If you really want to earn just learn how to mine bitcoins and altcoins. Then try also learn some trading. Enhance your skills daily when you become skilled enough you will surely get large profit. Trading is the best way to earn big even from small capital. This is according to my experience but its up to you to venture it or not.
Mining BItcoin and altcoins requires capital and I do not think that as a IT student, he is capable of buying mining equipment. Mining consumes a lot of money and electric and It is really hard to do that job alone. Therefore, I think he is suitable for writing and coding things and like and offer it like a service on Bitcointalk. If he succeed, he can gain a lot of money.
Mining equipment's were expensive, so an normal student cannot afford it. Better is to learn slowly about the various process involved in mining. This makes him a good miner. Else simply starting without basics will make interruptions.