{"id":2964,"date":"2025-11-25T20:49:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T20:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/sidehustle\/?p=2964"},"modified":"2026-01-07T10:51:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T10:51:03","slug":"the-best-side-hustles-for-students-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/sidehustle\/the-best-side-hustles-for-students-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Side Hustles For Students In 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Student life may seem like a dream – tons of socialising, living with friends, parties almost every night, with a little bit of studying mixed in every so often – but it can be a bit of an expensive dream.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your student loan only goes so far, and if you want to avoid eating plain boiled rice for the last couple of weeks of every semester, you need to find a way to top it up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Part time jobs are an obvious answer, but even they have their downsides. Jobs that fit in around your studies are highly sought after, and even if you manage to snag one it can be a real time sink, with little flexibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

A <\/b>side hustle<\/b><\/a> is an awesome alternative<\/b>, one that lets you work on it whenever you\u2019ve got time, but that\u2019s flexible enough not to get in the way of your life.<\/span><\/p>\n

But not all side hustles are created equal, and some are much better suited to student life than others. The OddsMonkey team has rounded up some of the best student side hustles right here, to help you make an informed decision before you get started.<\/span><\/p>\n

Matched Betting<\/b><\/h2>\n

In our (admittedly slightly biased) opinion, <\/span>Matched Betting is the best side hustle out there for anyone<\/b>. You don\u2019t need any existing skills, you can work on it whenever you like, and you barely need any money or equipment to get started – just a laptop or smartphone and a little available money, ideally at least \u00a350.<\/span><\/p>\n

So what exactly is Matched Betting? Well, the term refers to placing a bet both for and against a certain outcome (e.g. that a football team will win their next match) – literally matching your bet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On a regular bet, this would result in you ending up breaking even, but because bookmakers will give away free bets all the time, it\u2019s possible to use this technique to make a profit no matter the outcome of a match.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK have tried Matched Betting, and you can end up making regular profits of several hundred pounds every month – more than enough for a student to keep the takeaways coming and the beer flowing.<\/span><\/p>\n

To find out more about how Matched Betting works, take a look at the <\/span>OddsMonkey beginner\u2019s guide<\/span><\/a>, which talks you through all you need to know. Then you\u2019ll be ready to sign up for a <\/span>free trial<\/span><\/a>, where you can<\/span> make your first \u00a340 in profit<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Delivery Driving<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve got a car with you at uni, using it for your side hustle is an obvious choice. Sign up to be a driver for Deliveroo or Just Eat and you\u2019ll be able to work whenever you\u2019ve got time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alternatively, you could become a self-employed delivery driver for companies like Amazon or Evri, which usually allow you to set your own schedule according to what works best around your studies.<\/span><\/p>\n

You should be aware that pay isn\u2019t brilliant for any of these companies, but the work is reliable and, if you like driving, you might even find it enjoyable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tutoring<\/b><\/h2>\n

Another side hustle particularly well-suited to students is tutoring. You\u2019ve got a wealth of knowledge and experience in your degree subject, and the chances are that younger students, or much younger kids, will appreciate your help.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some subjects are particularly sought after, for example in foreign languages, English and Maths, but it\u2019s definitely worth investigating the possibility of offering tuition no matter your field of expertise.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also look at setting yourself up as an <\/span>online tutor<\/span><\/a>, through a service such as MyTutor or Tutorful, both of which help you to find clients while ensuring that matters of scheduling and payments are fair to all parties involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

Freelance Writing<\/b><\/h2>\n

For the wordsmiths out there, freelance writing is a fantastic choice for a side hustle. There are lots of types of writing you can try out, including blog and content writing, <\/span>copywriting<\/span><\/a> and ghost writing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Freelance sites like UpWork and Fiverr regularly post jobs for freelance writers to take on, which you can complete at a time that suits you, so long as you hit the agreed deadline.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you first get started, you\u2019ll probably have to agree to pretty low rates to secure your first few jobs, as you won\u2019t yet have built up a portfolio or reputation. But once you\u2019re established you can increase your rates, and freelance writing can become a very lucrative side hustle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Event Work<\/b><\/h2>\n

This isn\u2019t quite so regular a source of income as many other side hustles, but the work can be very varied and the pay is often pretty good.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your university is likely to host regular events, including talks and lectures, which require ad hoc staff including stewards and bar staff. Working at these events usually pays relatively well for the type of work, and you\u2019ll get a great view of the event in question.<\/span><\/p>\n

Become An Extra<\/b><\/h2>\n

For anyone with an interest in film or TV, being a regular extra in productions can be a fantastic side hustle. The work won\u2019t be regular, but you\u2019ll get to experience film sets, spot famous extras <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> get paid for your time.<\/span><\/p>\n

The best way to get started is to sign up to an agency, such as Universal Extras – which offers free registration for students. All you need to do is upload proof of your student status and you\u2019ll be listed with them totally free of charge.<\/span><\/p>\n

Research\/Focus Groups<\/b><\/h2>\n

Taking part in consumer research can be surprisingly profitable, although it\u2019s not the sort of work you can rely on. However, every so often you\u2019ll be able to take part in a project or join a focus group, and give your opinions. You don\u2019t need any experience – in fact, the less experienced you are the better!<\/span><\/p>\n

The benefit of this sort of side hustle is that it\u2019s particularly well paid, with researchers often paying \u00a330 – \u00a350 an hour, or even more. The downside is that they\u2019re looking for what they call \u2018naive\u2019 participants, who aren\u2019t too accustomed to taking part in research, meaning you won\u2019t be able to take part in projects all that often.<\/span><\/p>\n

Selling Handmade Crafts<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you already craft as a hobby, you might well have thought about selling your work, but been intimidated by the prospect of getting started.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, it\u2019s actually pretty easy to get going. Etsy is one of the best places for crafters to sell their work. It\u2019s quick and easy to set up an Etsy shop, and then all you need to do is list your items to be up and running.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to be aware that crafting isn\u2019t generally highly paid, and you might find that your rate of pay falls below minimum wage when you take into account the cost of materials and the amount of time it takes to create your items for sale.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, if you\u2019d be crafting as a hobby either way, selling your creations can at the very least help to finance your wool or paint habit.<\/span><\/p>\n

House Sitting\/Pet Sitting<\/b><\/h2>\n

As a student with few responsibilities, you\u2019re uniquely well suited to a side hustle like house sitting or pet sitting. With no children or pets of your own to take care of, there\u2019s nothing to prevent you from spending a few days in someone else\u2019s home, keeping it safe and keeping your clients\u2019 beloved furry friends fed and happy.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can sign up to online agencies, which will display your profile to people in your area in search of a house or pet sitter. You\u2019ll need to be able to commit to the days and times needed by your client, but you can always turn down a job if you don\u2019t think you\u2019ll have time for it, so this is a side hustle that can work well around your studies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Affiliate Marketing<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re a social media addict, affiliate marketing as a student is an obvious choice of side hustle. You can harness your following by partnering with companies to promote their products, and earning commission for any sales made through you.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll generally need a good platform of some sort, whether that\u2019s your Instagram account, a successful YouTube channel or a well-followed blog, but if that\u2019s the case you\u2019re likely to find success with affiliate marketing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Important Considerations<\/b><\/h2>\n

Tax<\/b><\/h3>\n

Sadly, a successful side hustle means you\u2019ll have to think about paying tax. You can make up to \u00a31000 from a side hustle in the UK without having to worry – but past that point you\u2019ll need to submit a self-assessment tax return and pay tax on your earnings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Matched Betting is a notable exception to this, however – as it\u2019s classed as gambling for tax purposes (despite not really being gambling at all), you don\u2019t have to pay any tax whatsoever on your profits, meaning you keep all your earnings for yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your Studies<\/b><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s important not to get carried away with your side hustle to the point that it takes up more time than you have to spare. You\u2019re at university to get a degree, and that means that your studies should be your first priority.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time for studying and, if necessary, scale back your side hustle if it threatens to take over your life.<\/span><\/p>\n

University Services<\/b><\/h3>\n

Your university will have tons of information and assistance available to you, and you should definitely take advantage of it. Students can access dedicated services to help them set up their own small businesses, which covers a large range of side hustles. Take a look at what\u2019s on offer as you get started, and don\u2019t be afraid to make use of it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Summary<\/b><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s no shortage of side hustles suited to a student lifestyle – all you have to do is pick your favourite! Whether you plan to become a pet sitter, sell handmade crafts or take up Matched Betting, you\u2019ve got all the information you need to get going – so don\u2019t hang around, the best time to start is right now!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Student life may seem like a dream – tons of socialising, living with friends, parties almost every night, with a little bit of studying mixed in every so often – but it can be a bit of an expensive dream. Your student loan only goes so far, and if you want to avoid eating plain […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2969,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_breakdance_hide_in_design_set":false,"_breakdance_tags":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\r\nStudent Side Hustles | Online Work For Students | OddsMonkey<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover a variety of Student Side Hustles and Online Work For Students at OddsMonkey, the home of all things side hustle and matched betting-related.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.oddsmonkey.com\/sidehustle\/the-best-side-hustles-for-students-in-2026\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta 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