Student life is often remembered as a thrifty phase synonymous with Kraft dinner meals, basement suites and “Craigslisting” all belongings.

Most students rely on part-time jobs to cover their frugal expenses but for those enrolled in intensive study programs, where part-time work is discouraged, financing an education can be increasingly difficult.

At BCIT’s Broadcast Journalism program, students spend the first year taking nine classes, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. followed by four or five hours of homework.

“Working part-time on top of that would have been insane,” said Valerie Malla, 34, a second-year broadcast student.

She relied on BCIT bursaries and said most students take out student loans, save money in advance or rely on their parents to cover expenses.

But Valerie could barely eat with her tight budget, cooking the same type of cheap food everyday. She stopped going out to social activities with friends. With the pressure of school and the financial burden, she had to give up every other aspect of her life.

Simon Fraser University student, Miranda Williams, 27, is in her last year of the teacher’s education intensive program.  She looks back at the last year as challenging but rewarding.

Working as a server part-time for the first half of the program, Miranda had to leave her job because of the immense workload.

“It’s like a full-time job and then some because you take work home. To work on top of that is ridiculous.”

Miranda relies on student loans and bursaries to finance her education. “I’m doing something that I love and so take it very seriously.”