling DIY perfume and earning cash by putting together hampers.
12. Do odd jobs
Fill in spare time with extra odd jobs using online tools like Fiverr or TaskRabbit. There’s a never-ending supply of things you can do to make money at university – from helping with essays to mowing someone’s lawn, taking photographs or babysitting.
We always try to help you with unusual ideas to make extra cash.
13. Sell ad space on your bike
If you’re a keen cyclist, sign yourself up to a service like Ads on Bikes. Create a free account in order to be registered for potential ad placements. It’s easy to do online and once you’re accepted, you will be sent ads to stick onto your bike. You then make money cycling as you normally would.
Find out more about making money advertising on your bike.
14. Participate in trials
You might think signing up as a participant in clinical trials can seem risky – but some are much less scary than you might think. For instance, those in psychological trials simply want to know about your day-to-day experiences. Just make sure you investigate terms carefully before you commit.
Find out how you could get paid to take part in clinical trials.
15. Become A Well-Paid Summer School Mentor
There are several reasons why a university student might want to take a mentoring job at a summer school in Cambridge for under 18’s:
- Professional development: Gain valuable experience in a teaching or mentoring role, particularly useful for students interested in education or other fields involving young people.
- Personal growth: Challenging but rewarding experience that helps students develop communication and leadership skills, build confidence, and gain a sense of accomplishment.
- Cultural exchange: Learn about other cultures and make new friends from around the world.
- Financial reasons: Summer school jobs can be well-paid, so working as a mentor in Cambridge can be a good way for a university student to earn extra money over the summer.
- Cambridge: Experience all that the renowned university city has to offer, including its rich history and vibrant culture.
These are just 14 ways to get you started earning extra cash alongside your studies. Do you have any other ideas to make money at university? Share in the comments box.
Interesting tips for uni students
Some awesome ideas, I’m currently in my second year of university, and I’m struggling with the cost of books etc so constantly on the lookout for ideas.
The eBay one I keep seeing, and I read theonlinestudent.co.uk guide on things to sell on eBay but some of them seemed risky. I think selling clothes etc makes more sense.
Do clinical trials really work? I’ve always seemed to think they would be dangerous!