My Experience as a Master's Student and Reslife Assistant

Hi, 

My name is Arjun Nair and currently I am working as a Reslife Assistant and a full time Masters student at Coventry University. I am studying Masters in Sustainability and Environmental Management and joined in the Uni in January 2023, and I joined the Futurelets on 1st September 2023. Now it been nearly five months I have been working as Reslife Assistant. However, those who don't know me well, this is not my first job in the UK, I had previously worked in a Warehouse, Domino’s, Coventry Arena, Education Rep and even as a Student Ambassador at Coventry University.  

The role as Reslife Assistant was a contract one which is from September to April 2024 (Nearly 8 months). As I was a Jan intake student, this role was advantageous for me because from September till December was my last semester where I had prepare my thesis and an online module, and last but not the least my resit from the first semester which was my last chance to clear it. The one thing about being a master's student in my course or in the majority of the master's programmes in Coventry University is that in the last semester there is no lecturers only a single meeting with my supervisor which is in gap of 2 weeks. So, this was favourable for me because I can work 20 hours (According to the UKVI International students cannot work more than 20hours in a week).  

Additionally, September was the main intake for Coventry University which means lot of students will be arriving in the accommodation which leads to more events, more events mean more shifts. When I had started working as a Reslife Assistant I was being able to manage my rent and other expenses. Moreover, working over here, I had received a cool hoodie and t-shirt, but my personal favourite was having the Coventry University Staff ID card.  

Furthermore, as part of the shift I do have to write blogs, TikTok's, kitchen inspections and even day trips. Sometimes, while doing some blogs was like giving me an opportunity to learn more about various cultural practices, important days in the UK, and some other crafting sessions and painting events had gives me new ideas to do the work in much easier way. Compared to every other part time roles that i had done, being a Reslife Assistant I was eligible for paid holidays depending on the hours I had worked, which I had utilised in my last week of submissions. And here I am still continuing my role as Reslife Assistant and going to Graduate in March 2024.