Thousands of accountancy students across the Philippines are juggling part time jobs alongside one of the country’s toughest degree courses, often at the cost of their sleep, health and social lives. A new study from National University-Baliwag has given voice to these students, revealing just how demanding this balancing act has become.
The research, published in the ISPCE Bulletin, explored the lived experiences of six working accountancy students at a private university in Bulacan. All were juggling part time employment with the pressures of a degree widely regarded as one of the most academically punishing in the country, largely because of its strict grading requirements and the notoriously low pass rates of the Certified Public Accountant licensure exam.
Researchers found that students felt constant pressure to maintain minimum grade thresholds simply to remain enrolled in the programme. This anxiety was compounded by the demands of paid work, which many took on not for extra spending money but out of financial necessity, to cover tuition, transport and daily living costs.
The findings paint a picture of chronic time scarcity. Students described late nights spent studying after work shifts, exhausting commutes and little opportunity to rest or socialise with friends. Several admitted that when their working hours increased, their academic performance suffered, with some only seeing improvement once they cut back on shifts.
Yet the picture was not entirely bleak. Some participants found that their jobs, particularly those linked to tutoring or finance related tasks, actually reinforced what they were learning in class. Employment also brought a sense of independence, financial relief and personal growth, with students reporting increased discipline, maturity and confidence in dealing with real world situations.
To cope, students relied on strategies such as structured time management, short restorative breaks and techniques like the Pomodoro method to maintain focus and energy. Family support also emerged as a significant source of resilience, helping to sustain motivation during difficult academic periods.
The researchers argue that these challenges should not be viewed as personal failings but as the product of a wider system, one shaped by an intensely selective academic programme and an economic environment where student employment is often driven by necessity rather than choice. They suggest that greater flexibility from universities and employers, such as adjusted class schedules or more accommodating shift patterns, could help ease the burden without forcing students to choose between their studies and their income.
With rising living costs continuing to push more students into part time work while studying, the findings offer a timely reminder of the pressures facing young people pursuing demanding professional qualifications. The study’s authors hope their work will encourage universities and employers to consider more supportive policies for working students, particularly in high stakes fields like accountancy where the margin for error remains slim.
