**International Student in Wales Juggles Six Jobs to Stay Afloat, Faces Exhaustion and Visa Uncertainty**
A 20-year-old Venezuelan student at Aberystwyth University has opened up about the immense pressure she faces as she takes on six different jobs in a desperate bid to fund her studies and maintain her visa status in the UK. Gladys Garcia, who moved to Wales in 2023 to pursue a BA in Politics and International Relations, says the dream she has worked tirelessly towards now hangs in the balance due to rising financial challenges.
Gladys arrived in the UK buoyed by initial financial support, but as that assistance came to an end, she found herself forced to bridge the gap by any means possible. Despite her impressive academic record — an average 2:1 grade — and her commitments to extracurricular activities such as the town choir and the National Youth Orchestra, Gladys now spends up to 15 hours each day working various jobs to cover her hefty tuition fees.
Her struggle is not simply about balancing books and jobs; the stakes are much higher. Should she fail to pay her annual tuition of £15,375, Gladys risks having her degree withheld and, more worryingly, losing her right to remain in the UK as her student visa would expire. The possibility of returning to Venezuela, where local wages would make repaying such debts impossible, leaves her in a constant state of anxiety.
This challenge is further complicated by the prospect of a prestigious, fully-funded summer placement in rural Thailand, where she would earn a TEFL qualification teaching English to children. Whilst an invaluable opportunity for experience, Gladys fears the six-week unpaid period would prevent her from earning vital funds towards her university fees, putting her entire future in jeopardy.
Currently, her work roster is daunting: Gladys juggles roles as a Youth Support Worker for Ceredigion County Council, a supply cover supervisor at Penglais School, a Student Ambassador for the International Politics Department, a Student Representative for Lifelong Learning Languages, and both a waitress and private tutor in languages and music. Despite this, low wages and mounting fee deadlines have left her £7,700 short of the amount she needs. In response, she has launched a crowdfunding campaign in hopes of making up the difference, clarifying that any surplus would go toward basic living costs.
The relentless pace has taken a considerable toll on Gladys’ physical health. She recounts days spent dashing from one job to another — arriving at school at 8:30am, quickly moving between tutoring and hospitality shifts, and finishing work late at night. The grueling hours, particularly in roles that require long standing, have exacerbated pre-existing health issues, leaving her doctor concerned about her well-being and warning against the toll such strain is taking on her body.
Visa restrictions present another obstacle. While she is able to work extra hours during university breaks, term-time rules limit her to just 20 hours per week, making it almost impossible to earn enough whilst keeping up with her studies. The situation, she says, is a stark contrast to her life in Venezuela, where university lacked the campus and community experience she has found in Wales — something she describes as both enriching and life-changing.
Gladys credits her academic department and lecturers at Aberystwyth University for their support and understanding throughout her ordeal, as well as the wellbeing services she occasionally manages to access. Nevertheless, she points out that the institutional help available to her as an international student is limited both by policy and by her non-eligibility for loans through UK banks or private lenders — a predicament exacerbated by restrictions placed on Venezuelan citizens.
Despite the relentless challenges, Gladys remains determined. Her ambition to use her degree to help improve her home country drives her to keep fighting. “I hope this degree, and everything I’ve learned, will enable me to contribute to lifting Venezuela out of its difficult situation,” she says.
She is keen for others to know that hers is not a request for a handout, but rather for a little help after doing absolutely everything within her power. “Even a fiver makes a difference,” Gladys explains, “and spreading the word could mean I’m able to finish what I’ve started.” Above all, she wants the opportunity to complete her studies and give back — if only she can surmount the final financial hurdle.