Press release -
NO TIME TO STUDY: NEW RESEARCH UNCOVERS UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WEIGHED DOWN BY LIFE ADMIN & SOCIALISING ON CAMPUS
A Post Office branch in East Anglia is helping students with their life admin tasks so they can spend more time on things that are important to them
- New research from Post Office reveals four fifths of students [1](82%) feel that non-academic responsibilities interfere with their ability to attend lectures or complete assignments
- Nearly half of students (49%) will handle their own life admin for the first time when starting university
- Over half of university students surveyed [2](58%) wish they had someone to assist them with life admin tasks on campus, while many put side hustle plans on hold due to perceived lack of support
- Post Office offers student’s assistance on many services, including managing mail and parcels, updating your passport or driving license, bill payments and providing essential banking services such as cash withdrawal and balance services, yet over a third are unaware of support available
Four in five university students (82%) believe that non-academic responsibilities interfere with their ability to excel academically by getting in the way of attending lectures or complete assignments.
That’s according to new research from Post Office, which discovered that for nearly half of university students surveyed (49%), starting university will be the first time that they will handle their own life admin.
Time Wasted on Admin
On average, students spend just seven hours a week studying and attending lectures, with significant portions of time dedicated to socialising, working part-time, and managing their life admin.
A third of students surveyed (33% would prefer to spend less time on managing their life admin (between 1 to 3 hours) so they can focus their attention elsewhere, with over half (58%) wishing they had someone to assist them with life admin tasks on campus.
Managing finances and budgeting is the most challenging aspect of starting university, while a quarter (25%) find it impossible to balance academic responsibilities with their vibrant social life. Over a tenth (13%) find general life admin tasks most difficult.
| The Top 10 life admin tasks students spend most time on while at university | Percentage |
| Paying bills (e.g. utilities, rent) | 40% |
| Managing personal finances (e.g. banking, budgeting) | 35% |
| Arranging travel (e.g. buying train or bus tickets) | 24% |
| Sending, returning or receiving parcels and letters | 19% |
| Collecting or sending money orders (e.g. postal orders) | 15% |
| Registering to vote or updating voter registration | 14% |
| Sorting out council tax and other local taxes | 13% |
| Topping up a prepaid card or mobile phone credit | 13% |
| Buying postage and packaging materials | 12% |
| Renewing or applying for a passport | 10% |
Post Office offers student’s assistance on services, including managing mail and providing essential banking services, yet over a third [1](37%) of students surveyed are unaware of the services Post Office offer.
Jonathan Freezer, Post Office Supervisor at the University of East Anglia Post Office, runs a Post Office on campus. He said: “We see 800-900 students come in through our doors every week, some of whom are sending a parcel by themselves for the first time or some who are new to the country and need a little extra help and we are always here to help them with their everyday mailing and banking needs. Another benefit we can offer students is a special exchange rate, which is beneficial if any of their courses require overseas trips.
“It’s really rewarding seeing the way the students develop and progress over the period of time they study. With them using us regularly we get to know them and develop a relationship with them. We also have some students working part-time within our branch, so it’s good to be able to pass on skills, and great for their CVs”.
Side Hustle Stress
The research uncovered that 43% of university students report to having a side hustle whilst at university, spending on average three hours running their ‘side hustle’. Meanwhile, over half of students (56%) have started selling items online (on platforms like eBay or Vinted). The majority would like to spend more time on their side hustle if the opportunity was there.
Of those who have started side hustling and/or selling items online, 34% say they most need support with banking services (business bank account, invoicing and payment processing, accounting software, cash access), three in ten (31%) need support when it comes to selling online and 29% need support sending and receiving parcels. Three quarters[2](76%) of students say they use these services at least once a week.
Bethany Wilson, University of East Anglia student, says: “I use the University of East Anglia campus Post Office at least once a week, where I send letters and parcels to the US and return my online shopping. I’m grateful for the Post Office being so close – I have a busy schedule and having the services available makes things that much easier for me. I run out in the 15-20 minutes break between classes, send my parcels, and I’m back in class right on time. The convenience of having a Post Office on campus definitely helps me a great deal with managing my time at university and makes the thought of dealing with my life admin that much easier.’’
Looking at the students who don’t currently have a side hustle or sell items online, 57% would like to start doing so but one in five (20%) of them feel there is a lack of support around campus for help to get them set up and started. Post Office offers invaluable support for these students, including business banking services, invoicing, payment processing, and parcel management.
Mark Eldridge, Postmaster Experience Director at Post Office and serving Postmaster says, “The start of university ushers in an exciting period for students, but it also brings with it additional responsibilities as new students grapple with living on their own for the first time, managing their own life admin and progressing their side hustles to help pay for university life.
“As a postmaster, I’ve seen first hand how helpful cash withdrawal and balance services can be for students who are managing personal finances and budgeting for the first time. Post Office branches and postmasters are always here to help ease the burden of life admin tasks for students. From paying bills or updating your passport for the first time to a one stop shop for all your parcel needs, Post Office is here to help you spend more time on the things that truly matter.”
More information on Post Office’s student offering can be found here: https://www.postoffice.co.uk/student-hub
[1]Combines ‘Not particularly aware’ and ‘Not at all aware’
[2]Combines ‘Every day’, ‘4-6 days a week’, ‘2-3 days a week’ and ‘Once a week’ answer options
-ENDS-
The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 1,000 UK university students, aged 16+ The data was collected between 22.08.24 - 27.08.24 . Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
About the Post Office
With over 11,500 branches, Post Office has the biggest retail network in the UK, with more branches than all the banks and building societies combined.
Post Office is helping anyone who wants cash to get it whichever way is most convenient. Partnership with up to 30 banks and building societies means that 99% of all UK banking customers can access their accounts at their Post Office.
Cash withdrawals, deposits and balance enquiries can be made securely and conveniently over the counter at any Post Office; and the biggest investment by any organisation or company in the last decade is being made to safeguard 1,400 free-to-use ATMs across the UK.
Post Offices provide a wide range of services from cash and banking; mails and parcels; foreign exchange; and bill payments services.
More information on Post Office’s everyday banking services can be found here: https://www.postoffice.co.uk/help-support/everyday-banking
More information on Post Office’s student offering can be found here: https://www.postoffice.co.uk/student-hub
Find your nearest Post Office: postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder
About the Post Office
- With over 11,500 branches, Post Office has the biggest retail network in the UK, with more branches than all the banks and building societies combined.
- Post Office is helping anyone who wants cash to get it whichever way is most convenient. Partnership with over 30 banks, building societies and credit unions means that 99% of UK bank customers can access their accounts at their Post Office.
- Cash withdrawals, deposits and balance enquiries can be made securely and conveniently over the counter at any Post Office; and the biggest investment by any organisation or company in the last decade is being made to safeguard 1,400 free-to-use ATMs across the UK.
- Post Office is simplifying its proposition for Postmasters with a focus on its cash and banking; mails and parcels; foreign exchange; and; bill payments services.
- Research has found that visits to the Post Office help drive another 400 million visitors to other shops, restaurants and local businesses equating to an estimated £1.1 billion in additional revenue for High Street businesses.
- 99.7% of the population live within three miles of a Post Office; and 4,000 branches are open seven days a week.
