How to Make Money as a PhD Student? Best Side Hustles To Earn Without Losing Focus

Do PhD students get paid? Yes, but not enough. They get paid a stipend that barely covers the basics. If you think your PhD stipend will be enough to give you a slightly comfortable lifestyle, then you’re wrong. Doing a PhD is a very fulfilling journey, but rent, groceries, books, and bills don’t pause because you're a researcher. Financial stress is very common among PhD students, and this stress affects almost every aspect of their lives, including their ability to focus on their thesis or research. Sometimes this stress becomes more difficult than the PhD itself.

That’s why many doctoral students look for side hustles to earn a little extra. But not every side gig is practical. The wrong one can very easily become a distraction and pull you away from your academic goals.

So, what can you do to earn money without losing track of your PhD? If you don’t know how to make money as a PhD Student, this blog is for you. We’re sharing a list of the best Side Hustles for PhD students in Australia that are practical and designed with the demands of a research life in mind.

1. One-on-One Tutoring

Tutoring is the best way to earn money if you’re a strong communicator and enjoy teaching. You already have the knowledge from your undergraduate degree or master's, and you can use it to help others.

You can advertise your services on university bulletin boards, online forums, or websites like Gumtree. It’s a simple process. You just have to create a clear listing of your qualifications and rate. And because the tutoring is one-on-one, you can charge a premium of anywhere from $40 to AUD 55 per hour.

This is a great way to earn during your PhD, and it offers flexibility. If you're planning to stay in academia long-term, tutoring doubles as professional development, too.

2. Exam Cram Sessions

Students start to panic near exam season, and the demand for help increases. You’d be surprised to know how many students look for shortcuts to revise everything quickly. This is where you can step in and offer focused “exam cramming” sessions.

Let’s see how you can earn from this:

• Collect past exam papers from the last five years
• Identify common questions
• Build a session around solving them
• Charge between $30 and AUD 50 per student.

The best part about this is that you can stay close to campus and work at your convenience. You also get to learn from this, and that’s a plus.

3. Sell Digital Products or Handmade Goods

It is 2025, and if you’re not monetizing your hobbies, then what are you even doing? When you’re wondering about how to make money as a PhD student, you cannot forget Etsy. Etsy is full of PhD students selling digital products and handmade goods. If you’re good at making handmade jewelry, digital planners, study guides, or even academic templates, you can sell them on Etsy and start making money.

Even simple academic tools like a revision tracker or a “PhD milestone planner” could get you money if you design them well. You don’t have to turn your hobbies into a business because that would simply result in losing focus. You just have to utilize your free time to create passive income streams.

The good thing about this is that, once the product is made, it keeps earning without much additional effort.

4. Marking Exams and Assignments

Most PhD students don’t know this, but you can make money by marking exams and assignments. Professors have packed schedules, and they hate marking papers.

You just have to talk to your department's lecturers and let them know you're open to marking assignments or exams. Most probably, they’ll be open to it because they need help too. They give you a marking scheme and model answers, and then it becomes your job to evaluate the papers based on that.

Once you do the first 10-20 papers, you’ll start to recognize patterns, and it becomes faster and easier. It's a relatively quiet job, and it doesn't interfere with your daily schedule. It also pays well, depending on your department's rate.

5. Lecturing and Tutorials

If you're interested in teaching, you don’t have to wait for a full-time role. Just go to your supervisor and tell them that you’re interested. They need people to fill in for a lecture series or run tutorials for undergraduates.

You may be surprised how many opportunities come up once they know you're open to them. Doing this, you get paid for delivering lectures and for the lecture preparation as well. You can also get opportunities that let you host smaller workshops and earn during your PhD.

6. Working with Assignment Help Services

There are many assignments help services that offer academic support to students for subjects like math, English, nursing, law, science, etc.  These services are very beneficial, especially for students who speak English as a second language.

As a PhD student with subject expertise, you can help them with their research papers, dissertations, case studies, etc. You can reach out directly to these services and apply. This is a great way to earn money and polish your writing skills if you’re wondering about how to make money as a PhD student.

7. Lab Demonstrating for Undergrads

You can become a lab demonstrator too if your PhD involves lab work. This is another easy way to earn money and stay connected to your academic environment. Departments need experienced students to supervise undergraduate lab sessions, and you might be a perfect fit.

You don’t need to be an expert in every experiment. Most first-year practicals are basic, and with a bit of reading, you’ll be able to guide students easily. Plus, it’s an opportunity to build relationships with faculty and students and earn money in a predictable and structured setting.

8. User Testing

User testing is something that takes much time, and while the pay isn’t amazing, it’s simple.

Websites like UserTesting.com allow you to test apps or websites and share your experience. Each session lasts around 20 minutes and pays you USD 10. If you’re sitting around in the evening with your laptop, this can be an easy way to earn a bit without much mental load.

You won't get a lot of tests at first, but as you collect positive reviews, more opportunities open up.

Why These Side Hustles are Best to Earn During Your PhD

When you’re doing your PhD, your time is not something you should sell cheaply, even if you’re desperately searching for how to make money as a PhD student. Your brain is already working overtime. That’s why all of these ideas were chosen because:

1. They don’t distract too much from your PhD.
2. They are close to your university or can be done from home.
3. They respect your time and skills.

Content creation or building passive income through blogging or YouTube is also an option, but it takes years to pay off. All the side hustles we’ve shared are practical, flexible, and tied to your existing knowledge and skills.

Final Thoughts

We hope all your questions regarding how to make money as a PhD student are answered now. Many PhD students are under financial pressure, but it doesn’t need to be your reality. When you choose the right-side gigs, you can reduce stress and gain new skills. But always remember, your time is valuable. You’re already doing something incredibly demanding. If you're going to earn on the side, make sure it aligns with your goals and doesn't compromise your health or focus.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask around. Many opportunities exist within your department; you just need to let the right people know you’re available.