Hi, I am Maria and I moved to the UK to study for my masters in MSC Pharmaceutical Sciences with a pretty clear plan: attend lectures, get super good grades, make friends, explore UK and enjoy my student life. What I did not include in that plan was becoming a part-time employee, a professional calendar manager and someone who considers checking their weekly schedule a full-time activity. If there is one thing my postgraduate experience has taught me, is that 24 hours a day suddenly feel like 12 when you have assignments, work shifts and a social life to maintain.

When I first moved to the UK, I thought the biggest challenge would be adjusting to the weather. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t just the weather. Between figuring out grocery shopping, learning how expensive a weekly food shop could be, trying to explore a new country and keeping up with university deadlines, I quickly realised that being an international student comes with a whole new set of responsibilities.

And somewhere between lectures, assignments and trying to make the most of student life, I decided it was time to look for a part-time job. After all, exploring the UK is fun, but so is being able to afford the occasional shopping trip without having to calculate the damage to your bank account.

Today, I’m studying MSc Pharmaceutical Sciences while working as an International Student Ambassador and Content Creator at the University of Surrey, as well as a Retail Assistant at Primark. My work life is quite the mix! One day, I’m creating content, representing my university and welcoming prospective students and the next, I’m working in retail, helping customers and keeping up with a busy store.

It’s been a brilliant way to step outside my comfort zone, meet new people and gain experience. But, as you can probably imagine, fitting everything into one week can sometimes feel like a game of Tetris. From lecture halls to work shifts is the art of balancing. Like most international students, finding a part-time job was pretty high on my to-do list. Because, let’s be honest, UK living costs have a special talent for making you reconsider every little purchase. While earning some extra money was definitely a motivation, I also wanted to gain work experience, meet new people and make the most of my time outside the lecture halls.

My advice is that don’t just look outside the university. Some great opportunities are right on campus. I work as an International Student Ambassador and Content Creator at Surrey, which means I get to represent the University, create content and share my student experience with prospective students. It’s genuinely rewarding to know that a reel, a video or even a little campus tour might help someone feel less nervous about moving to the UK.

I also work as a Retail Assistant at Primark, which is a completely different world. One minute I’m creating content about university life, and the next I’m navigating a busy retail shift. Let’s just say both jobs have taught me that communication, patience and teamwork are essential life skills. Of course, balancing two jobs with a master’s degree sounds great on paper. Until you open your calendar, see a lecture, a work shift, three deadlines and realise your laundry has been sitting in the basket for a week. Priorities, right?

If you’ve ever planned to finish an assignment after work, only to realise it’s midnight, you haven’t eaten dinner and your laundry is still waiting, welcome to my life. Between lectures, work shifts, deadlines and trying to maintain some sort of social life, my calendar sometimes looks like I’ve accidentally booked three versions of myself for the same day. I’ve learnt to plan my week, organise shifts around deadlines and, most importantly, accept that I can’t say yes to everything. Sometimes you need to turn down an extra shift and give yourself a night off. And please, never underestimate the power of sleep. Coffee might be a student’s best friend, but sadly, it cannot replace eight hours of rest or magically complete your assignments.

One thing I love about Surrey is that university life doesn’t stop at the lecture hall. There are so many opportunities to get involved, meet people and gain experience along the way. My roles have helped me build confidence, improve my communication skills and feel more connected to the Surrey community. My advice is to keep an eye on university job opportunities, explore the Careers Service and don’t be afraid to apply, even if you don’t tick every box. Sometimes, the best experiences start with simply putting yourself out there!

If I could give my younger self a few tips before moving to the UK, they’d be:

• Start early: Get your CV ready and keep an eye on university and external job opportunities.
• Stay open-minded: Don’t limit yourself to jobs related to your degree. Every experience teaches you something.
• Know your visa rules: Always check your student visa working-hour restrictions.
• Find your balance: Your job matters, but your degree comes first. Learn when to say yes and when to say no.
• Enjoy the journey: Make friends, explore new places and have fun. You didn’t move countries just to spend your entire life staring at a laptop.

Looking back, balancing two jobs with a master’s degree has been a bit of a rollercoaster! I’ve had hectic weeks, last-minute deadlines and plenty of moments wishing I could clone myself. But I’ve learnt that you don’t need to have life figured out the moment you land in the UK. Say yes to opportunities, learn from mistakes and enjoy the little moments. You’re here to build your future, but don’t forget to live a little along the way. And remember, an unfinished assignment is stressful, but an overflowing laundry basket? That’s just part of the international student experience.