I am currently doing my masters thesis project, and I’m feeling very depressed and tired. I have been searching for a part-time research based job for four months and still no luck. I am from a lower class family and small village in India, and I took our a £50k pound loan to do my Masters. I like it very much but the cost of living here and the stress is too much. I have started a job in a restaurant where I work as a kitchen helper, I clean toilets, equipment, dishes, the kitchen and help chefs in food processing. I am exhausted but I have nowhere to go as I don’t have any money or support. I am feeling very drained and stuck, and have even now taken on extra work at festivals. As well as research jobs, I am also trying to get apply to PhD programmes, but they mainly seem to be for home students, and I am also not getting any leads. Please help me as I cry and miss my family. I wanted to change the world with my research, that’s why I came to this country but now I am doing nothing for it, and am just despondent.
Dear Jisan,
Thank you for writing. Your message is honest, painful, and deeply important. I want you to know that it was read with care and with respect for everything you are carrying.
What you are doing right now is incredibly hard. You are clearly working incredibly hard, and on top of that, you are studying full time, far from home, with a loan hanging over your head. You miss your family. You feel like you are falling behind. But let me say this clearly. You are not failing. You are surviving. That matters.
You said you came here to change the world with research. That dream has not disappeared. It is still alive in you. But it has been buried under exhaustion, isolation, and the stress of making ends meet in a system that often forgets what students like you are going through. Many people in your position feel the same pressure, but very few are brave enough to say it out loud. You have.
And now that you have, let’s look at what might help.
Finding a research assistant job while studying
Job hunting is tough. Many jobs do not get advertised widely, and international students face extra barriers. But there are things you can try, even now.
Email researchers directly
Choose people whose work aligns with your degree. Keep the email short and personal. Explain that you are looking for part time work to support your studies and gain experience. Attach your CV. Be specific about your skills and availability. Ask whether they might have, or know of, anything small you could help with – don’t ask for a job, ask for experience.Speak to your project supervisor
Even if they cannot offer work themselves, they may know someone who needs help. Tell them you are looking for paid research support work and ask whether they can refer you to anyone. You do not have to go into full detail about your financial situation if that feels too vulnerable. Just be clear and direct.Check department boards and mailing lists
Jobs are often shared by word of mouth or internal emails. Visit labs in your building and ask lab managers or postdocs if anything is available. Even small tasks like data entry, transcriptions, or helping with study visits can turn into more over time. Also ensure you sign-up to the Dementia Researcher Newsletter, and jobs.nhs.uk and jobs.ac.ukLet people know you are available
Mention it to your classmates, tutors, and friends. Many opportunities get passed around informally. You are not asking for charity. You are offering skills and time. There is nothing to be ashamed of in that.Be open to small roles
Even if the job is part time or short term, if it gets you into a lab or involved in a project, it builds experience and connections. These roles can lead to references, publications, and eventually PhD conversations.On applying for a PhD
Your experience of looking for a PhD is a common one, and you are right to highlight that everything seems designed for home students. That is sadly true in many cases. But not all. Some supervisors actively welcome international students and will fight to bring in the right person, even if it takes time to secure funding. Keep contacting them. Even a conversation that leads nowhere is a step forward. You are showing your interest and building a connection that might help later – obviously the first place to look is findaphd.com.
Also consider PhD programmes outside the UK, or within large international consortia where nationality may matter less. Look for projects already funded by large charities or European grants. If you need help finding these, we can point you to resources. Modern international students often pay surprisingly low fees and study within generously funded higher education systems, with ground-breaking research opportunities supported by generous funding from the European Union and other organisations. You can also learn more about the European Higher Education Area, ECTS credits, PhD fees and visa requirements.
Getting support now
Please speak to your University student support services. They may have hardship funds, or they may be able to connect you to someone who can help. You are not asking for anything unreasonable. You are simply asking for support to continue the work you came here to do. They also offer wellbeing and mental health services, if you feel overwhelmed. You do not have to carry this alone.
And to be clear, working in a restaurant kitchen is not a failure. It is not the opposite of research. It is part of your story. One day, when you are leading a team or publishing your findings, you will understand what it means to work hard, truly hard, and to build something despite every obstacle. That perspective will make you a better scientist, not a lesser one.
You are tired, but you are still here, and I know you are hurting, but it’s important that you still believe and and that is not nothing. That is the beginning of what comes next.
If you want to talk more, come along to the Dementia Researcher Community, you can post messages and chat to others who may share your experiences – thank you so much for reaching out. I know you’re tired, and have little time, but please try to stay socially connected, take time to rest, sleep and look after your wellbeing.
And if anyone reading this has any other advise to offer – please add your comments below.
Dr Yvonne Couch
Nature Careers Blog