The Reality of Being an International Student in the UK: My Journey So Far

When I first arrived in the UK from Nigeria, I didn’t exactly have high hopes or crazy expectations. I’d seen enough “international student struggle” stories on social media to know that the reality would probably be a lot different from the “study abroad” Instagram photos. The job scarcity, school fees pressure, and the loneliness of being so far from home—yeah, I knew it wouldn’t be a smooth ride. But nothing truly prepares you for the constant juggling act when you’re out here, alone, starting from

scratch, with no family to fall back on.

After just three weeks of arriving in the UK, I managed to land my first job. Pretty quick, right? I was excited to start working, like “Yes, I’m earning pounds!” While I was grateful for the opportunity, the pay was far from what I expected. I was only making £5 an hour, which is well below the minimum wage. You read that right. At the time, I had no choice but to take it because I had bills to pay. I honestly thought this would only be a temporary solution—two months at most—but five months later, I’m still stuck in the same position. The endless rejection emails from other employers make it even harder to stay motivated, but the reality is, I don’t have the luxury of being picky.

Adding to the struggle is the pressure of school fees. The responsibility of paying for my education weighs heavily on me. Every month, I find myself juggling my work hours, doing my best to budget and save, all while trying to focus on my studies. It’s a constant balancing act that leaves me mentally exhausted, but I know I have to keep going. The reality is tough, but I tell myself this is temporary, and things will get better.

On top of the financial pressures, there’s also the emotional toll. The loneliness of being so far from home has been one of the hardest parts of this journey. Making friends in the UK is like trying to find a needle in a haystack—except the needle is invisible, and the haystack is full of other international students too busy with their own struggles. Its tough. I miss having family around. The isolation feels overwhelming at times. I sometimes catch myself wishing I could just hop on a plane to Nigeria for a few days, get a hug from my mom, eat some jollof rice, and come back. But no, I’m here. Alone. Cold.  The weather here is freezing compared to what I’m used to back home, and it hits me harder than I expected. Crying as an international student is not a myth. It's a reality many of us face because the struggles can feel so overwhelming. I remember one day after coming home from a long day at work, I literally collapsed onto my bed, crying from the cold, the sadness, and the loneliness. It wasn’t pretty. The UK weather has no mercy. For me it's like stepping into a freezer every time you step outside.

To make matters a little better, I recently took on a cleaning job that pays me the minimum wage. While this is a small improvement, there’s still one major problem: I don’t get enough hours. The maximum I get is 9 hours a week. This results in £100 a week, which is about as helpful as a chocolate teapot when you’re trying to cover all your expenses, so back to the £5/hour i go.Between the two jobs, I’m barely scraping together £800 a month. Not exactly living the high life, but I’m still here, making it work. And by “making it work,” I mean eating instant noodles and pretending I’m fine.

And then there's the physical side of things. The cleaning job, while it pays a little better, is taking a toll on my body. Waking up each morning with aching muscles and fatigue is something I’ve had to adjust to. It’s hard to get used to working long hours, doing physically demanding tasks. My body doesn’t know whether to scream or cry. Spoiler alert: It’s both.

Despite everything, I am grateful. I know it could be worse, and I have to keep reminding myself that all of this—no matter how hard it gets—is just part of the journey. Every struggle is a lesson, and I know that eventually, things will get better. I’ve learned a lot about myself, about resilience, and about how to not take life too seriously. Sometimes, you just have to laugh at the chaos, even when it’s overwhelming.

To all the new international students out there, here’s my advice: keep going. The reality is tough, but you’re tougher. And don’t forget to laugh—at yourself, at your situation, or at the fact that you’re probably sitting in your room eating instant noodles as you read this. It’s okay to cry (trust me, I do it) and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Just don’t let it stop you from moving forward. You’ve got this.

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