I want to study physics full time, but I'm aready 27 so I don't get support. I've heard of people who have managed through some unrestricted jobs (bad wording, I know ) that they would make money while being able to de full-time study. So what are some options? Scholarships are one of course, but I'm looking for something new, creative here.

[Zgarbas]

Game testing, bartending and other menial jobs are the standard around here, since it's kinda the only jobs who hire students ... unless you happen to be good at programming; they always hire new programmers.

I try to get around working as a Student Assistant at the University, mostly in practicals. But I don't know if this is a usual situation (paid senior students helping). You might get a job delivering mail or sth, or if you're computer savvy there might be a business there as Zgarbas said...

An interesting choice, physics. May I ask what you did before and why you want to study physics now?

in America if you want education, but can't afford it... the best way to pay for it would be by joining the military and getting a GI Bill etc.

I'll second the programming idea. If you're able to study Physics, programming should be easy to pick up. Spend a couple months learning an in-demand language on your own (such as PHP or Ruby on Rails). Create a sample webapp to show off that you can work with the language. Then find some remote freelance gigs so you can work from home. The pay should be good and you'll have the flexibility to create your own work schedule so it can work around your studies.

I funded my undergrad at first by doing bar work every night. Although I got paid illegally low wages (£5/hour) it paid for me and my gf to live (she worked too). Living is cheaper if you share all your expenses with another person.

In the summer holidays of the first year I got a job working with the Highways Agency doing environmental surveys, and kept that job throughout my second year. That paid my bills a bit more comfortably than bar work, but I was pretty much working full time and studying full time, and the work was dull.

My third undergrad year was a year in industry for which I got paid, then I carried on working full time for that company in my final year as a researcher. Also in the second half of my final year I started working as a freelance programmer (on Anki! ^_^). I attended precisely 0 lectures in my final year because I was working all the time, but thankfully the skills I learned at my various jobs were more than enough to cope with the coursework and exams.

Bar work is fine, and is usually quite easy to get, but your legs and back get tired and the pay is nowhere near as good as a skilled job. Freelance programming is really an excellent student job, as you get paid to develop your own skills as well as producing useful output. This can easily lead to a stable side-career which will give you financial support in the future too. The best jobs I've had are the ones which use the skills I have and develop new ones, and require me to think a lot.

Since your English is good Raschaverak, you could always come to the UK to study, and you will be eligible for some financial support for tuition fees (no matter what age you are). You could then do part-time work to earn your living expenses. I'm sure other EU countries will also offer finance packages like the UK does.

To give you an idea, in the UK you are entitled to up to £9,000 per year for tuition fees as an EU national. If you classify as a migrant working from an EEA country, you can also get an allowance for your living expenses.

Have you thought about doing translation work? You could easily do English > Hungarian!!! If you're in a city there are probably other ways to utilise your language skills too.

Also, i don't know where you're planning to study, but in a big city there were always short term jobs doing accounts. I often picked up holiday work, which left the term free to study, which was great.

security work always seems to be hiring?