I need help and also finance/career advice.

Hi there, I currently reside in Japan as a University student, and as you can read my title is pretty self explanatory, but I would like to give a rundown of how I ended up where I am.

Moving to Japan was a big dream for me for many years and I studied hard at a Japanese Language School in my home country in Malaysia. This helped me to get decent at Japanese and I managed to get into Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University with a 65% tuition waiver fee as a Japanese-basis student. At that time, I thought I have achieved my goal, my dream basically, and this was back in 2019 when I graduated from my Japanese Language School. I was slated to start my University life in April of 2020 and planned out many things before I left for Japan. Students in APU were automatically eligible for the JASSO scholarship which entitled each student to 48,000 yen per month, which was CRUCIAL to me as my family only had the means to provide for my tuition fee. I felt like, with the 48,000 yen per month from JASSO, it would mean that I can still work part-time and not sacrifice my studies in turn.
However, we all knew happened back in 2020, and that plan was for naught. Japan locked down for good, and I was basically forced to stay at home and take online classes for 2 whole years before Japan finally opened up to international students again.

Fast forward to this year. After 2 full years of online classes, I finally heard the announcement that I can finally take classes in person. At first I did not believe it as I was given false hope a number of time in the span of those 2 years and it seemed like things could turn at any time. However, I took this opportunity immediately, book my flights and updated my Visa, and I finally ended up in Japan in April 2022 after a few minor hiccups. The first month was hectic, as I scrambled to get settled with my bank accounts, and finding a baito and etc. But by May I was largely settled.

Once I got my bank account set up, I thought then I could apply for the JASSO scholarship finally after 2 years, since in order to be eligible you need to have a bank account. However, I was hit by the worst news ever, the academic office and all the staff at the university told me that only 1st year students are eligible for this scholarship. They told me that they couldn’t do anything to help me and I understand because its JASSO’s decision at the end of the day. This stressed me out a lot as I will have to work at least 20\~24 hours, in order to just meet my basic needs (rent, food, utilities).

It is now December 2022, and somehow Ive managed to make it till here with working a ton. I have also somehow kept up with my studies. However, I had to sacrifice many things. I don’t really get to enjoy hanging out with my university friends (i dont have weekends off), since I mostly work during the night and the days i dont have class. I dont get to attend many workshops, seminar or even important job hunting workshops because they are normally held during times when i have work or have class. This has compounded on to me having to think about my job hunting opportunities. I am about to finish my 3rd year in this University and I am very uncertain of my future as my schedule is mostly filled up with baito and study. I am doing all of this just to meet my needs, and it seems like I am doing too much and sacrificing my future just to earn 859 yen per hour(barely livable wage)

I am not sure how I should continue on. I did consult my friend and he told me that i need to learn how to ask for help. Some people even mentioned to me that me spending 30,000\~40,000 on food every month is a lot and by budgeting I could save a lot. Eventhough I dont even buy meat when i buy groceries, and when I do eat outside, it is a rare occasion unless you count eating a 500 yen meal at my university cafeteria eating out.

Does anyone have financial advice for me? I could also use some advice on job-hunting. Some people even told me that starting job-hunting on my 4th year is already too late.