Teaching and Learning Conference 2019: “It’s stress but it’s worth it”: Students’ experience of balancing the competing demands of study employment and family obligations

This paper presents the findings from a qualitative study that aimed to develop deeper understanding of students’ experiences of balancing the competing demands of full-time study employment and caring responsibilities. The cohort under study were students on a vocational professionally qualifying three-year degree course the majority of whom are widening participation students; mature women with children. The aim of the research was to identify the perceived positive and negative consequences in order to understand the needs and resources of these students and to consider the mechanisms the university can offer to support students who have work and caring commitments.