The uni degrees most Australian sugar babies are studying
University students are swapping low-paid, part-time work for sugar daddy relationships – and it’s more common in some fields of study than others. SEE THE LIST
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Sugar daddies have become the side hustle of choice for university students who refuse to juggle their studies with low-paid work and survive off two-minute noodles.
The traditional university experience is being replaced by mutually-beneficial relationships that trade companionship for cash, dinners and gifts – and young women in medical fields are leading the charge.
Exclusive Australian data from niche dating site Seeking Arrangement revealed more than a quarter (27 per cent) of about 20,000 surveyed sugar baby students and graduates studied a course such as nursing or medicine.
Meanwhile, 12 per cent were in business, 9 per cent studied in an artistic field and 8 per cent were in engineering.
One in 25 were teachers or working towards that career.
**SCROLL DOWN FOR TOP 10 LIST OF DEGREES/MAJORS**
Seeking Arrangement head of public relations Kimberly De La Cruz said the site had experienced a steady rise in membership in Australia.
“As the cost of living in big cities where the best higher education is offered continues to rise, and students from more rural areas continue to move there in pursuit of education, we see that number rise even more among university students,” she said.
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Psychotherapist and couple therapist Melissa Ferrari believed many older sugar daddies in particular would appreciate a well-educated sugar baby.
“We all know that when we are going to engage in conversation, there are certain people we find more on our wavelength than others,” she said.
“You will look for people with the same interests as you, same world views as you – that can be a great conversation.
“If they are someone that can oppose you, that can be a great conversation as well.”
Mrs Ferrari said as long as the women were safe, these could be good arrangements.
“People are busy, they don’t have the time to nurture friendships like they used to so arrangements like this that create that opportunity for connection is part of how we are going in the world,” she said.
“We seem to be steering in this direction of what’s good for me is also good for you.”
A molecular biology student from Brisbane who did not wish to be named said many of the girls she met through sugar baby networks were also university students.
“It’s the easiest way to have a side hustle while at university,” she said.
“You do have the stereotype that anyone who gets into this is a young, ditzy, Barbie gold-digger but really you have got to be smart to make everything work for you.
“It doesn’t surprise me that a lot of the girls are also university students because it becomes a very strategic game in a way.”
The 21-year-old joined Seeking Arrangement 18 months ago and was currently seeing four sugar daddies ranging from age 30 to 65.
Some paid $700 to $1000 per visit, while others paid a $500 weekly allowance then paid for dinners, travel and gifts when they saw each other.
She said most men wanted a sugar baby with “substance”.
“You are not going to throw a grand at someone who just looks pretty,” she said.
“You want to be able to hold a conversation with that person and enjoy their company, otherwise what’s the point?”
MEGAN MAKES IT WORK
Sydney sugar baby “Megan” has made about $20,000 in the eight months she has been on Seeking Arrangement – enough to pay for two years of a typical degree.
She is seeing two sugar daddies, aged 32 and 45, while also studying a Bachelor of Social Science and working in marketing.
The 24-year-old said apart from the financial benefits, young women could also gain career benefits from sugar daddies.
“A lot of men out there can offer some sort of mentoring or career assistance with the whole arrangement,” she said.
“I’ve found that with the dates that I have been on, the men generally enjoy talking about my career and my studies.”
The aspiring social worker said a lot of men liked having an educated sugar baby as they were not necessarily looking for a physical relationship.
“I meet (my older sugar daddy) for lunch or dinner or drinks every few weeks and he pays for that on a weekly allowance plus takes me shopping if I want … maybe he sees me as a daughter figure but that one isn’t physical at all,” she said.
“(Men typically want) someone to spend time and converse with so being able to hold an intelligent conversation definitely does help.”
10 MOST COMMON FIELDS OF STUDY FOR SUGAR BABIES
SOURCE: Dating site Seeking Arrangement
1. Medical 27%
2. Business 12%
3. Art 9%
4. Engineering 8%
5. Education 4%
6. Biology 3%
7. Information Technology 3%
8. Mathematics 2%
9. Law 2%
10. Journalism 1%
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