Combining a student job with resits in 2026: here is how

Resits in August and still earning something? With smart planning you can combine your student job and your resit period with confidence.

As a student you want to know how many hours you can work without losing your advantages. The hours quota determines exactly that: in 2026 you may work 650 hours per calendar year at a favourable rate. Stay within that limit and you pay no ordinary social security contributions, only a small solidarity contribution. In this article we explain clearly how the quota works, what you keep net, what happens if you go over it, and how to spread your hours sensibly across the year.

In short

The main things to remember about working during your resits:

• You can work during the resit period, as long as you plan your study time deliberately and choose flexible shifts.
• Most resits start in the second or third week of August. Plan your last working hours strategically around that.
• Weekend, evening and holiday jobs with flexible hours combine best with studying.
• Recruit a Student handles the paperwork and helps watch your 650-hour quota, so that you can focus fully on your exams.

Can you work during your resits?

Yes, you can work perfectly well during your resit period. There is no rule that forbids students with resits from taking a student job. The real question is not whether it is allowed, but whether it is manageable without harming your results. And that depends entirely on how you organise your time.

Many students work extra in August precisely because the summer holidays are financially the most expensive period: festivals, travel and the new academic year coming up. By choosing a flexible job that you plan around your study blocks, you keep your income up and your resits on track. It comes down to realistic choices: fewer hours in the last study week, a few more once your exams are behind you.

When do the resits start in 2026?

Most resits in Flanders start in the second or third week of August and run into early September. The exact dates differ per institution and per programme, so always check your personal exam schedule in your college or university student portal.

Why this matters for your planning: in early August you usually still have plenty of room to work, while the last two weeks before your exam mainly call for study time. Anyone who sees that early can plan their working hours at the start of the month and keep the days just before an exam free. That way you earn when you can and study when you must.

How do you plan your student job around your resits?

Good planning starts with a single overview in which your exams and your shifts come together. First fix your exam dates, then plan your study blocks around them, and only then fit in your working hours. That shows you immediately where it becomes too busy.

This approach works in practice:

• Work at the start of the month. Plan most of your hours in early August, when the exams are still some way off.
• Keep the last 3 days before an exam free. Those days are purely for revision and rest.
• Choose short or flexible shifts. Half a day or an evening shift leaves room to study afterwards.
• Communicate in good time. Pass on your availability in advance, so that the planning stays realistic.

Plan rest deliberately too. A rested student remembers more in two hours than an exhausted one does in four.

Which student jobs combine best with studying?

The best jobs during an exam period are flexible, predictable and easy to plan around your study blocks. Think of jobs with weekend or evening shifts, or assignments where you set your own hours.

Recruit a Student offers flexible student jobs in five sectors that combine well with studying:

• Customer service: often evening and weekend shifts, ideal for studying during the day.
• Cleaning: short, predictable shifts that you can easily plan around your exams.
• Transport and logistics: clear hours and plenty of single days to choose from.
• Administration and finance: administrative support, often day shifts during the week.
• Technical work: clearly defined assignments where you gain experience for later.

Choose a sector that suits your rhythm. If you are sharpest in the evening, study during the day and work in the evening. If you are a morning person, do the opposite.

Common mistakes during the exam period

Working during your resits goes wrong when you misjudge your energy and your time. The most common pitfalls:

• Planning too many hours just before an exam. You lose valuable study time and start tired.
• Building in no buffer. One unexpected extra shift can upset your whole study planning.
• Losing sight of your hours quota. Anyone who goes over 650 hours pays higher contributions and keeps less net pay.
• Cutting into your sleep to combine everything. Lack of sleep undermines exactly the concentration you need in the exam.

Want to know for certain how many hours you have left this year? Read our article on how many hours you may work as a student in 2026.

How does Recruit a Student help you during your resits?

Recruit a Student is the student agency in Belgium that supports you from the start. We look with you for a flexible job that fits your exam planning, and we handle all the paperwork: from the Dimona declaration to your correct pay at the favourable student rate.

We also keep an eye on your 650-hour quota, so that you stay within the favourable limit and face no surprises afterwards. You focus on your resits; we make sure the job around them runs smoothly. Our recruiters are there for you in Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels, and are active throughout Flanders and Brussels.

Ready to go about it sensibly?

Would you like to earn something this summer and keep your resits on track? Sign up free of charge as a student and look straight away at all student vacancies in transport, cleaning, administration and finance, customer service and technical work. Recruit a Student handles the paperwork; you choose the job that fits your planning.

“Our advice: plan your job at the start of August and keep the days just before your exam free. Students who do that earn and pass. We deliberately look for shifts that fit their exam timetable.”

– recruiter at Recruit a Student

Get the most out of your summer, exams included

Ready to use your student hours sensibly around your resits?

Recruit a Student helps you find a flexible student job that combines easily with your resit period, in sectors such as transport, cleaning, administration and finance, customer service and technical work. You choose when and how much you work; we handle all the paperwork and keep an eye on your hours.

• Flexible student jobs that combine easily with your studies and exams
• All the paperwork arranged, from the Dimona declaration to correct pay at the favourable student rate
• Personal support in Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels

Frequently asked questions

May I work during my resits?

Yes. There is no rule against it. Do make sure you plan your study time deliberately and choose flexible shifts, so that your exams get the attention they need.

When do the resits start in 2026?

At most Flemish institutions the resits start in the second or third week of August. Check your exact dates in your college or university student portal.

Which student job combines best with studying?

Flexible jobs with weekend or evening shifts, such as in customer service, cleaning or transport, are the easiest to plan around your study blocks.

How many hours may I work without losing my advantages?

In 2026 you may work 650 hours per calendar year at the favourable student rate, across all your employers together.

How does Recruit a Student help me during my exams?

We help look for a job that fits your exam timetable, handle all the paperwork and help watch your 650-hour quota.