British universities know how to cash in over the summer, they charge tourists about a grand a week for a place on their "Summer Academies". This helps them make up their shortfall and working there is a good way to eradicate yours.

Medical student, Kevin O'Gallagher 22, has spent the last three summers being paid to wine and dine international students, who come to Oxford to experience life as an undergrad for a week.

"It’s the perfect job for students," Kevin says. "Instead of working in Tesco or a bar for nine weeks, you work for just three with all your expenses paid. You come out with £1,000 and the rest of the summer to play with. After a few weeks, I was able to pay for holidays in Venice and Spain."

As a programme assistant, Kevin lived for free in a suite of rooms in Christ Church, the college which provides Hogwarts’ dining hall in the Harry Potter films. "We have a three-course dinner every night at High Table, a bar tab, and we are encouraged to socialise with the younger students, showing them Oxford nightlife in all its glory. We even go on free trips to London and to the theatre."

The role gives you the chance to make your own little contribution to international relations. Kevin has been promised immortality in China. A group of civil servants were so impressed by his tolerance for lethal Chinese rice wine, that they announced he would be honoured with a statue. He swears that he "drank it for the sake of international diplomacy".

It’s not all play and no work. You will be expected to work hard, solve problems and do your share of photocopying. "It can be quite intense, but you’re well paid and it’s good fun. When you tell people about the job they want it. So it makes you feel better than your friends who are slaving away at their parents’ shop or serving in the college bar every night of term."

History graduate, Tony Gill, 22, found a similar lifestyle as dean of students for the summer at a language school in Oxford. He earned £550 a week on top of board, lodging and gym membership. He looked after teenagers from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Togo, Venezuela and Argentina. "The job is different every day. I was working with nine different departments and was given far more responsibility than someone my age would usually have," he explains.

" It sounds quite good in an interview when you say you’ve been responsible for the health and safety of 400 kids."

Kevin worked for the Department of Continuing Education at Oxford University, Tony worked for St Clare’s College, Oxford. Similar programmes are run by Newcastle, Bristol and many other universities.

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