Managing work and study in Dublin

Students in Dublin are increasingly finding themselves juggling jobs, school and housing challenges due to the rising costs of living and limited affordable accommodation options. This reality has become a defining feature of student life in Ireland, with significant implications for academic performance, mental health and social experiences.

According to The University Times, approximately two-thirds of college students in Ireland take part-time jobs while enrolled in full-time courses. These jobs are often “need-based,” unrelated to their field of study, reflecting the financial pressures students face. Among secondary school students, around one-third of 17-18-year-olds also balance part-time work alongside their studies.

These numbers have been steadily increasing over the years due to several factors. The cost of living in Ireland is among the highest in Europe, ranking 9th out of 41 countries before the UK. Students face significant expenses, including tuition fees and daily living costs, which make working a necessity rather than a choice for many. Additionally, some students seek financial independence from their families. Zoé, a Trinity student, explained: “I work not because I need it but because I don’t want to depend on my parents anymore.”

The housing crisis in Dublin has further exacerbated the financial strain on students. A 2024 report by the University College Dublin Students’ Union found that over three-quarters of survey respondents who live away from home are paying €750 or more per month for accommodation during term time, with Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) being particularly expensive—some rooms costing around €250 per person per week. While PBSA offers convenience and amenities, it remains unaffordable for many students, pushing them toward private rentals or long commutes.

Craig Murphy shared his experience, explaining his choice of a PBSA despite its high cost: “I chose to pay a little more for living in student housing because I was sure that everything was ‘clean.’ Some acquaintances paid less but realized upon arrival that these dwellings didn’t exist—they had been scammed.” Unfortunately, scams targeting desperate students are common in Dublin’s competitive housing market.

This financial strain is compounded by the prevalence of housing scams targeting desperate students, who are often forced into precarious living situations such as living in cars or couch-surfing due to the lack of affordable options.

Recently, the National housing charity Threshold has partnered with the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) and the Union of Students Ireland (USI) as part of its annual ‘Scamwatch’ campaign to raise awareness around ever-more elaborate fraudulent scams, which count on student desperation to find an accommodation in Dublin to propose houses at incredibly low prices with real picture for them to pay in advance to find themselves with nothing at the end. Universities such as TU Dublin prevent students from scams.

The student housing crisis in Dublin 7 and 8 reflects the broader challenges faced by students across the city. In areas like Dublin 7, developments such as Yugo Ardcairn House or Highlight partkgate highlight the focus on expensive PBSA, which remains inaccessible for many students due to high costs. These accomodation benefit to their proxitmity with TU Dublin city campus to propose almost unafordable household for student. For example, as an erasmus student, I wanted to live next to TUD city campus to not have to comute everyday since I am lasting in here only for a few month. But i must say that even with the scholarship i got doesn’t cover half the rend and i will have to work during the summer time to pay back my parents for the accomodation.

Similarly, in Dublin 8, properties like Heyday Student Accommodation were temporarily converted into short-term rentals, worsening the housing shortage. This trend contradicts the goals of the National Student Accommodation Strategy and exacerbates the housing crisis. The situation is further complicated by the conversion of student accommodations into other uses, such as co-living spaces, which reduces the availability of affordable housing for students.

Other initiatives exist, like the Digs Drive Initiative. Born from student unions of major colleges like UCD and Trinity College Dublin, they encourage homeowners near campuses to rent rooms to students. However, systemic issues persist as universities continue relying on developer-led PBSA models that prioritize profits over affordability.

To address these issues, the government introduced the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2024, which limits student-specific leases to 41 weeks and restricts advance rent payments beyond one month unless tied to tuition fees. However, accessibility remains a challenge as 83% of student accommodation is privately owned, with 90% costing over €10,000 per academic year. Institutions like TU Dublin lack university-owned housing entirely, forcing many students into long commutes—often over an hour—to reach campus. Faye Thomson is one of them: “I live in Enfield. It’s about 1 hour and a Half from the campus[TUD Grangorman] where I’m studying, so I have to wake up super early to take the train and then the Green Line to go to campus. Sometimes, when the train is late, I arrive late at school, and it’s really stressful in my everyday life. I’m also working in a pharmacy in Temple Bar during the week, which adds to the stress, but I need that money for my everyday life “

Balancing Work and Study

Managing work alongside studies requires exceptional time management skills. Aaron Twyford shared his approach: “I work on weekends, so as long as I’ve done all my work during the week, that’s fine.” However, this balance often comes at the expense of sleep and mental health. Jack Dempsy described his struggles: “Somedays I finish college at five and work until one AM only to wake up for college at nine the next day.”

Flexible jobs can make balancing responsibilities easier. Louis Gaughan works with TU Dublin’s student union and appreciates the flexibility: “They make it very easy because each week they just ask me what days and hours suit me most.” For many students, limiting work hours to 15-20 per week is recommended to maintain academic success, though even this can be challenging given financial pressures.

The Impact on Student Life

The impact of working while studying extends beyond academics. A study conducted by Ulster University as part of WHO’s WHM-ICS initiative revealed alarming mental health statistics among students: 53.2% experienced a mental health disorder at some point, with high rates of panic attacks (41.2%), major depressive episodes (24.2%), and generalized anxiety disorder (22.6%). These figures date back to 2018 and are likely higher post-pandemic due to increased stressors like housing insecurity and financial strain.

Social life also suffers as students miss group activities due to work commitments. Lori lamented missing St. Patrick’s Day celebrations because he had to work at a grocery store that day—a common story among working students who sacrifice leisure time for financial stability during what is often considered “the best period in life.”

Social Justice Implications

The necessity for many students to work highlights broader social justice issues. While some students choose to work for experience or employability reasons, most do so out of financial necessity caused by systemic inequalities such as unaffordable housing and high living costs. This economic divide creates disparities between those who can focus solely on their studies and those forced to balance multiple responsibilities.

Additionally, non-EU/EEA students face restrictions on working hours during term time (20 hours per week), further complicating their ability to cover living expenses compared to EU/EEA students who can work without restrictions. This highlights inequities within Ireland’s student population that require urgent attention from policymakers and institutions alike.

Solution

The solutions are here, but they require systemic reforms such as affordable housing solutions, fair wage policies for student workers, and better university support systems to ensure education remains accessible and equitable for all students.