Can I tutor while I'm still at university?

Yes. Many tutors are university students. Families and learners mostly care whether you know the subject well, can explain it clearly and are reliable. Say honestly what you study and which levels you can teach.

What can a university student tutor?

Usually the school subjects you did well in and the subjects close to your degree: maths and sciences for STEM students, essay writing and languages for humanities students, and your native language for learners abroad. Exams you took recently, such as A-levels, the Abitur or the bac, are also a strength.

How much should a student tutor charge?

Look at what tutors with similar experience charge for the same subject and level, start in that range and raise your rate as you collect reviews. On WantATutor each subject page shows the live range of rates tutors set.

Do I need to register as self-employed?

It depends on the country and on how much you earn. In many European countries small or occasional income has simpler rules, but tutoring income still has to be declared. Check your country's tax authority, and if you are an international student, the work rules of your residence permit.

Is WantATutor free for student tutors?

Yes. The profile is free, there is no subscription and no commission. Students contact you directly and pay you directly.

Guide for tutors

Tutoring jobs for university students

Updated November 10, 2026 · WantATutor

Short answer

Tutoring is one of the most flexible jobs for university students: you choose your hours, can teach online from your room and set your own rate. Start with subjects you know well and recently studied, set a rate in line with similar tutors, and publish a free profile. On WantATutor there is no commission and you can answer open requests from students instead of waiting.

Most student jobs fix your hours and pay. Tutoring lets you choose both: you teach what you know, when it suits your timetable, and you can stop during exam weeks. This guide covers what to teach, how to price it, where the first students come from, and the rules to check as a student in Europe.

What you can teach as a student

School subjects you did well in, especially the exams you took recently. You remember what the exam asks for and how it feels.
Subjects close to your degree: maths, physics or programming for STEM students; essays, history or economics for humanities and social science students.
Your native language to learners abroad, online. Conversation practice with a native speaker is in steady demand.
First-year university courses such as statistics or calculus, which many students find hard.

How to set your first rate

Look at tutors teaching the same subject and level, and start in the middle of that range rather than at the bottom: a very low price can make families wonder why. Raise it after your first reviews. Offering a short first lesson or a discounted trial is a common way to get started without underpricing every lesson.

Where the first students come from

A clear profile: the subjects and levels you teach, the exams you know, your availability and a short introduction that says who you help.
Open requests: on WantATutor students post what they need and tutors reply with a rate and a short note. Reply quickly and specifically.
People you know: younger siblings of friends, your old school, neighbours. Share your profile link; families trust a profile with details more than a message.
Your careers service and student job board, which often list tutoring opportunities.
On an exchange semester? See tutoring as an Erasmus or exchange student.

Work rules to check as a student

Tutoring income has to be declared, and the rules for small amounts differ by country. International students should also check how many hours their residence permit allows. Our country pages summarise how freelance tutoring usually works in each country:

Balancing tutoring with your studies

Block fixed weekly slots so families can plan around you, keep exam weeks free in your availability, and prefer students who need regular lessons over one-off sessions. A few steady students are easier to fit around lectures than many irregular ones.

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