Urgent: Need advice on staying in Leuven

Missed my conditional adm offer by 0.5 on IELTS. I had a conditional offer requiring a C1 (7.0 overall, min 6.5 in each section). Took the IELTS twice, first try: 6.0 in speaking (writing fine), second try: 6 writing (7 speaking).

The irony is killing me, but the reality is I don't think admissions will let it slide.
Coming from a biomedicine/biochemistry background, my absolute priority is just being in Leuven.
I want to work there, but since my residence is currently tied to student status, I need a realistic backup plan to stay in the country.
A couple of ideas I'm considering:
1 enrolling in a program just to keep my student status and buy time while looking for a job (| saw a Postgraduate Studies in Pharmaceutical Research, for example). Has anyone done something similar?
2 looking for a job straight away, but I’d lose the only place I have to stay

Any advice or alternative programs in the area would mean the world right now. Thanks :)